New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
Following are the Declaration of Principles


and Rules OF Discipline referred in the report:
Plymouth Church, believing that care in the admis-
sion OF members Is Of more yalsel In maintaining the
purity OF the church, than severity in dealing with
them after admission attaches great importance 10 the
evidence given by candidates Tor memDeIsnip OF Vla
faith in Christ and OF spiritual life begun Tie Exanin-
inQ Committee must satisfied these points be-
fore recommending The candidate TO the church; ana
letters from other churches not accepted subs
tutes for personal examination. All persons who enter
Plymouth Church IN effect admitted upon profession
OF their faith
III active membership, numbering about 1880 souls,
is so organized that systematic watch and care Is eX
tended over all in the form OF visitation inquiry fra
the of nonresident members by regular CORE,
spondence We recognize IL also privilege and
duty TO reproye and adnoDish one another with all
fidelity, provided 1t be In love; and la these duties
indyduas are moreover laid upon special officers OF
church, and distributed aud discharged tnat no
single member IS omitted from this fraernal vigilance
nv the assluous use OF personal, social and spiritual
influences. by preventing or healing disputes and re-
judicial discipline and this We hold TO be not only WISE
policy but Christian Obligation. Nevertheiess, Wheh
these means fail the discipline OF this church Is express
and energetic. II any member OF our body brings DIS
honor upon Christian profession, we hold u our duty
70 reclaim him If possible with ali long-sufering and
natience but IL Unsuccessful In this TO make II known
that we are no longer Responsible Tor TIE dlsnOhOr
which he has brought or may bring uponsthe name VI
II any one desires longer to be known as member
hold that while not release him from the special
obligations Christ which he mas assumed Dy the pup
lie profession OF his faith we may, and should, AFTER
having endeayOred to change his purpose release our
selves from responsibility to aud for nm, IN what
ever method the circumstances OF tue case may require
regard being had TO the good the individual the
welbeing church, and the honor OF the Master
While ready AT all times To receive suitable IN
ouiry and TO give sister churches every reasonable
explanation concerning our action In cases OF pubic
interest hold thar IL Is rght, ana may De our
duty to AVOID the evils incident to public explanation
a public trial; aud that such an exercise o, our G
other churches, provided We neither Retain WITHIN our
fellowship dismiss by letter rs III regular standh
persons who bring open dshonor upon the CHRISTIAN
RULES OF DISCIPLINE
Rr1,5 No member can deprived church privileges except by
reg IsO FII5 pe. co%mes who shan upon cause prefer
the Whole church or The ma, pFp,
.asonab furnished with OF the complaint AMI shall have full
RUE The csnsures be inflicted Offending members
are 9esS5dng to IN, @ pensioH or az
In noaee thereof must be seA IRON Tue Pu
PIT gu ''' ''''@''' H. 4. om,nd,d in 1865.
RgIF s sS1oe herein e complaint a &c made either
the Ern1ns Committee ss e wo g t e Of tee
church the complaint iO writing II it entertained and
mus. H S 11t q the in sHd e The accused mi
nss ,d 10 Re chuTS must SWANS he,
by Examining COMMITTEE unless the application o meaning re
RUS 5-[sane as Rae 8 abO5el ,o-,, g.,
d, GTsS from He @ Of the church vita or without notice hem
may deemed just by tTors vote OF me church oPoa the seq
ton in they abandoned their connection Will the church
By absence or Otherwise upon the Application any oH
UL-ds 0faeRded 90 1874
RULE DslpnMtnbers not DO cenured except BY the
process herein stated.
mit,ee or the whole church
II The oompn made Examining Committee the fact.
mn Investigated by it, far to determine whether there
be ussned by
q IN the complaint made TO the church il order similar In
yeson the Examining COMMITTEE by secs committee be-
fored deciding 10 proceed - ,.I
Committee the church decides 70 proceed WIN
the the clerk diligence to irSsn copy
~ the accused and II practicable to give a personal
Of he tmes and place of beanug.
The accused all when trial he'd have il op
nortupty to be in his defense
OF discipline 10 committee
aud report opinion on the whole case OF an pert
thereof -,
appearance NAV. require the committee TO snb
whether the complaint slal be
out of the nd the committee cannot proceed mean
time.
up by the church. and the committee Unless the
po Of the church. shall make no report upon
the -
o No member a committee vote It's hnsl re-
mort In case discipline unless he has hear and read the evil
the except by consent Of bon The com
plsnant and the accused .
evidence has been taken by committee The church not
bound 10 evidence either side.
IL FIN. inflicted by the church and By
renee Of tsot thirds OF all present aud voting
Rules and unchanged
On motion the Moderator and Clerk by vote OF 10
nothing we're directed sign and transmit the docu-
ments TO the Council and DR.. Edward Beecler, III. W
Sage, and T. W. Raymond were appointed messengers,
when the meeting adjourned.