Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-31
ESTA BLISHED 1910. MEME

7 IT
involved in the idea of church member
ship and the idea OF the fellowship o
churches with each other, wo1ld require
the strongest possible protest; bu
the communication from Plymouth
church to this council makes professions
and declarations which viii justify tht
hope that such deviation from the or.
derry course Of discipline will not be re-
peated. The accused person in the case
has not been retained in the church, mol
commended to any other chrrch. We
recite some reasonable inquiig as shall
show that the evil is real; that the
causes OF 1t s.re within the control of the
church; that the evil is not transient
evil, such as may befall any church, out
is permanent and tending to in
crease rather than to diminish.
While it is not to be forgotten
that this communication from Ply
mouth church is entirely subsequent to
the case as it stood upon the convening
of this council, when the Ply
mouth ehurcl, by its action Of the fifth,
had declared itself responsible for
no other church and no other church
for it in respect to doctrine, order and
discipline.f What action was Interpret
III
isting implied a withdrawal to the
ground of total independence. Yet
what church Ia to be fraternally Judged
by its latest utterance? These professions
ON the part OF the Plymouth church
indicating its intention to maintain eff
ficient discipline and regard the
mutual responsibility of churches.
At the same time the coun-
ell feels constrained to declare
that their declarations seem to us incon-
sistent with the same. In the resolu-
ton of Interpretation adopted by Ply
mouth church, December 5, 1873, and with
other acts and statements appearing in
the published documents, we think that
the action of that church, as presented
in these documents, if unmodified, will
justify the churches in Withdrawing
their fellowship. Yet, inasmuch as the
Plymouth church seems to us to admit,
in its communication to us, the Congre-
gational principles of discipline and fell
lowship, we advise the churches con-
vening this council, to maintain with it
the relations of fellowship as heretofore,
in the hope that Plymouth church
may satisfy these churches of
which it has been supposed to disavow.
We also desire in this connection to re.
affirm and emphasize the doctrines laid
down in all our platforms Of fellowship.
This duty applies to all christian
churches. In the case of those instituted
and invited IN accordance with the Con-
gregational policy, it involves that
more intimate communion which is ex-
ercised in asking and giving counsel, in
giving and receiving admonition, and
other acts relating to doctrine, order and
discipline. This mutual responsibility
of the Congregational churches has
characterized their systems from the be-
ginning, distinguishing it from SIM
pie independeHcy with the autonomy of
local churches, is one of the formative
and essential principles of congregation
alism. Without it we have no basis in
our polity for that system for co-opera-
tive effort, to which our churches are
pledged. Weregard, therefore, the prin-
ciples of fellowship which the pastors
and churches convening us have so ear
nestly maintained to be those which we
have received from our fathers and the
word of God. We appreciate and honor
their fidelity to those principles
uuueI ClIcuLuSbauC6S Oh peculiar ana
severe trial, and we offer 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 that he may guide them in
all their actions, and that he may
quicken in all our churches,
through these painful trials, the spirit of
renewed fidelity to the sacred obligation
of our church communion; and we pray
that he to whom all power in heaven
and on earth is given, and who has prom
jsed to be with his church always.
even to the end of the world,
and who, under the inspiration of his
spirit and his truth has Joined these
churches in grand and memorable
past, standing shoulder to shoulder in
the great moral and spiritual battles Of
the age, may again unite them in the
future conflicts and victories of his
kingdom.
CLINTON AVENUE Conc: CHURCH.
BROOKLYN, n. Y, March %, 1874. I
LEONARD BACON,
c. l.. WALKER,
Moderators