Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-01
The BROOKLYN Council.

The Council called by the Church of the
Pilgrims and Clinton Avenue Church of
Brooklyn, met in that city on Tuesday of
dag evening. On the first day the vener-
able DIR. Leonard Bacon of New Haven,
was chosen moderator, as was also DIR.
Walker of Detroit. The body being thus
well supplied with presiding officers pro-
ceeded to business. The case of the
churches calling it was presented by DR.
Storrs. the pastor of the Church of the
Pilgrims, and Plymouth church was invi-
ted by the council to be present and pre-
sent Its views Of the questions proposed
for decision.
Wednesday Plymouth church answered
by committee, and protested against any
action by the council with reference to
that church, basing their protest on spe-
cial rs well rs general grounds. Dr. Bud
in@ton, of the Clinton Avenue church.
made his statement to the council
Thursday Drs. StOrrs and Burlington
concluded the presentation of their case.
and in the afternoon committee was ap-
pointed to draft statement for basis of
advice to the two churches calling the
council. The convention held secret SEES
sions during great part of their delibera-
tons, and most of the time Friday was
spent in this way. Theodore Tilton sent
Il letter 10 the council, in which he reviews
the controversy from his standpoint, and
denies that he ever uttered Il SANDER
against any human being. Mr. Tilton',
course of conduct gives some point to the
suggestion that he Is off his balance. He
followed up this letter, which the council
declined to consider. with another, in Which
he says he never - declined to answer any
eharges " made against him.
Saturday morning the committee re-
ported a draft of statement embodyine
the decision of the council. and the whole
day was spent in secret session in consid-
ering this. The doors were opened u little
before midnight. and the text of the deci-
sion read by DR.. Bacon. DR. Storrs made
few remarks thanking the council, and
few minutes after midnight the body
adjourned 1t is said that the vote of the
council was eighty-seven for the report.
eight against it, and that twenty-thrae re
fused to vote.
The decision is that Plymouth church
did not act in accordance with congrerl-
tional usage in dropping Mr.. Tilton's
name from the catalogue of members,
when he declared he had by his own Volt
ton terminated his connection with the
church, there being when his name was
dropped grave charles against him. The
two churches calling the council were thus
right IN demonstrating, and asking a
friendly conference But they OUGHT to
have persisted in this request until the re-
fusal or evasion Of Plymouth church had
become unequivocal. These churches are
advised to continue their fellowship with
plymouth church, in the hope that that
church will not cloim as it intimated.
December 9TH, that it is responsible to no
other church, and no other church for it.
III respect to doctrine, order and discipline.
The council holds that, in its communica-
tioDto it, plymouth church admits the Con
gregational principles of discipline and
fellowship, and should be fl.aternally
Judged by its latest utterance, and not by
that Of last December. The substance of
the advice that Drs Storrs and Burlington
receive for their asking is this-fellowslit
Plymouth church until it does in the future
It like thing to what it has done in the past.
OF until 1t says again that it acted on a
principle which it means to maintain.
Curiously enough both parties to thi.
controversy seem to be we'll enough salts
fed with the decision of the council. But
we do not SEE why the result is not Il plain
declaration by as authoritative an assem-
bly, as could be had, that Plymouth church
violated the usages of Congregations
churches. Whether that church will DENY
this, and claim that its Congregatl onalisn
Is better than that of the =. interpreters ;
or will submit and conform its rules t.
this declaration, or will go and be an indie
pendent church in name, as it has been fo
some time in reality, is question of inter
est in the ecclesiastical world.