, 1874-03-31
THE RESULT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
COUNCIL,


Tho Advisory Congregational Council has at
last pronounced its decision in tho Plymouth
Church matter, which was, called to it's attention
by the Rev. Drs. Stolrs aud Burlington. Tho
decision royiews tho whole ground carefully and
consideratc1y, aud tho Committee, while they
have oxpresBed themselves in u worry temperate
and dignified mauner, aud have given Plymouth
Church the benefit Of every doubt, havc at
tho same time loft no room to doubt
their approval Of tho course of tho two
Now York churches, aud their condemnation Of
tho position maintained by Plymouth Church.
4 careful Analysis Of this document will develop
three lending points, which in roality include all
the minor details:
l. Tho Committee iudorsa tho action Of the
two New York churches in calling this Advisory
Council. Tho letter Of remonstranco and ad-
monition which they sent to Plymouth Churcl,
last full, they affirm, was called for. tsln this
act," Hay tho Committee, they represented
tho interests Of the fraternity OF Con-
gregational churches, whose principles of
discipline and whose fair Christian famo
were endangered by the courso which Plymouth
Church seemed tobo pursuing. For this moral
heroism tl1oy deserve thanks, even should
errors Of judgment bo traceable in some Of tho
details Of their procedure" In regard to tho
relations between theso churches and plymouth
Church. the Committee go stop further.
They express tho hope, which hope itself is
couched in such Language that 1t Aas all tho
forco Of u command, that the proceedings which
gave rise to this Council will not be precedent
for tho guidance Of Plymouth Church. II such
proceedings werc repeated, they would in
volyo disregard Of the first principles
Of Conascg gationalism, which would require tho
strongest possible protest. Coupled with tho
other statement, that oyary 1aoubor Is rcspon-
sib!o to the church for his conformity to tue law
Of Christ, and TINT tho church is responsible for
him, and that this responsibility docs not ceaso
till tho church, by somo formal and incorporate
act Inns declared the dissolution Of the covenant,
tho logical inference Is TINT tho two neigl!botng
churches may don.and that Plymouth Church
shall Investigate the charge Of slandor wltl las
beeu made agalnat Mr. Tlton. aud require tho
church other to prove or dtsproye it..
They may demand that If It IL proved
he shal! DO excomnaunicated, and. If 1t ia dis
proved, that ho shall be restored to membership,
or bo given Il letter to Homo other church. Iu
this connection, the law Of tho caso s distinctly
stated by the Committee: "This covenant may
DO broken by tho member. He may offond, aud
when duly admonishod may give no satisfactory
eyiaonce Of repentance. In that caHc, ho ia cut
off from communion; tho church, having given
its Testimony, is no longer responsible for linn
| aud ho cau bo restored only by the removal Of
tho consurc. Voluntary absence o! a resident
momher from tho communion Of church and
| from its public worship does not dissolve tho
covenant. but ia reasonable ground OF aumoni'
taon. and, II peraisted iu. Of flnal consuro."
T. Tho original action Of Plymouth Church Ii
condemned. THO Committee asy that tho acton
Of tue church, ~ set forth iu tho documents pro
scented in December laat, il they had not boor
modified, would have justified tho other ohuroho,
| In withdrawing Fellowship. Btnca TIN n,astins