Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-04-07
The CONGREGATIONAL Potity.

The congregational Iottty'
The Congregational Council which
assembled at Brooklyn recently, was one
of the largest and most respectable ever
convened in this land. L. was called TO
settle the polily OF the denomination,
relative to several questions growing out
of tie course of Plymouth church
(Beccher's) One was. whether a mem
Der of church could retire from it. ut
his pleasure, rs Theodore Triton claims
to have done from Plymouth church.
Til,on sent letter to the council, deny.
ing that he had ever slandercd Beecher.
This is equiyocal, and may imply a denial
of the statements about Beecher attIib-
uted to him-or he may mean that what
lie said was the truth. and no SANDER. 1t
is provokingly mystifiod.
The Council sustained DR.. Storrs and
Buddingion Tor calling the Council
thought congregationalism required ii,
but thought that Plymouth church could
not be tried before them. II expressed
the opinion "Ihat the idea of membership
in Congregational church is The idea OF
q covenant between the individual mem.
Der and the church. that by virtue OF that
covenant the member is responsible TO
the church for his conformity TO the law
OF Christ, anu the church is responsible
Tor him, and that his responsibility does
not cease until the church by some formal
and corporate act has declared the diSso
luton of the covenant. The covenant
may be broken by the member. He may
offend and when duly admonishcd may
give no satisfactory evidence of repent
ance; in that case he is cut OF from
communion. Tic church having given
lis testimony is no longer responsible for
him. aud he can be restored only by the
removal of the cenSure. Voluntary ab-
sence Of a resident member from the
communion OF the church and liom its
public wo-ship, does net dissolve the
covenant, but is reasonable ground Of
admoniIion. and, il persisted in. OF final
censure. When = regular complaint is
made against such 4 member that in some
other respec. he violates the law of Christ,
and especially when the complaint is that
he has circulated and promoted scandals
derozatory to the Christian integrity of
the pastor aud injurious to the reputation
Of the church, Tie consideration that he
has long ago rorsakcu the church. is only
an aggravaIion of his alleged guilt"
The council approved tho doctrines
laid down By congregationalists every
where, Of the obligation Of fellowship,
aud dislinctivoly approved The following
polly:
This mutual responsibility Of the Con-
grcgali0nal churches has characterized
their system from the beginning. dis
it from simple indcpcndcncy.
With The autonomy OF the local church Il
is one OF the formative and eSsen,ia.
principles OF onGrosationaiism. Wi,h
out it We have no basis IN our p0iity Tor
tha, system OF CO operative effort 10
which or churches are pledged. We
regard. therefore, The principle, ol fellow
ship which the pastors and churches
conyening u have 50 earnestly mlia-
tanned % be those which We have received
from our father, and the word OF God.
We appreciate and honor their ddolIty
to those principles under circumstances
Of peculiar aud severe t.ial, and We offer
our earnest praye. to tie Great Head OF
the church that he may bcs,ow upon /.
them, aud the pastor and church vita |
which they have been in CORES pondeuce, /.
wisdom aud gI3cc, that llu may guide /
them in al their action. and that lie may /
uuickcn IN all our churches through these /
painful trials spirit OF renewed fidelity F,
10 the sacred obligations OF our covenant
and our church communion; and We I
pray that He TO whom all power in /.
heaven and on earth is given, and who /
has promised to be with His church /.
ALWAYS. even to the end of the world, /
anl who under the inspiration OF Ills /
spirit and His truth has joined these I
churches on 4 grand and memorable past,
standing shoulder II shoulder in the /
great moral and spiritual battles OF the |
age. may again unite them in the future !
conflicts and victories of lis Kingdom