The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-31


questions now distinctly proposed. These
are concisei.v epitomized in the special to The
Chicago Tribune, as follows: Can a member
of Congrega tional church end his connec-
ton by simply absenting himself? If, while
thus absenting himself he is accused Of
grossly uncbristia conduct, is IL in accord
ance with Congreg, ltional usage to withhold
the charge and droL. his name from the rolls
without any reflection on him?
Was the action of plymouth church in this
regard according to usage, or does it warrant
apprehension on the part of the other
churches?
What is the duty of other churches in view
of this action of Plymouth, in regard to con-
tinuing their fellowship with it?
In regard to the resolution of independence
declared by Plymouth on December D, 1879,
what action should other churches take to
release themselves from the mutually re-
sponsible connection they have had wit
it?
Have the churches calling this council
acted according to the principles of Congre-
gationalism, or have they erred; and if the
latter how? II the decision Of these general
questions of policy ends the investigation,
though IL may produce important results to
the Plymouth church, and to the Congreea-
tionsl pohty in general the clouds may be
dispelled without serious disaster. But in
the course of the discussions the connections
are followed back to the root of the difficulty
and the specific causes out of which
| the controversy has sprung, it is not easy to
predict where the end will be. The question
whether Mr.. Tilton, or anybody else, may
leave church while under charges, without
trial is secondary to the more important
one of his guilt or innocence, and his vindi-
| cation from the particular delinuuencies
with which he is charged. The history and
| origin of this case is familiar to most
readers. Omitting the published ru-
4 nf ffon hafx NJ
and Mr.. Tilton, serious business begins in
October, 1873. when William F. West, OF
Plymouth church, preferred charges against
Theodore Tilton, that he had circulated and
promoted scandals derogatory to the chris
tian character of our pastor and injurious to
/ the reputation of this church." Without re-
producing the documents published at the
time, it is sufficient to state that Mr.. Tito
disclaimed membership in Mr.. Beecher's
church, and declined to hold himself amen
able in any manner to their discipline. At
special meeting October 81, Plymouth
and decided simply to erase his nam
from the records. But this cas-,
WAY OF ESCAPE
from an investigation was not free from Ok
struction. Plymouth church was fount
to hold relations to other churches
and all Congregationalism assumed
the right to ask questions as to her
methods of discipline. The Church of the
Pilgrims, on the Sth of November, and also
the Clinton avenue church, put in re-
monstrances against what they regarded as
a policy subversive of all true chris
the Congregational churches in par
| ticular. These circumstances were
couched in gentle and affectionate terms and
offered with the utmost delicacy of demean-
or, yet necessarily implying right to call
the sister church to account The letter
suggested in the mildest manner a commit
tee of conference from Plymouth church to
meet this joint committee and consider the
whole subject. The suggestion was backed
by cited authorities that gave it,
as was supposed, additional force.
anything to do with, or hold itself an.
swerable in any way to these outsiders. A
second appeal was met in essentially the
same spirit by Mr.. Beecher's church which
in reply affirmed its position as an "inde-
| pendent ecclesiastical body. and in matters
of doctrine, order, and discipline amenable
to no other body" This brought out on
December 10, another letter from the Joint
committees setting forth the points to De
considered by council, to which Plymouth
replied claiming to represent the true polity
of the Congregational system in all that it
had done. So matters stood up to the ninth
day of March, when the two churches be-
fore named issued a "missive letter" to
leading Congregational churches throughout
the states asking the convention of an
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
which is the body now assembled to con-
slider this case, and1n effect. to define the law
OF discipline in this church. 1t is body of
less dignity than the national councils
which have been held repeatedly. the last in
1868 at Oberlin, Ohio, and previous one at
Boston in 1860. The points at issue are
clearly defined and without question raise
square issue between the parties.
While the doctrine of Mr.. Beech
or has been Enthusiastically defined
by himself that any person may sever his
church membership voluntarily and be per-
mitted to do so without being followed bv
ADMINISTRATION and possible condemnation
| by the church, it is as certain that the couu
ell will sustain different view and answe
their first question IN the negative. 1t il
difficult to see how a complete separation c
the Plymouth church from eeclesiastic fel
lowship with other Congregational churche
| is to be avoided. But as before said, if this
is all, the end will be fortunate. The solicit
tude of many looks to other complications
which being fully developed may not pre-
cipitate calamities that have already cost
great exertions to avoid.