The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-23


Church.
A Council of the Congregational Church is to
be held in Dr. Budington's church, in Brook
Ign, on Tuesday. which will settle the question
whether Congregationalism is in any way diff
ferent, even in matters of discipline, from the
Presbyterianism from which it came. Some
time ago an unpleasant difficulty arose be-
tween the pastor and two prominent citizens,
both supposed to be members Of Plymouth
church. Charges we're made against one Of
these persons, but he claimed that for four
years he had not been q member Of MIR.
Beechers church. This statement was ac-
copied as a fact, and the supposed member 8
name was stricken from the roll of member
ship. Under these circumstances there could
be no Investigation into the charges against
the accused person, on account of which there
was great grief in the Congregational fold,
the accusations, it was understood, involving
great deal of social scandal. Some eminent
divines, fred with the spirit Of Knox and
Calvin, were determined on having the whole
matter out. If q second Hester Phrynne
can be found the Brooklyn clergyman is the
man to fix the scarlet letter to her bosom and
hold her and her guilty partners up to the ex-
ecration Of the Church. If she cannot be
found it is not because the Brooklyn clergy
man has failed to look for her. A scandal is
too divine thing for some clcrgymen to let
pass without exposure, and the Congrega-
tional Church is to be made like other
~, hat <ha,a IN
in this case. We always supposed that Con-
gregationalism was not even amenable to
ITSELF Its very name imports that each con-
gregation is Independent of every other con-
gregation. Joining the congregation we
thought, was very different thing from join
ing the Church, and we supposed that mem
bershp was of so frail tenure that a member
could withdraw without notice to anybody.
This is what was actually done in the
present case, and because it was done
is the occasion Of the coming Council.
The accusing churches deny the right of any
member to withdraw without the consenting
act of the church, previously obtained
Stripped of the latent scandal which was it's
provoking cause this is q very simple propo-
sition, and if the affirmative of it could be
practically applied there would be only one
Church to-day. Luther would have been COM
PEELED to carry on his Reformation within the
folds of that Church. and no Pilgrim Fathers
would have come to America seeking liberty
Of conscience. Its acceptance would in itself
be proof that Congregationalism is hereto to
Presbyterianism, and Presbyterian;sm an in
defensible schism from Rome. From the
Congregational standpoint we regard the posi-
ton as untenable, and we suspect the propo-
sition would never have been submitted to q
General Council but for the disposition of
one or two churches to correct the morals and
the scandal. 1t is another illustration of the
want of respect for that good old principle
about everybody mindipg his own business.
BISMARCK VrEws.-No one who has paid
much attention to the career of the Man of
Iron would be likely to pay much heed to any
thing he might say for the purpose of being
reported Except, therefore, as o glance at
the mode of life of great man the informa-
ton given to us by people who visit the Ger
man Chancellor is not of much real value in
Judging what his views or intentions may be-
The interview between him and the Hun
garian journalist which we publish elsewhere,
exhibits Bismarck in kind of Mesphistophe-
lean character, and it is difficult to refrain
from the suspicion that he was amusing him.
self at the worthy editors expense. The Hun
garian evidently felt as much, though he
could not be sure Of it