New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-03
RELIGIOUS PHASES.
INDEPENDENCE OF LOCAL CHURCHES.

There was an immense number of people at
Plymouth Church last evening the occasion OF the
regular business meeting the church. Mt which II was
known that the troubles between aud the Clinonave
Church and the Church the Pilgrims would be brought
| up for settlement Taere was the utmost harmony
manifested among all the members OF the church pres
| emit Two important Questions-the letter adopted as
the reply Of the Church TO the committees headed y
DIR. Sorrs and DIR. Budington and the report OF the
committee TO whom referred the protest OF Henry
C. Bowenbeing decided without any dissenting voices
1t appeared TO he understood that this was Tue unai
| action of plymouth Church on both questions
As the religious were closed the con
gregaton resolved itself into business body Inc hS'
business the reading OF letter. dated Dec 49, 1871
from the Church of the Pilgrims aud the CllntohaVe
Church Thomas g. Sherman. the clerk of the Chnrch
said that before reading that communication he wished
| to make a short explanation:
The clerk Of the Cntonave. Church and the clerk OF
the Church of the Pilgrims to The former ces. OF
tue meetings at which their committee was appointeu
ave Church for copy Of their ma in exchange for
our own Upon reading 1t, the first thng at hlrn.hh
may be called at any time by the pastor notice having
been given IN the pulpit on the preceding sunday stat
| ing the object OF the meeting.
Mr. shearman then read a letter which he had written
to the clerk that church. II called for Certificate
from the clerk OF the Cntonaye Church thaS the meet
ing of Nov T. which the Committee OF Conference was
appointed and the subsequent meeting OF Nov a. were
|
church Attention called to the fact that the record
previously submitted showed regular meeting since
oct. then road the i"tier OF Dec IS
from the two churches. which has already been pub
| lished in The TRIBUNE.
| Mr. Beccher then came forward and said:
This letter was after the Adjournment OF our
former business meeting, aud of course coud MOI I've
| brought before the church until TINS nt uhlens u was
| upon I, specially called meeting 10 came into my
hands. aud deemed It not inappropriate 70 NIX some
preparation IN behalf OF the pr3tnerhoo, OF ,s cnnlSn
for r.nX IN ms
the forn reply drawn up, which shall represent not
asked several brethren to express in writing
their idea OF this document, and also myself nave
drawn up reply ana now request Prof Robert Ray
mund read the church the document winch nave
placed III his hands, move that IT be signed II IT
of this meeting the clerk Of the church an mat 1t
be forwarded these gentlemen OF The committee as
the answer OF this church to the document whch you
| have heard.
Prof Raymond then stepped upon the stage anu read
| The letter 1t was marked all through with NJ
Beechers personality ana repote with hits which
called out continued laughter. IL was as follows:
Plymouth Church. it said founded at u time when
the domination OF ministers newly-formcd congresa-
tiona churches the City OF New-lorK had excited
profound ndignation and It's members were determneu
from the beginning to vindcae the rights OF the pother
hood They refused to allow council 20 organize toen
mr. their minister TO preside e1 otcio any meeting
and there never las been formal business meeting OF
the church ut which he has presided unless elected by
vote OF the church In view OF tins uniform practice
| Plymouth Church claims TO represent the ConSresa-
tional poty truly than either OF the Two churches
| that have called it to account
While the whole spirit and temperament OF Plymouth
Church. resulting from lis origin and ITS management.
ON principles equally applicable 10 all Congregational
churches renders it TO interference III Its dOnes-
tic affairs on the part any other church. yet had this
| course been taken kindly and fairly b. the whole
brotherhood of both either of the churches there
would have been every disposition to afford them all the
light and knowledge that they reasonably could have
asked. Instead of being thus approached, Plymouth
Church has been arraigned, catecnised ccndionhlly
indeed and threatened and all the questions of fact Of
| independoncy, possibility, OF relation to Colgre-
:atonalism Of competency to Join in calling council or
TO take part in one when called have been determined
Plymouth Church rfsents this mode OF procedure and
| thus deGnes its position:
We wish IT now to be distinctly understood that We
must hereafter decline to receive from Iou docum Mt
which accompanied 10y proof OF the authority OF
the whole brotherhood OF your churcnes regularly ana
| deliberately conferred; and that must decline 10
receive In case from them or IRON you letters con
danmg eovEes If church WITH the rcscrv1tion
answer your iekleI OF Doc 10 IN 'ne
would probably have desired to bring before ipptuaI
advisory council Bn aittr TINS ehattiom You Pr ,
church have completely altered the whole case, aud
that il these declarations adhered to- you 90 no see
| how we could enter any council. We infer that you
Withdraw yOur invitation. aud we shall there
have been by your We do decline
TO join in calling mutual council II is yOu who
10 first offered invitation, under dubious
authority and then wihdrawn IT,
Ia the second part "a Your letter you argue that tue
recent declaration Of this Church, quoting AMI inter
prcilng its ancient and uniered rules. cons utes
change in its position equivalent 10 voluntary disa
vowal OF Conglegltion1 fellowship This Il moi the case.
For Congregaoua4n is The conduct o; the affairs of
the Church by the whole bro ierhJod embarrassed
10y the unasSed Interference OF other churches, ms
view OF 1t Is at least as Old as im0nth Church Ii Is
as old as many congregational writers who have
pounded the principles winch DcAer sums np ia The
| following statement:
Chris. by hi. and ihsssh That o. hi apostle. pl',.d
the local church the s an1 tus iepo1otT OF ' ahuu
not olly I'D ipviiu, ebureL, ob-aieues Apostolic
counsel nd under the Apostolic perform nair,mms ed ali ie fanc
Of their chunh ne bu the SOLE blv Of their life aud
eppshsT. Recognized h sh ana da Of the brethren g m.Ac as
| decision upon iii nsitcrs.'-p H.
This view we also believe TO be Old the apostolic
| churches. The position of plymouth Church. delber-
| atey taken at the beginning, aud never changed, is
COngIegatiOnalsm, ~ understand it, hold it, and
| determined to maintain it, That IL does not prevent
church from giving receiving fellowship advice. and
this church ana of hundreds OF other Congregational
churches. That have not suddenly invented,
| discovered or remembered, IL may appear from the
remarks made iu the pulpit OF this church. last June
| the OCCASION Of collection FOR the Congregational
Union, q copy Cf which, as ph0nOgraphcaly reported
is appended letter We have desire inter
fere with the churches you represent in any course they
draw from truly Congreg ationa fellowship il their
| right to do But have not Withdrawn, and we
accommodation, the fundamental principle by virtue of
which exist chuIchthe principle OF solemn
and sole responsibility to the Master Tor the manage
ment Of our own affairs.
motion for tue adoption OF this letter then put,
| and debate following, 1t passed without a dis
sentng voice At Mr. Haliday's suggestion the
vote reconsdered to permit the addition OF Mr..
Beechers signature the document pastor Of the
| Church.
Dir shearman then read the report OF the Comm ttee
to whom referred the protest OF Henry c. Bowen.
This report to the effect thai the objections raised
by Mr.. Bowen against the report Of the Examining Com