New-York tribune., 1874-03-30

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admontion and, II persisted IN. OF hnsl censure.
When regular complaint IS made against suon Q
of che Church. especially whom tho complaint Ia that
has circulated and promoted scandals derogstory 70
the Christian integrity OF the pastor and Injurious " the
reputation of the Church. the consideration that he has
long ago forsaken the Church only an aggrayaon oi
his alleged fault
In regard TO the future relations between these
churches aud Plymouth Church, We express our hope
cason for the correspondence and this Council will
not be precedent for the guidance OF that CLurch here
as dos W %S se that the disregard OF the rs
principles involved in the idea OF church membership
aud the idea OF the fellowship Of churches with each
other would require the strongest possible protest
But the communication from the plymouth Churcn 70
this Council makes professions and declarations winch
Justify tho hope that such deviation from the orderly
course OF discipline will not DO repeated.
The accused person in that has been retained
IN the church nor commended to any other church
We recte OF those declarations from the Plymouth
Church which encourage the hope have expressed
I'VE rejoice" says the Plymouth Church, TO live In
afectQnate fellowship with all churches Of the Lord
Jesus aud Especially with those who are IN al, things
order not only things fundamental but In things less
essential yet dear to us by conviction or association
'Wc cheerfuy admit that whenever any church sha
openly aud ayowedy change the essential conditions
upon which it WAS publicly received into the ieowsnp
OF neghbOring churches shall by hlgrant neglect
exert u perncious and immoral influence upon the COM
munlty upon sister churches II Is thelr rght ethr
bv individual action or By counsel to withdraw their
fellowship. We hold that preceding dsfeowshp IN all
such there should DO such accil0nate ana reaSo
causes OF arc within the control OF the church, that
the evil il not transient evil such as may beiai ANY
church but permanent and tending to increase rather
While IL is TO forgotten that this communication
from plymouth Church is entirely subsequent the
case as it stood upon the convenng of this Council,
when the Plymouth Church, by It's action OF DecemDer
s. had declared itself responsible for other church.
and no other church for in respect to doctrine order
and discpne which action as interpreted IN tne CIR
fraternally Judged by its latest ntterance.
These professions on the part OF Plymouth Clurch
he accepted by other churches as Indicating lts IN
tention % maintain efficient discipline and To regard
the mutual responsibility OF churches. Az the same
time the Council feels oOnsra ned TO declare that these
declarations seem to us inconsistent with the resolution
OF Interpretation adopted by Plymouth Church, Decem
her 1S3 and with other acts and statements appear
ing the published documents We think tnat the &C,
on church presented In these documents, II
unmolihed would Justify these churches In witn1raw-
ing fellowship Yer nasmuch as the Plymouth Church
seems to us to admit, IN its communication 70 u.s. the
Congregational principles Of discipline and fellowship.
advise the churches conyening this Council to main
tain with 1t the relations OF Fellowship as heretOfOre III
the hope that Plymouth Church may satisfy these
churches OF It's acceptance of the principles which 1t
has been supposed to disavow.
We also desire this connection to reafirm and em-
phasze the doctrine laid down IN all oar platforms OF tue
obligations OF Fellowship. This duty applies TO all
Christian churches In the case OF those Instituted an1
united in accordance with the CONGREGATIONAL poty II
Involves that more intimate communion which Is
csed in asking and giving counsel IN giving and receV
ing admonon and other acts relating to doctrine order
This mutual responsibility of the Congregational
churches has their system from the begin
mng distin gushing 1t from simple ndeDendency.
With the autonomy of the local church Is one OF the
formative and essential principles OF COnRresatonalSh
without IL have basis IN our pOy for that system
OF cooperative effort to which churches are pledged
We regard therefore, the principles OF Fellowship which
and churches cOnyening have SO earnestly
maintained 10 be those which have received from our
Father und the word VI God.
We appreciate aud honor their fidelity TO those
principles under circumstances of peculiar and
severe trial. and we oiior our earnest prayer to
the great Head of the Church that He may
bestow upon them and the pastor and Church With
which they have been in correspondence wisdom and
grace He may guide them In all their actions, and
that He may quicken In all our cnucnes through tues
obligations of our and church communion
and we pray He whom all power in heaven and
ON ca run is ven and who has promised to be with His
church always, even TO the end OF the world ana who
under the inspiration OF His spirit and His truth mas
joned these churches In grand aud memorable past
standing shoulder 10 shoulder in the great moral anl
spiritual battles of the may again unite them IN the
future conflicts aud victories OF HIS Kingdom.
GEGsvnH u f M.2kns. nAeoS' MOderatOrs.
A. III. QCIST. lscrthe.
j. c. MEsERyB, ~
Clinton Avenue Congregational Church
Brooslyn, March %, 1874