The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-26

that the charges are based upon report
ed speeches ofits pastor and that the
church will be judged only by its own
| acts and declarations. The address
elso protested against any attempt to
formulate .he usages of churches into
the code OF ecclesiastical law and de-
clare it binding upon the cousciences
of the churches. The declaration OF
principles was also read and the follow
ing resolution adopted We are con-
strained to decline it, lest BY our &C
ceplance we should seem to renounce
our conscientious conviction, and 10
withdraw our solemn testimony
agains. the violation of Christian
liberty. courtesy and equity
which have CT aracterized the calling
of this council, and the eteps which led
10 it ; lest we should establish prece-
dent full Of danger to smaller churches
as encouraging irregular aud uuwar-
rantsble proceedings on the part OF q
strong church which the weaker might
afterward by the force oar examples be
compelled to condemn. We are not re-
sponsible for the errors which have been
committed in the treatment OF thlt
church and in the calling OF THIS
council, and we are not willing to coVel
them with our consent.
The address and resolutions were
adopted, and committee was appoints
ed to convey the answer 10 the council
The meeting then adjourned till next
Friday.
The protest OF Plymouth church /;
made for the following rcasoas lhIs
is an e.r parlc council, conve"ei "''hol'
any regular and sufficient -rrv- - ob'
tain q mutual CoUnclI, cni.cI q c)u'
slider our affairs for the ."!c Iustlnc'lc1
OF two other churches, ami carr'd'I
fettc.ed go as to make 1t imposslhi., t'
, the terms OF its call, for the cOuuc'i
alter itself into mutual council. IT
it ia claimed that one or more churchc:
are acting on this preteX'
they are not III contro.
yersy with q sister church, and
desire instruction only for Themselves
They may call council 10 instruct
them as 10 their relations TO that
church, Tree from the rules governing
the call OF an ordinary CO parts coun-
ellis. This claim appears to be subver-
sive Of the whole system OF mutual
councils. Iith;- council has been reg
uIsrly "eI-,i @"i = competent - ad-
wise t!v t.nhr.a cal'""tt, as tothelI
duty tuwag,!sur, thea our pastor can
call a couuCil without consulting US, to
sdvise him rublicly what is his duty
towards our church, We have
enquirei in vain for q
nyecedent OF this kind. This council
was summoned to advise precisely as
we were originally summoned 10 take
advice, under distinc! menace and
moral coercion. Just as Plymouth
church was in one breath requested tc
explain facts and informed that it mus;
be cut Of unless those facts had been
misr, ported, SO this council is called
upon 20 advise whether the action o.
| Plymouth church has been Conlorma-
ole 10 Congregational usage and Is a.
TIE same moment informed that II such
| is indeed Congregational usage the two
churches cannot sustain such 3 poslll)r,
In 90 far as this council is
called to consider the points OF conflict
between Plymouth church and neigh
boring churches. the whole frame o'
council in it's widespread constituency
and national character is SO appropri-
ate and admirable if called only TO deal
with large and general questions. 1t
is directly in opposition to the genius
of congregational policy, one great aim
OF which j. 10 coniins social troubles
10 their own locality, and 10 settle
them in neighborhood by the aid o'
| neighboring churches without spread
ing the late discussions all over the
| whole land. The charges brought
against this church are partly base
upon reported speeches OF iis pastor
although it is well kuown that Ply
mouth cnurcH, with the hearty concur
cace OF It's psstor, has rom the begin
ia- y:ita history declared that no man
however beloved and reyerc1, may
usurp the rights OF brotherhood, snd
has elways insisted a1I doCs now in =
-. Iv 10 own acts a0i declarations.
.ri ~ these only il will be Judged, ant
maintain this rule in respect 10 81
cnurclr.. Wc hnd It 10 bc an essen
| tigI rari ut The Congregations
r9l.rv We Lave Dcyer denied tht
r.gh, .o churches - c7cr to each o!heI
advice IN Il Christiar silrI', nor th'
luly a. caU!Ches - receive tuGd Al
offer in the spirit g brotherhood. w
| hSye asserted the I!snt 0; every church
acting in a Ike sH'rt Of ,raterual low
while receiving and chsr aud 10 dc
cline aiy:cg and 10 Judge f0r itself
Wher according to lie lavs Ct Chrits
en- occasion has ar.seG tor e1erc'sln!
this r.gbt and hayjug received al ofe
Tor advice which scemed to us 20 b
,euicred in ; spirit cot accord
ing 10 tie miui OF Christ
VIC dtl itcisjvcIy exercise GU
right by declining 70 Lister
to advice conceived III suCA sp!rlI
Nor can We aver assent to any doctriuu
Of church .c',owsbip which shall b
destructive 10 the liberty Of loca
church Or which shall convert ths
which the Lord ordained as saie
guard aud an iutrsnchmeut OF symps
thy ioto an irritating espionage aud a.
instrument OF oppression, in asseEtin!
that this church was not responsible
for the doctrine, order or discipline o
other churches. We never Tor
momeu; intended 10 cut ourselves Of
from relationship with them. There is
certain vague and general sepseiu whicI
all Christlans are responsible for on
smother, but this ls not the sense II
which sll Christians are responsible 10
one another. But this is 70: the sens
in which the word is generally usec
! 7. L II Lava n