The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-03-30

the idea Of church membership, and th
idea OF the fellowship of the churches Will
each other, would require the stronges
possible protest. But the communication
from the Plymouth Church TO this Coun
ell, makes professions and declaration
which justify the hope that such deyia
ton from the orderly course OF Clisciplinl
will not be repeated, The accused her.
son In this case has not been retained II
this church nor commended to any othel
church. We recite some Of those decla
rauons from the Plymouth Church which
encourage the hope we have expressed
We rejoice" says the Plymouth Church,
ITO live In af1ectionate fellowship with
all churches Of the Lord Jesus,
and especially those who ARD
10 all things like.minded and with Us
holding TO the same faith and order, moi
only In things fundamental, but in things
less essential and dear to US by conviction
or association. We cheeriully admit
whenever any Church shall openly and
avowedly change the essential conditions
on which It was publicly received into the
fellowship OF neighbOriug Churches, or
shall by ilAgrant neglect exert perni.
cious and immoral influence on the
community or upon sister Churches.
1t Is their right, either by action or by
council, to withdraw their fellowship.
We hold that preceding disfellowship
In all such cases there should be such al.
tectionate and reasonable inquiry as shall
show that the evil is real, that the causes
OF It are within the control ol the Church,
that It Is not q transient evil, such as may
beiall any church, but Is permanent, and
tending to increase rather than diminIsh." !"
While 1t is not TO be forgotten that this
communication from Plymouth Church
IS entirely subsequent 10 the case as il
stood on the COnvening of this Council.
when Plymouth Church, by It's action OF
December 5th, had declared itself re-
sponsible for 10 other Church, and no
other Church Tor it, in respect to doctrine,
order, and discipline, which action in
terpretCd In the circumstances then ex.
lsting, implied a withdrawal to the
ground Of total independency, yet that
Church Is to be lraternally Judged BY It's
latest utterance. These professions on
the part of Plymouth Church may be
accepted IN other Churches as indicating
its intention 10 maintain an efficient dis.
cipline, and 10 regard the mutual respon.
sibility ol churches. At the same time the
Council feels constrained 10 declare that
these declarations seem to us inconsist.
ant with the resolution OF Interpretation
adopted by the Plymouth Church De.
cember 9th, 1873, and with other acts and
appearing in published doCu-
ments. We think that the action Of that
church, as presented in these docu.
ments If unmodified, would Justify
these churches in Withdrawing their
fellowship, from it, yet inasmuch as
Plymouth Church seems to US to admit,
10 its communication to us, Congregation.
al principles Of discipline and fellowship.
We advise the churches Conveniug this
council to maintain with it the relations
Of fellowship as heretofore, in the hope
that Plymouth Church may satisfy
these churches Of Its acceptance Of the
which II has Seen supposed TO
lisavOw. We also desire in this connec.
lion to reatiirm and emphasize the doc.
triues laid down in our platform or
allegation ol fellowship. This duty
applies TO all christian churches. In the
case OF those instituted be united in ac-
cordance with the Congregational polity
i involves that more intimate commu-
MON which is exercised In asking and
giving counsel, in giving and receiving
Admonition, and other acts relating to
doctrine, order and discipline. This mu-
:ual responsibility OF the Congregational
Churches has characterized their system
rom the beginning, distinguishing it
rom simple independancy with the anat-
Omy of local church. II Is one OF the es.
3ential principles OF CoDgregationalism |
It we have no basis In our polity |
Tor that system of cooperative effort 10 |
which our churches are pledged. We re.
gard, therefore, the principles OF fellow.
ship which pastors and churches con.
veniug us have so have go earnestly main.
tanned, to be those which we have 70
ceived from our fathers and the word of
God. We appreciate and honor their
fidelity to those principles under circum.
stances Of peculiar and severe trial, and
we offer our earnest prayer 10 the great
head Of the Church, that he may bestow
OD 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 NAV |
quicken in all our Churches, through these |
painful trials, spirit Of renewed fidelity |
10 the sacred obligations Of our covenants |
and our Church communions, and we
pray that he to whom all power in heaven
and on earth is given, and who has prom.
sed TO be with his Church always even
10 the end OF the world, and who under
The inspiration of his spirit and his truth |
has Joined these ChuIches In the grand |
and memorable past, standing shoul. |
der to shoulder In the great moral
and spiritual battles OF the age, may again |
unite them In their future conflicts and |
Of bis kingdom.
Clinton Avenue Congregational Church,
Brooklyn, March 9Sth, 1874.
Signed, LEONARD BACON,
Q. L. WALLER,
Moderators.
a. Il. QuINT,
]. G. MEsERNE,
Scribes.
1t is stated from reliable authority that
the final vote giving the result Of the de. |
liberations Of the Council was as follows:
81 voted for the result as 1t stands; 81
voted against II, and % refused 10 |
vote at all, In Plymouth Church |
while It's members regarded |
much Of the Councils final vote as not |
sound, yet in general they consider it |
an entire vindication Of the liberty oi Ply.
mouth Church, and they are greatly re-
ioiced over 1t.
After the morning services at Clinton
Avenue Church, Rev. Leonard Bacon,
Moderator OF the late Council, read its de.
cision 10 the congregation. But in Ply.
mouth Church, where Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher preached, not the slightest allu.
sion was made to 1t.