The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-31
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL.
PLYMOUTH UNWILLING.

of Plymouth church Brooklyn, was filled
to-day by the members OF the congrega-
lion who assembled pursuant to the ad-
journmeut of Friday night, to be ready
20 take any action made necessary by
the proceedings of the Congregational
council now in session. Moderator T. NJ.
Edgarton called the meeting to order, and the
Rev. Edward Beecher offered prayer. A
committee from the council was announced
in waiting and the gentlemen were invited
to take seats on the platform. After a resolu-
ton was adopted TO receive any COM
munication they might have to make,
Professors Egbert and Smith of the
committee said that they brought a
message from the council which
they hoped would be read with tender and
brotherly affection. The council was ami
mated with feeling of respect and love for
the pastor and members of his church. 1t
was desired that all the transactions of the
council might be in the day and light. and
with such light as could come from the pas
tor and members of Plymouth church,
which would place Plymouth church in the
same position as the other churches for a
full discussion in the council. resolu-
ton of the councilinviting Plymouth church
to attend the council and present its views
was read, and on the motion of the Rev. II.
W. Beecher, the thanks of his church were
voted to the bearers of the message and a
committee was appointed to make fitting
response, OF which, Mr.. Beecher was one.
While the committee were celebrating on
the reply, the clerk of Plymouth church
read to the congregation the charges of ar
raignment. In short time the committee
returned and stated that an address had
been agreed upon, which was read.
1t was protest against any action whatever
by the present council upon any issue rela-
m PIupaOnth Qh q
council is ex parte; that the charges are
based upon reported speeches of its pastor,
and that the church will be Judged only by
its own acts and declarations. The address
was also protest against any attempt to
formulate the usages of the churches into a
code of ecclesiastical law, and declared that
1t was binding upon the consciences of the
churches. A declaration of the principles
was also read, and the following resolution
was adopted, 1--WE are constrained to de-
cline the invitation, lest by our acceptance
we should seem to renounce our conscien-
tious convictions and to withdraw our solemn
testimony against the vistations of christian
liberty, courtesy and equity, which has
characterized the calling of this council and
the steps which led to it, and lest we should
establish a precedent full of danger to
smaller churches as encouraging irregular
and unwarranted proceedings on the part of
strong churches, which the weaker might
compelled to condemn. We are not respon-
sible for errors which have been committed
in the treatment of the church and
in the calling of this council, and we are lot
willing to cover them with our consent"
The addresses and resolutions were adopted
and committee was appointed to con-
vey the answer to the council. The meeting
then adjourned till next Friday week.
THE PROTEST.
FIcULrY PURELY LoCAL-NoT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE PASTOR.
NEW YORK, March 25.-The protest of
reasons: This is an ex parte council, con-
vened without any regular and sufficient
steps to obtain a mutual council, called to
consider our affairs for the sole instruction
of two other churches, and carefully fettered
so as to make it impossible by the terms of
its call for the council to alter itself into a
mutual council. If IL is claimed that
one or more churches acting on the
pretext that they are not in a controversy
with sister church, and desire instruction
only for themselves, may call a council to
instruct them as to their relations with that
church. free from the rules governing the
call for an ordinary ex parte council, this
claim appears to be subversive of the whole
has been regularly called, and is competent
to advise the churches calling it as to their
duty towards US, then our pastor can call a
council without consulting us to advise him
publicly what's his duty towards our church.
We have inquired in vain for a precedent
of this kind. This council is summoned to
advise precisely as we were originally sum-
moned to take advice, under a distinct
menace and a moral coercion. Just as
Plymonth church was in one breath re-
uuested to explain factsand informed that it
must be cut off unless the facts had been mis-
reported, so this council is called upon to adj
wise whether the action of Plymouth church
has been conformable to Congregational
usages, and is at the same moment informed
that ifsuch is indeed Congregational usage
the two churches cannot sustain their posi-
ton. in so far as this council is called to
consider the points of conflict between Ply
mouth church and the neighboring churches.
The whole frame of the council In It's wide
spread constituency and national character,
so appropriate and admirable, If called only
to deal with large and general questions, is
directly in opposition to the genius of Con-
gregational polity, one great aim OF which
Is to confine local troubles to their own lc.
cality, and to settle them in the neighbor-
hood by the aid ofthe neighboring churches,
without spreading the tale of local dissen-
sions over the whole land. The charges
brought against this church are partly based
upon reported speeches OF its pastor, al
though it is well known that Plymouth
church, with the hearty concurrence of its
pastor has, from the beginning OF its history,
declared that no man, however beloved and
revered, may usurp the
RIGHTS OF BROTHERHOOD,
and has always insisted, and does now in
sist, that by Its own acts and declarations,
and by these only, it will be judged, and
the maintenance OF this rule with respect to
all churches we hold to be an essential part
of the Congregational polity. We have
never denied the right of churches to offer
adviceto each other in christian spirit, nor
the duty ofchurches to receive suchsn offer in
the right of every church, acting in like
spirit of traternal love while receiving. to
decline advice and to judge for itself, when
according to the laws OF Christ. An occa-
sion has arisen for exercising this right.
Iax,;ror raoaivad an offer of advice which