Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-08
The BROOKLYN Council.

So deep aud widespread is the interest
felt in the deliberations and results Of the
great Congregational Council recently held
in Brooklyn, that we give below various
extracts calculated to throw light upon the
subject, and enable our readers to see for
themselves something Of the public verdict
upon the subject; ..
The closing passages Of Rev. DR.. SroRRs'
speech in presenting the case, were pro-
uounced eloquent in the extreme. We quote;
Therefore we ask you, from different and dis
tant parts Of the land, to adrise as what to do.
We are sorry TINT that advice should imply, in
the mind Of nybody, censure upon Plymouth
church. We can't help that; we do not ask
you for that censure. We ask you for ddcice
to US, and we ask for that advice upon presen-
tati0n Of the facts, which we are able to make
very impericctly only-which We could have
made far more perfectly it we had had the OPP
pOrtunty TO ask questions OF the representa-
tives Of that church on the floor Of this Council.
In some way or other, II seems to us, we must
be oxtrcated-extricatcd speedily and easily,
and without vehement and prOtractod con-
test. We have not time enough to carry on a
contest. The Master summons us 10 work
while day lasts, and as the day j. darkening on
the EARTH the day, We know, is d4rkening over
some OF us. We have not other months and
years to give to such a discussion Ms this
strenuous, prolonged, painful, tearing our very
hearts nsunder sometimes We must be able
~ lie out Of this more easily IT not, CUugre-
gationalism il condemned II not. men will say
this Congregational fellowship is the strangest
force on earth. This man, accused of an Of
fence against the pastor, goes out without re-
Election. We, who never uttered an insinua-
ton against that pastor, whose lips would have
been blstered il Il had passed them, standing
to maintain principles which to us are vital,
have reflections raining upon us as thick a.
snow-ilakos, and singing as Indian arrows.
| My heart beeds as | ask you to show me what
! shall do. While think Of him whom loved
50 long, VOW that Il my hand were to add, in
tentionally and OF malice, any sorrow to that
whitening head as IL journeys to the grave,
may that hand witlcr IRON my side.
Rev. Dr. LEONARD BACON, lecturer on
Church Polity at Yale College, aud Moder-
ator Of the Council, siuce his return to New
| Haven, has delivered a lecture to the Senior
class on the Brooklyn Council" His
well.known reputation as an authority on
Congregationalism, aud his excellent oppor-
tunity as presiding officer to Judge Of the
significance Of the Council, gave great in
terest to the lecture 10 reply to the ques-
ton What was the point on which advice
was sought from the Council?-Dr. Bacon
says;
| In essence there were only two, presented
under various aspects in a series OF questions,
which the Council carefully considered, voting
upon most of them with great unanimity in
their private session, though they did not think
it necessary to answer those several questions,
one By one, in their result
|. That act Just referred to, in which the
| Plymouth church threw away the opportunity
of yindcatng its pastor, was what gave &C.
cason for remembrance from the neighborng
churches. The regularity OF this pro-
ceedng, that is, the consistency OF it with the
true idea OF the relation between a Christian
church and its individual members was the
first point submitted 10 the Council for its
advice.
2. The advice of the Council On that point
might be such as would make advice on another
point necessary for the guidance Of the com
planning churches II the action of the Ply
mouth church in the case referred TO was in
consistent with the true idea OF the relation
between church and its members, what more
ought these two complaining churches to do in
the natter Should they continue to inter-
change with the Plymouth church those acts
OF inter communion which constitute the special
fellowship Of the Congregational churches?
Aud in reply to the question Of What
was done by the Council DIR BACON re-
plies that it afhrms-
L. That the complaining churches have a
right To ask advice concerning the regularity
and Christian character Of what they had done
in their dealings with the Plymouth church
. That in their remembrance they acted in
the interest Of the entire fraternity Of Congre-
gational churches, and deserved thanks for
their moral heroism.
| g. That their hr,t lettcr n,nde an Impression
la sumo measure different from what was in
tended, and wounded the seusibiities Of those
to whom it was addressed, Tor which they had
made in a subsequent letter all necessary ex-
| planati0n.
4 That an ingenious explanation from the
| Plymouth church Of the reasons which had
moved 1t to rid itself OF an offending member
by an excepuonable method might have brought
the correspondence to an early and happy ter
mination.
5. That the complaining churches would
have done wisely il they had urged tbeis re-
quest for a mutual council till refusal or eva
sion on the part Of the Plymouth church should
have become unequiy0cal.
6. That notwithstanding upon the Plymouth
church any advice concerning its method Of
dealing with offenders, the principles main
tanned by the complaining churches in regard
to responsibility OF church members are sound
7. That in view Of the latest utterancc from
the Plymouth church concerning its method of
discipline and its regard for the intercom
munion OF the Congregational churches, the
complaining churches are advised to main
tuin with It the relations OF fellowship as here
toiure, in the hope that the Plymouth church
may satisfy them of its acceptance OF those
principles which it has been supposed to dis
avow.
| Dr Racon adda.