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

Correspondence Between the Three Clcr-
gymen on Church Discipline-A Council
Proposed but Refuscd-Can Church
Drop Members from Its List without
investigation
The late dissersions which sprung up In the Con-
gregat0nal churches OF Brooklyn have leo to q
lengthy private correspondence. now given tor
publication, between the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher on the one hand and Drs. Burlington and
Siorrs On the other In the nrst letter, dated It'll
January, which Is written by the two doctors, az
ter explaining their principles at some length,
they say
our cburcnes, the letters which have recently been
have had no wish wbaeser Is VIZ Certainly have had
reht TO Interfere In the management OF Its affairs.
nere re- Win ns
In er The %Dreon mass upon US Sv ths aetion how
we e constrained to interpose SO far as TO aseer-
should proye to be 70 release ourselves
us an occasion OF pain and not ofgladness.
. In his answer, dated January IA, to this, Mr..
BeecheI alter expressing his peculiar views on the
brotherhood IN the church, SAYS
No word more happily xpresses the idea of church
than tnat VIM YOU employ-brotherhood The church
S S 4. only 9s eESa
and wie nor legal relations such as exist between
yhs S
auectOua0 anu sympathetic Influences
Der who leaves This brotherhood to do It the know
leave Without their coSseas nOe'' 's' MS 'AA' 70
Inc question vigorously the absolute
OF his right to leave on his own proper conscience and
regard the opposite notions as derived from that ex
and Sl s Of me wsn s
treated US subjects and governed with rod of iron and
never suffered 20 forth, except with pains and penal
Ths praei,Ss almost universal Prosss.an.
ton with given churches their own sense Of duty.
JOIN some church. without ssndSs Sr let
ters Members OF churches go from one denomination to
impulse sometimes because it is not the custom OF their
In TACT i may be said that If it is general usage
ne own proper ndsment ana liberty YET Is So ire
He adds further on and urges with some force
mis- recent action by drawing q striking compare
son as lolows:-
"A, m me I'M Of Congress can resign at his own
very midst his is true OF STATE Legislatures Judge
resign, and further action eau be had. member Of
Iporalion or OF board OF directors resign and
consent and against the wishes Of The board Of drec,
by his associates deTosatory o to his a@ Character
is i spoken, SANDER and ii Written, libel that Is the
law Tor their action. without privilege, he had
In America then, the universal custom and doctrine
s s that a hs can resign and 60 Of Place
n OF h S or Of The body on ns
ncurre or losses sustained by others but his power to
cut on his membership from bodies social political and
numerous decision. Is courts W custom anu S'''a W
Applying the matter to the Church the eminent
divine adds
the church and he shall then abandon the church tor
the sake OF escaping investigation. 1t be proper for
ns 30 Jar rss to Udcae Its own
%ronssa TO with the case and % declare It's
ss to pursue such one With pains and
render an concerned actionable at law
not ATTENDED Its services known have changed his
views and Is known for years to have dsa
church charges should be made against such one,
sake Of ria one whom By long donsen they have
treated as no longer member.
Mr. Beecber then speaks OF the trial OF churches
IN the following language
good Il likely every way s'p proS se
Councils and to wSdraw Fellowship Upon ther ree"
each Tor itse IT, withdrew fellowship from churches that
By rs 81 hs
aqa 'rst ss fellowship OF
churches, am mindful that it through the claims
cse ahere a danger
% h
guard.
He also says
hold that church 81 Ould errng
members and restore them it possible by moral inll:
cnce that when they are incorrleibie they may be
Il Of sy be
bs pn asy 80 oq mt o. he own
name roll with such other action as may YIN IL
he shs4o t4 sny q nss for the
MIR. Beecher concludes by saying that gentleness
is greater power than the machinery OF churches.
In the answer which is made to THIS exposition Of
MIR. Beecher's views Drs Burlington and SJorrs
say that his views OF the power OF members to
leave or join churches unquestoned are "totally
unknown to Congregationalism" and are contra
dicted by its history" and they ask that he call
council to advise with them on the subject.
In answer to this Mr. Beecher says, In letter
dated February s. he is willing to submit the ques-
ton to a mutually called council Of the three
churches, aad suggests that the following question
be put to councii:-
May church. according to the Word OF God and the
discretion in dropping its roll the name Of one
against whom serious charges preferred who
the church. according the Word Of God and Con.
gregsona usage, 20 forward with the trial OF charges
He, however, proposes that the forms OF the
questions to be put to the mutual council be first
agreed upon by an informal body OF members Of
accept the mutual council, then to call it.
Upon this proposition the two doctors Join issue,
In letter dated February 10, with MI. Beecher
and with the questions TO be put to the council as
they suggested them, and they conclude by say
ing:-
,oE nuS feel ,ss ada
council question CONCERNING The proper relations Of
cember s. and ii seems to US indspensapIe that some
declaration be made on the subject OF fellowship
We regret that the propositions submitted to You in
our letter as possible basis of agreement moi salts
modify. them in any important particular there is
and for further our
HORSE NOTES