The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-03
The Controversy with the Two COngre-,
ticnal Churches Closed.
REPLY OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
III. Beecher's Statement Of the Ecclesiastical
Attitude OF the church-A Strong and EN-
phatic Stst,msnt-AS Rseensiders-
ton Of tie Bowen Casa in the
Light Of the Protest

ness meounR OF tne cnurch, which was held I'M
nnediately Afterwards. Mr.. Edgerton was APP
pointed chairman. After the reception OF the
vames Of . number OF persons who were candi-
aa'es iof membership, Mr.. Sherman. the
clerk of the church, said that before
Ne reed . letter which had been received
BY Plymouth church from Clinton avenue and
enureA OF the Pilgrims, Congregational churches,
be 0eeared to say that he had communicated by
lester with the clerk OF the Clinton avenue Congre-
uassonai church In reference TO this letter. In which
Ne mad drawn the clerks attention to rules in the
manual OF that church which required that notice
Of regular and special meetings of the church
should be given from the pulpit on the Sunday pre-.
vAOus 70 the meeting, and asking the clerk
20 forward 20 him certihcated proof that
shis requirement had been complied with.
He had delivered that letter himself to
she clerk, and though he had not received from
the latter any written acknowledgment the clerk
had said to him INT. Sherman) that he might say m
Ofncally that there had not been any notice OF any
OF the meetings to which the letter he was about to
read had reference to read or announced from the
pulpit OF the Clinton avenue congregational
church. Mr. Sherman then read the letter OF these
two churches which has been already published.
The meeting received it by a unanimous vote, and
1t was placed on the minutes OF the church.
ANSWER OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
MT. beecuer SAID tnaJ the lettcT tudI tHe ciern,
Mr.. Sherman had read had been received by MIN,
and it coming into his hands he thought that 1t
demanded the consideration Of the brotherhood CT
the church. He had had the form Of reply drawn
mp. and he thought that not only his own thought,
but also that OF others should be sought and there
fore he asked several brethren to communicate
10 him their opinions in writing. From these ne
had drawn up reply. He would move that the
reply should the meeting adops it, be signed by
- q
warded to the respective churches. he then asked
Professor R r. Raymond to read this reply
TO Rev. RICHARD s. sronns, D. D.. Rev. w,1uAx Ivrs
D. p ans
Corr, ELI MYGArr II; WALTER I; HArcH. LgcIES
vET H. srrIHAS THonAs THoRr, AUGUSTUS +. LIBBY.
flAnEN b GAMBLER CALVIN c. WooLwoRrH, Com
Ds1R BRrrHHz.-Your letter Of December is has been
with explicit implied comparisons between the Con.
mat we
sdmis and sincs this NAV DO our last reply 10 you we
:sns forth s .ss srnepiss Which Ssss eons'u'sa
Plymouth church was founded At a time when the dom
a1sSs. Il 9 sy Of sew York as
sna rs members re the
il s 4, Of the ice
own sole right and authority they organized them
They refused 70 allow their minister to preside
!. ene at be n s
uniess elected BY vote of the church
70 allow ham 70 preside except By spesis sppo1t@e%t
g s 2, the huT rel a ne ass
Venera consent Indifference or ignorance Irregular
According rules, business with single def
church Of which preSons notice has not been given from
H.s case IL @hn ars
has 6esn by the or any ocer or any
Q, called meeting Of the Whole church y
Ii In view of this history and uniform practice that
his WIS: g ss Ssp
.Sa
snce in our domestiS affairs II is this inbred and
~ tSoss charge with change ground j he
o. Il oas adherence to tbs
that authority church does reside in The
which our peculiar
sent two churches our near neisS6ors '.'s
For well that M TO churches
is .sS Be- a. sss s% the @
Committees but pastoral emsnaon, authenticated
~ inn mssss s ea on
church. resulting from its origin and its management
H dssfs 60 r. s % is
tic affairs on the part OF any other church. yet had this
aeS 'of shs ws
20 ass% Ss@ Could q: have N:
have been asnsesd or 90 iorse e
BEEN srrssnsd jagged and and
' o oar s Of Of cs s
or q our Ss Hs IN a a
been determined our instruction. Under the plea
ss.s a sas S s % s
The o. cur church and its Of the na
70 submit has proceeded from JOINT committee which.
1 3 6os
y 10 foreign e the habits Of this church as 70 render IL
We not cs%pain brethren Of the phrsssolosy Of
"a e Of You e aH 1s
from the 70 s end Of
We haze hitnefto waived these and
NO, he IN Tor an Of
IL AND we hope 70 be spared The necessity
Ire peace S1 the q
Gaara crnpies IN pepyna go yonS s e just An'
now q Be- distinctly @ that We
Shch not By proof q the authority q
that r
seisc IN any case from them Or from you letters con-
Of the members OF this church.
yo sse Of In s 70 .
tine you wHse hfxs
after n tion you proceed the
ser any scun we infer qt s se vol now
withdraw your invitation and we shall there fore post
s 90 &c @
have r oeTea an invitation ancer dubious AZ tofity.
and then Withdrawn It.
the second part your letter you argue n at the
declaration of this church. quoting and int rpret-
Ing ancient and unatered rules, constitutes ci1snge
ip rs position equivalent 10 voluntary dissvowai OF
CONGREGATIONAL Fellowship. This Is not the caseg for
gegationalism IL the conduct OF the affairs on the
church by the whole brotherhood not embarrassed by
the unasked interference of other churches TINS view
o. IS ~ least ~ old az Plymouth church; II Is as old
W tnany Songreg writers who have expoundsd
prne,pes which Dexter sums up IN the following
ehrs by his own voice snd through that OF His apos
pSIno npon NE local church the sole and final re-
sp ousp III =, 'sanairs-under himsef"-Psge 81
ain the Individual churches in obedience to
apvsonc, ceuDse aho under apostolic perform
yn,rsmsllea al me uneaons ~ their church lire bnt
me spn y Of their life and abors was LAID
VIZ me right duty Of the breth
This vie also believe as old a. the snoso,c
churches The position Of Plymouth cbSrch deber.
a1ly taken At the beginning aud ehaneed is Con
teriDined TO maintain IL
mat Il does not prevent church from giving or n
-reivinR fellowship, advice and assistance IA c.rsfv
proved by the whole history this church and ~ hnn
dreds Of other Congreg itonai churches we bsv.
pot now suddenly invented, discovered or remsw