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

had not been retained in the church, MOI
commended to any other church. We recits
some such affectionate and reasonable
inquiry as shall show that tn.
evil is real, that the causes O.
IL are within the control o.
the church. that the evil is not a transient
evil, such as may befall any church. but is
permanent and tending to increase rather
than to diminish, while it is not to be for.
g,tten that this communication from Piy-
mouth church is entirely subsequent to the
case, as it stood upon the converting OF
this council. When Plymouth church,
by its action of the fifth, had declared
itself responsible for no other church, and
no other church for it, in respect to doctrine,
order and discipline, which action inter-
preted In the circumstances then existing.
implied a withdrawal To the ground of total
indifference, yet what church is to be frater-
nally Judged by its latest utterance. These
mouth church may be accented
by other churches as indicating its intention
to maintain an efficient discipline, and TO
regard the mutual responsibility of churches.
AT the same time the council feels con-
strained to declare that these declarations
seem to us inconsistent with the resolution
OF Interpretation adopted by Plymouth
church on December 9Th, 1874, and with
other acts and statements appearing in
the published documents. We trust that
the action OF that church, as presented in
these documents, if unmodified would ius-
tify these churches in withdrawing fellow
ship, yet inasmuch as Plymouth church
seems to us to admit in its Communications
to use the
CONGREGATIONAL PRINcIPLEs
of discipline and fellowship, we advise
churches converting at this council to main
tain with it the relations of fellowship as
heretofore in the hope that Plymouth
church may satisfy these churches of
its acceptance of the principles which it has
been supposed to disavow. We also desire
in this connection to reafflrm and empha-
size the doctrines laid down in all our plat
forms of the obligations of fellowship. The
duty applies to all chri ian churches.
In the case of those instituted and
united in accordap~s with the
Congregational polit involves that
more intimate commu lion which is exer-
cised In asking and giving counsel, in giving
and receiving admonition and other acts
relating to the doctrines, order and
discipline. This mutual responsibility
of the congregational churches has
characterized tSeir systems from the
beginning, distinguishing it from the
simple INDEPENDENCE with autonomy of the
local church. 1t is one of the formative and
essential principles of Congregationalism.
Without it we have no basis in our polity
for that system OF cooperative effort TO
which our churches are pledged. We regard
therefore, the principles of fellowship which
the pastors and churches concerning US
have so earnestly maintained, to be those
which we have received from our fathers,
and the word of God. We appreciate and
honor their fidelity to those principles, I'M
der circumstances of a peculiar and severe
trial, and we offer our earnest prayer to the
great head of the church that He may be-
stow upon them, and the pastor and church
with which they have been in correspon-
dence, wisdom and grace; that He NAV
guide them in all their actions, and that
He may quicken. in all our churches
through these painful trials, a spirit of re-
newed fidelity to the sacred obligations of
our covenants and on church communions
and we pray that He to whom all power in
heaven and on earth is given, and who has
promised to be with His church always,
even to the end of the world, and who under
the inspiration of His spirit and His truth,
has joined these churches in a grand and
memorable past, standing shoulder to
shoulder in the great moral and spiritual
the future conflicts of the kingdom
Clifton avenue Congregational church,
Brooklyn, March 2Sth, 1874.
Signed,
LEONARD BACON, j. c. MEsERvE,
@. s. WALKER, A. III. CUNT.
Moderators. Scribes.
It was stated from reliable authority that
the final vote giving the deliberations of the
council was as follows: 81 voted tor the re-
suit as it stands, eight voted against and %
refused to vote at all. In Plymouth
church, while its members regard
much of the councils final vote as
not sound. Yet, in general, they consider 1t
an entire vindication of the liberty of Ply
mouth church, and they are greatly rejoiced
over il. Alter the morning services at the
Clinton avenue church, the Rev. Leonard
Bacon, the moderator of the late council,
read its decision to the congregation; but
in Plymouth church, where the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher preached, not the slightest
allusion was made to it.