The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-04-09
Am using Settlement or a!Church Quar-.


~ rel.
The following is a condensed sketch
from l.. B. PrOctor's comprehensive
work, "The Bench and Bar of New
York: sa5'
Mr.. Seward was sort of standing
mediator of church difficulties i'm this
country. Contending parties In those
disputes and troubles which destroy
harmony and brotherly loVe in
churches would often mutually seek
his mediation, and such was their
confidence in him that each party
would accept his advice and settle ap.
parently irrecOncilable quarrels and
difficulties.
An amusing incident was once the
result of an appeal to him in one OF
these chnrch difficulties which had
for a long time threatened the de-
struction of a Presbyterian Church In
a neighbOring town. At last it was
decided to submit all these difficult
ties to Mr.. Seward, and that his de-
cisiOn should be entirely conclusive.
lie consented to become the umpire
for the parties-gave them patient
hearing, and promised to send them
his decision in writing. In due time
he arrived at decision, reduced it to
writing, and enclosed it i'm letter to
one of the leading members of the
church. ----.---.-.-
All this time Mr.. Seward was the
owner of Il farm i'm another part of
the country which was occupied by a
tenant, to whom he wrote at the
tine he was about to mail his decis-
ion in the case of the church. In di-
recting the letters the one intended
for the church was directed to the
tenant, while the one directed for the
tenant was sent to the church. 1t was
duly received by the proper officer
and the members of the congregation
assembled TO hear the decision of Mr..
Seward, which was to heal all diff
culties and dissensions.
After calling the cOngr, cation to
order, the moderator, in appropriate
language, explained the object of the
meeting. 81 hold in my hand," said
he, "a paper which Pm about to open
and read in this assembly, which is,
l have no doubt, the olive branch
which is to restore harmony and
prosperity to this church and cOngre-
CATION. 1t comes from one who, al
though u lawyer, loves the Lord and
is Il peacemaker." Then, breaking
open Mr.. Stewards letter he read the
following:
"You will particularly care for that
old, dangerous black bull, who often
attacks people when not aware OF his
presence, and sometimes plungcs at
them openly, and you must carefully
see to the repairing of the fences, that
they are built high and strong, and
also see that the water in the spring
is always kept pure"
There was q mystery about his ad-
vice that greatly puzzled the whole
assembly, which for long time sat In
profound silence. The Moderator
stood like one bewildercd. Present.
ly, however, he recovered himself
enough to say:
Brethren, I-I-don't eXactly-that is
to say, I-I-can't exactly see how this
applies to our case. Suppose we have
II season of prayer over 1t and ask the
Lord for instruction"
Accordingly the congregation knelt,
while several of the leading members
fervently addressed the Throne oi
Grace. When the people resumed
their seats, one of the oldest, most es-
teemed anil pious members of the
church arose.
"Brethren,n said he, "nOthing can
exceed the wisdom of Mr.. Stewards
decision. / have no doubt the Lord
directed him when he wrote it, for 1t
is Just what we need, and / know it
will restore peace and harmony
among us. Look Mt its great wisdom.
The direction to keep the fences in
repair is to admonish us to take good
heed i'm the admission and govern
ment of the members of the church.
We must see 10 it that only those who
are regenerated are admitted into our
fold. The direction to keep the spring
open and pure means that we must
not let our faith, our love of God, and
our love for each other, get cold and
clogged, and our daily walk and con-
versatiOn corrupted by the weak and
bcggarly elements of the world. And
we must, in a particular manner, set
a watchful guard over the devil--the
old, dangerous black bull, who often
attacks us when we are not aware Ol
his presence, and who, with his long
horns, plunges ut us openly, and who
has made many savage plunges at
this church in particular"
These remarks opened the eyes OF
all the people present to the wisdom
and enlightenedpiety ofMr, Stewards
decision. 1t was unanimously resOlv.
ed to abide by it, peace, and prosper.
ity were restored to the church, broth.
crly love took the place of hatred and
piety increased. Nearly forty years
have passed away since this remarka.
BILE decision was received by that
church. It's organization has beer
continued down to the present time
with uninterrupted prosperity.
What effect Mr.. Sewardis letter had
on his tenant has never been known