New-York tribune., 1874-10-28
THE BAPTIST SOHISM.
VIEWS OF LEADING PASTORS OF CLOSE
COMMUNION CHURCHES.


citation IN the case of tho Lee Avenue Marcy Avenue
and Gethsemene Churches OF Brooklyn does not appear
to have oaused much agitation among the Baptist
churches In New-York among those OF Brooklyn
Baptist pastors In NewYOrk claim that the churches
here arc united In sentiment upon the question OF
communion than those OF Brooklyn and that In this
city there church which is likely to take the atli-
tude Of the Lee Avenue Church While there may be
In some bodies considerable portion OF the member
chip inclined to favor open communion there are none
In which these numerous enough to form majority
least there In which largo part OF the
members have endeavored to commit their church to
opposition TO close communion. and none OF the Baptist
pastors IN this city take direct position In favor oil the
practice Of open communion. although there are few
who understood to look upon the action OF the Long
leland Association as illiberal.
TRIBUNE reporter called yesterday upon the Rev.
Dr. Thos Armiage, pastor OF the Fifth Avenue Baptist
Church. for Information concerning tue position OF New
York Baptist Churches upon this question Dr. Arm
tage said To comprehend the effect Of the action OF
the Long Island Association. Is necessary first to un
derstand that by Baptist polty each church is indie
formed by Baptist churches for missionary purposes
they have ecclesiastical authority whatever no
legislative executive functions. The action OF the
Long Island Association does not change the
status Of the Lee Avenue Church to ne world world;
determines is for the churches or the
70 work IN TS1y w as the
socatiOn was formed II was necessary that all the
& sn0a Hs Psace as
indispensable and the independence OF the Lee Avenue
aSn IN nHa Of
could form new association with other churches II ~
mission The state Of things is entirely different in the
Baptist denomination from the Episcopal presbyeran
Assembly governs all Presbyterian churches and the
action OF Convocation governs the EPlscopai In
the Baptist denomination each church Is law unto IL
self and II association declares that peace will not
be promoted by working with any individual church and
r. fallnxpal hin m
or Oppresses that church there is nothing ibera In the
act That think Is the general sentiment OF New, Hs%
such as has appeared among the Brooklyn churches.
There has not been even ripple OF the sort here NO
avowedly favor OF open communion, do not think
there B large proportion Of members IN any one ehurch
who desire to place their church on that ground Iaere
are probably two or three baptist pasSis III
who with the Lee Avenae @ ana hareS M Asemme r
pose wish to take the same attitude as the pastors
friendship for Mr.. Smith and Dr. jeffrey aud while
think they mistaken in their views Wish that tney
be granted the liberty to hold to their mistaken
views as should claim for myself in a similar case.
The Rev. Frederick Evans pastor Of the Central Bap
tist Church, expressed the conviction that the New
York Baptist church united on this question of
communion. and Of them showed disposition sim
liar to that OF the "open communion" Brooklyn
churches The action OF the Long Island Association
could not be considered ntolerant for the LeeAvenue
Church. by departing from the practice and teaching OF
the other churches Of the Association, had already
separated itself in spirit from the Association prom
nent member Of one Of the best-known Baptist
churches in NewYok whose views were understood to
agree with those Of pastor Of that church. said that
many New-York Baptsts looked on the position taken
pathized with the Lee Avenue Church, but they had
no desire to ayow themselves open com:
an pen-communion" Baptist Church we're started in
NewYorK with an esteemed pastor, there would proba-
bly, be considerable accessons to 1t from several New
York churches OF members who leaned toward "open-
communion" opinions, but who did not consider the
question sufficiently matter OF conscience to make
stand upon it, aud that they were not violating prnci
pie in retaining membership In strict-c0mmuaon
churches without procaimng their views. There had
been call upon them for avowa There appeared to be
no prospect Of dssensions in the but
the un and nOlerant position OF the Long Island
Association would bring reaction which would
be deeply felt In Brooklyn.
A RADICAL VIEW.
The Rev. Justin D. Fulton of the Hanson place Baptist
Church. Brooklyn, Of the most Jealous Opposers Of
"open communion in the denomination. told TRIB-
uNE reporter yesterday that he had hesitation in
making a statement Of his views on the communion
question: and OF his relations to Dr. jeffrey 1t IS not
true that he has demanded that Dr. Jeffrey should
withdraw from the Baptist denomination. He had no
right to make such demand On the contrary, he
had always been on terms Of friendship with
DIR. Jeffrey, who came from Cincinnati about q
ago to be ar 70 1ha Msrcy
Avenue Church. In October, 1872, Dr. Jeffrey wrote
TO 1s Dr. Taon also IN wroe to q
the only thing he said with regard TO Dr. Jefres eav'
Duty "" demands that Christians should stand BY Christ
even If doing so causes them to part with brethren
jeffrey to The chicago Standard and when rumor said
that Dr. jeffrey was loose In his views on communion
Of h,s church Dr. jeffrey avOwed himself to be
Baptist but in less than week The Brooklyn Union
stated DE- Se % Sas es Is Known os as ass
munOn' test of membership in q Baptist Church"
e 5a Wod be Dr. jeffrey
the most positive and uneauyocai declarations In favor
We believe him. and still think that when we took his
offered hand as Baptist minister who s was to 70 be N
an honest, upright. and honorable man" This was In
December last. Prom thi: time DE- Jeffrey became anne
more and more opposed by DR.. Fulton. The latter has
been true to the PRINCIPLES OF the Baptist Church but
the Marcy Avenue Church The general opinion he
munon agitation, the author of tract published
by the secret Baptist Union This however, has been
has acted an honorable. fair open part He is what he
processes to be- and processes be what he Ia AS TO
o
the Rev. A Walsh PASTOR and II Is doubtful whether
tion
It also rumored that the Rev. J. B. Ceaver Of the
Sixth Avenue Church will withdraw and join with the
Gethsemane Society, but nothing definite be
tanned.
STATEMENTS OF INDEPENDENT PASTORS.
The Rev. A. 8. Walsh Of the Gethsemane Baptist
Church stated yesterday, that all but very small pro-
portion OF the meHpers Vi Ills enuren "ereeu III '"e
adyisabilty OF withdrawal from the Association
that there were ten in favor Of 1t TO one against
Il, and that q church meeting would be held
Immediately, at which the withdrawal would
Undoubtedly be ratified, and committee OF five would
be appointed address for publication which
would define the position OF the church the reason OF
was that the Association took the ground OF
interference with Baptist principles in trying to repress
liberty Of and bu,cse saokhs the nsr m
sobs control the Association and try to con-
troll all the churches belonging to and wish to
put of the Association what they do not Ike. We
deny the Associations claim to supremacy, and while
claiming to be strict Bapsts and Intending to remain
ASSOCIATION and retiring from It's fellowship propose to
draw our doctrines and definitions from the