New-York tribune., 1873-12-22
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
), vuorrrB CHURCH STANDING ALONE.

PLYMOUTH CHURCH STANDING ALONE.
q,yo SISTER CHURCHES DECLARE THAT DEs0MiNA-
rToNAI ALLIANCE WITH II WILL BIZ SUSPENDED
Under IT'S NEW PLATFORM
The Committees of the Church OF the Pill
r,ms and the Clinton-aye. Church OF brooklyn have
addressed long letter to the pastor ana members Of
pvmoutb church This letter Is signed by Richard :.
storrs pastor; by Rchard p Bush Archioad Baxter,
Dwicht Johnson NJ Van Cott. Ell Mygatt ir. Walter
r Hatch and Lucius Birdseye for the Church of the
prrims and by VIM Ives Buddington, pastor; by A &.
Barnes j. w. Elwell Harvey b. speimhn' l. = sharp,
A r. Libby Flamon Il. Cardler. ana u u "ooiworth
for the Cnton-ave Church Ths Ietter NJ the outset
claims that the comprehensive statement made IN the
previous letter OF which asked plymouth church to
unto In calling Council OF the ohurches
OF the country was sufficiently definite although OBJ
i.ct.d 70 nv Plvmouth Church wanting exactness.
Tn ansxer In the request Of Plymouth Church the fol-
lowing are given as the leading points on which the
testimony and advice Of a council are ueS"eu' ihey
are nut in the form OF questions for the sake OF precise
ness The letter goes 10 say that these points, some
~ which might have been omitted modified II tho
desired conference with Plvmouth Church had been
held seem OF sufficient Importance to explain the re-
neated applications made. The apprehension Is
pressed that as the letter which involved oil these
points, failed to persuade Plymouth Chureh 10 unite IN
asking light from other churches this letter may equally
fail.
The well known resolutions, passed Dy ilymouth
Church at recent meeting. which asserts Tor plymouth
Church the right Judge, In every case what fellow
shin advice or assistance, may according TO the laws
~ christ properly be offered received FROM other
churches" ana which declares that other churches
arc not responsible for the doctrine ORDER or discipline
OF Plymouth Church, and that Plymouth church Is not
responsible for those OF other churches then taken
up The following quotations are mace from the
"Manual OF the Plymouth Church., put forth In 1854.
-. .t.,u4.
aud these shown have been the authorized utter
ance Of the church:
Tbev Il . Congregational churehe close union
coanel' and a.s and feeeTs ia'e ni
heres discipline scniaous oanse No member Of the
church has rght TO pass over VII ou ncS , h % [ % & @
Christian duty e plea hS' Tue onehse Is not personal
Ia Is rno .,e a, The church from time to time Appont
inquiry he cases OF senets OF Of members Who
though residing our vicinity are supposed 10 oe ,g 20 me nsges'
cations the, fi matters worthy Of discipline they should act precisely
as proper r church anr when iscs requiring
tie dsr pne OF the church brought their knoweige
, al or % ,ny % error in doctrine affecting Christian character
wen bring the oeu1er to repentance prove unang he
the for The sane should be publicly announced before The
Congregation On the Lond Da!
The letter then says:
Tho nrincines thus cited from your elaborate oman
nal of 1881 are the ancient approved. and honored
principles of the Congregational order Your acton, on
oct ~ for n Cor gregatOnal church novel. unwiSs
unscrlptura dangerous. We felt that you had erred
seriously. however unconsciOusly IN dsnlssing from
vonr membership, without scrutiny censuro mem
ber OF the church, who though Withdrawn from
your ordinances was still member by your own for
mer principles and VINO had been specifically aud
formally charged according to published documents be
fore us with having circulated scandals delOSatOr! To
the pastor and injurious to the church
In the following sentences the letter sums mp the re-
suit Of the action of Plymouth Church. and sets forth
tho positon into which other Congregational churches
are forced by 1t
1t would appear, however, from your recent ac-
on aud from a;ements made In connection % WITH It:
from which quoted above IN the recent editions OF
but that you have decslyey given up the principles
Themselves then accepted, honored and published by
you and Furthermore, thaiyou no longer regard your
selves as IN any special responsible relations TO tine
Cor gregaonal churches around yOu. You declare that
YOU interpret your stil existing Rules AS relieving
all other churches from responsibility Tor tne doctrine
order and discipline of TINS church. and TINS church
from all responsibility for those of other churches
In other words seem 10 Ms 10 take henceOrth the
position OF independency OF all churches what
ever. exterior to your own 80 'hst y1ur hrtcaes on
Faith might be essentially altered or wholly dispensed
with your rules might require no conditions whatever
for admission 10 the church your covenant mlgnt pe
entirely abandoned. without your admitting any rlgh
of Intervention, or OF remonstrance on the part OF other
churches. :, ,., =, -
having the right 10 make objection To your taking
TINS sndc y9n hna yth ps In
which have stood for twenty-six years; and since
scton interpreting your rules declaring the posi-
ton which you propose hereafter to occupy we have
orIy To say that II you decide 30 maintain that position
Of Course our special relations with you OF denOmina
tional alliance the fellowship which implies reel
DrOcity OF Will no
desire. ..
perate words AS a threat. They simply the indIca
zion OF what WILL OF course, inevitably follow II yOu
insist on such Independence your resolution IN
terms declares III you are To be IN no sense beesfter
re esnonslble to u.s. yOu-if any remonstrance
against your action, coming from is TO be held by
Won nrtIsiyewe OF necessity he 10 each other III
canning time IA wholly separate as are Baptsts and
Methodists, the Episcopalian and the Unitarian.
Before epite action, however, In taken by us In this
direction we shall wait to be further informed, ~
sbould be- OF the exact meaning and the fully defined
relations and extent. OF your recent resolution We
sbould seek the advice OF other churches. Pend
ing DELAY for further light and the process to secure the
needed advice and cousentng action, from other
churches while under estand you to mani tain this po
shall certainly not attempt 10 intervene in any matter.
either OF doctrine. order. discipline which may en-
gage your attention.
Nor shall we ever do this hereafter II the relations
YOU seem now have assumed toward and all others
are 10 be permanent 1t viii then of he
OF other churches afterward except II be OF all
citizens and friends what charges are made against
your pastor, what you may do with the men who
make them II should be moved, any subsequent
Articles of BelIef, other Churches and among
them would not feel authorized 10 renonstrate And
instead Of inviting TO meet with them In council
we do not see how they could properly take part in
council with YOU since the action Of such council IL
affecting yourselves, will have been vacated In advance
OF ali lust influence aud sautary effect by decara
uon OF entire rrespOnsbleness TO all other churches
EXPENSES OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
run ,rpS Pop 1S-l-A CONTINGENT EIrSn or