, 1874-03-30
C0hGREGATI0NALISM.
What Constitutes the Fellow
ship Of Congregational
| Churches.
The Real Question Before the
Recent Council in
Brooklyn.
Plymouth Church Saved Its Stand
ing by Its Recent IT.
terances.
Full Text Of the Verdict Rem
dered by the Council.
A CLEAR Exposition Of the Idea Of
oh.Membership.
e
Vote by Which the Councils Work
Was Approved.
How the Result Was Received by Pjyn-
0uth Church.
No Allusion to the Matter in Mr..
Bcocller's Sermon,
Vote by Which the Councils Work
Was Approved.
How the Result Was Received by Plym-
0uth Church.
No AlluSi0n to the Matter in Mr.
Bcocller's Sermon,

Special Dispatch to Tho cAtcag. Tribune,
NEW fonK, March 29.-Tho Council Of Con
gfoRatlonai churches, which oponed its sessions
last Tuesday evening, finished its work at mid
night OF Saturday, aftor two and a half days' so.
oret conferences. Tho questions before thiE
BODY were considered Of great Importance
among the churches, and II was nccossar,
that the anawer givcn to them should be careful.
y and intellgibly rendered. Whom tho oues-
ton relating to discipline. which cited tho par.
ttoular case in Plymouth Church, received tho
attention of tho Council, there was little division
concerning tho general answer to be rendered.
but many folt 1t would DO wise aud fair to TO-
gard tho case roforred to as
STRICTLY EXCEPTIONAL,
inasmuch as Plymouth Church profcascs to
regard it as such, and still adhorcs to tho funda
mental principles of Congregationalism, thore-
fore the Council anBwors to tho inqu1ring
churches that Congregational custom recognizes
no such method Of separation from the church
as they havo mentioned, and TINT thoir romon-
atranco with Plymouth CHURCH was wholly iusti-
lied by TINT apparent adoption by tho church Of
so dangerous principle.
THE LATEST UrTERANoEs
OF Plymouth Church, howovor, saved 1t from tho
advico of tho Council to tho other churches to
Withdraw fellowship, although those uttorauces
Wefo thought to conflict with the rosolu-
tlonB adopted Dec. g.. In word. tho
Council fully austains the action Of Drs. ssorrs
aud Budington, but advises them to continue
fellowship with Plymouth Church in hopes that
they may be satisfied Mt tho acceptance by that
church OF tho principles 1t has been supposed to
disayoy.
II ia undcrstood thot T., 4,n ,,.n.n,.,,
secret session, tho individual casea before the
Council wero lost sight Of, and the subject was
largely upon the great question of
between CONGREGATIONAL cl,urchos in ocnoro1
" Is tho Congregational body" they asked ia
Church which tic indiyidunl orcnnizatinns aro
but component parts, firmly united by tie bonds
Of fellowship, which involve mutraT and crave
or is it marc avstaIn -
which hold eomowlut similar vicwa
and employ liko methods, but wbjc1, aro ;udo,,
pendent Of each othor, as the Catholfca ara ~
tho Motholists 81 -
Tho past history and the future Of tho donom.
tous and they felt that ahould fellowship % be- d.
e Church would be dshouofysd an Is
aud powor bo dotraotcd from, ~ 1'' e''i'
:. %de e secret proceedings Of the Council closed
At ~ AAnAtt6 tU ID ulQQlEnE, When
TIE RESULT WAS ANNouvoEp
In public BY the Row. DR.. Leonard Bacon. Moder-
tor Of tho Council and Chairman Of tha comm;t-
teo;
The Rev. Or. Storra briefly responded in be-
half Of the Committees Of the two churches
thanking tho foreign delegates for their nationcaa
in the extended sessions. and their c1nar enunc;.
alton Of tho true principles of Copgrerational-
[To tAs Associated Pyxss1
NHyu FNDp
'ext OF the decision rendered by tho Copcrega-
.ional Council after secret session lastine t%o
lays and half:
This Oounci has listened carefully to the Cona.
nlttees OF tho churches BY which it was con
'oncd, aud has received from thom a o1oar md
EARNEST statement Of tho aims md principloa |
Which hayo determined the action Of I'm |
hurclloH in tho proceedings which tlov ask M
o review. We lave also Received from
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
communication declining an invitation from |
Ills Council, as vol AZ from tIeao two cjluro}na
0 appear by its pastor and committee. and aas
iHt Ill tho presentation and discussion of tha |
questions before us; but at tho same time offer-
slg suggestions aud arguments which 10 hova
arefu1ly and candidly Considered, We cannnt !
oubt the right Of these two churches tn mi; tl,o
dyice Of uB concerning tho regularity nni
'hristian character OF what they have
ono in their dealing with Tlymouth
'hurcl. No kclurch is boyoni f1,o
zach Of tho public opinion OF other ohurcioa
xpressod other dirootly or th1ougL an Fcojosi.
stical Council. ANY church in its osuont,ai and
nalicnable independence may, In tho exercise OF