The New York herald., 1873-11-29
PLYMOUTH CHURCH DISCIPLINE.
joint Action or Clinton Avenue and
Pilgrim Congregational Churches-A

Council Caned-1eetings Last Night.
I After the regular weekly prayer meeting in
Clinton avenue Congregational church had been
| dismissed last night the church members were
/ convened TO take action upon the proceedings OF
| Plymouth church, as published already in the
press. There was very fan. attendance OF mem
| bers in the lecture room. DIR. Buddington read
the letter OF Plymouth church. reciting its action
upon the previous JOINT letters OF the two churches
named ana The resolutions adopted by Plymouth
| church thereon. The Doctor read also two sets OF
resolutions, the first reciting in substance the pre-
hminary steps OF the two churches asking for
private conference with Plymouth church, ana
setting forth the fact of the latter's decination
and the consequent necessity for the convening OF
a Congregational Council Tne second set empower
the same committees OF the Pilgrims anu Clinton
avenue churches which have hitherto acted in this
matter, to call together at early date as posi-
bic council OF ministers and messengers OF the
Congregational churches in the United States. All
the documents and correspondence &C. in the
case are to be transmitted to the several churches
by these committees.
fuhPoRT oP TIE JOINT LETTERS TO PLYMOUTH
CHURCE.
Dr. BCpDN6roN explained the nature Of the first
Joint letters. The pastors ald the two committees
had met and delberated over the matter one day.
and as the object was TO have private conference
with the pastor and brethren OF Plymouth church,
ne did not cal church meeting to consider IT, but
presented IL at the usual Friday evening meeting
on November :. speedy response was requested
but Plymouth church postponed action for two
weeks, and meantime, on November q,
second letter was sent, 1t having been
previously read also before the church. He
denied that either his own church or the
Church OF the Pilgrims had prejudged the
case hrst and afterwards asked Tor Information.
The purport OF their letter was to have confer
ence at which the reports current in the press and
in the community might be verified or disproved
or explained. Had this conference been granted
the matter might have ended there. Nor did they
make any threat to withdraw fellowship from
Plymouth church, but stated what, in accordance
with congregational usage they would be obliged
to do were the facts as currently reported. They
did not design TO interfere in any manner with
the discipline of Plymouth church; but it. as Nr.
himself to be independent of Congregational re-
straints, he tDr. Bnddingtonl thought 1t was
sna sGs s 50 S .sy Ssd SiS so, It's Arow Pssf0I
straw in their way. DR.. Buddingtop explained the
gational church, and remarked further that while
Plymouth church was known as Congregational
church and animated with the denomination 1t
And 1t was contrary, NOT only TO Congregational
usage but 10 the New Testament scriptures to drop
member against whom charges OF unchristian
conduct, anecing his moral character. had been
pending as Plymouth church had DONE And that
it wanted no interference OF any sort with its
affairs the Doctor thought there was nothing left
now for the two churches but 10 take the action
DELAY Asked FoR-IRRFGuLAR PRocEEDINGs
Mr.. HALE wanted action Oh the matter postponed
until Monday evening, that regular church meet
ing might be called from the pulpit on Sunday. He
did not expect that such cali would bring 20
getn,er a larger number tasn were present sat it
were counsel and were asked his opinion. he
would be obliged to say that all the proceedings,
fhn hoo vfnnInn tn INN W frrr1a
Mr.. SEARLRs was OF a like mind. but his idea was
to pass the resolutions ,s now Rd
to Monday evening; this would leave the matter
and OH Monday night he had no doubt they would
De sa meme Ms: Ha R
them but the one proposed, and he did not know
q single member of the church who had not similar
opinions
Mr.. HARRIS did not see what was to be gained by
delay. Al the facts were now before them, and
they could pass on them at this time as well as on
Monday or q week hence. The matter has been
before the public long enough to be known, and
there were members enough present to take ac-
Another brother held substantially the same
views, and remarked that there was no violation
OF Congregational usage in the proposed action at
this time. II any meeting OF the church was regu-
lar, he thougot the Friday evening prayer meeting
was. II the two churches are wrong they ought to
be ready to receive correction oy the Council and
If they are right their course OF action ought to be
endorsed.
AZ ECCLESIASTICAL LAW PorNl
brother raised the point and asked4br infor-
nation whether the Council could take action at
all on these proceedings already considered and
declared to be irregular from the beginning.
DR.. BUnDINGTON explained that the Council,
after all, was only an advisory body, and tnat the
several churches could or could not, as they
pleased, afterward withdraw their fellowship from
Plymouth church.
discussion, urging the necessity for prompt action.
The holidays are near, and what Is to be done
should be done quickly.
Mr.. BARNES offered an amendment to Mr.. Seare's
motion to postpone that the vote on the Tesolu-
tions and on the reconsideration be both taken az
this meeting The amendment was carried, and
the two sets OF resolutions were carried also,
unanimously. Delegates were appointed TO the
State Christian Convention, after which the meet
ing adjourned Similar action was taken III the
Church OF the Pilgrims.