New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-25
YORK; pAnY TRIBUNE MARCH, SUPPLEMENT-

question was Not the forms but only the principles Of
Presbytersnism prescribed" And when las some did
they briefly stated those principles the resemblance OF
their forms OF language those Of conservative Congre
gationasts was so marked that o blind listener might
well enough suppose he was hearing summing up Of
CoDgregatonalism from Prof. Park or DR.. Bacon
perhaps pity that the Cambridge and other Con-
gregstonal platforms much occupied with details.
and that mere usage be put In tho foreground
as the source OF authority instead Of principle But
careful student of these documents and Of the
companying history, will easily discover the simplest.
plaiDost. and most eommonsense principles running
through tho whole system 1t might be difficult to put
into brief formula all the conceptions Of the who
evolved from the COMMISSIONS of centuries the system Of
church order In New-Engsnd. But the leading prnci-
pies may be stated in such simple way as this
l. The individual is independent Of both tho local
church and the ssterhood Of churches In all matters
belonging exclusively to himself
q The local church Is independent OF individual dcta
ton, on the one hand and of supervision from the sis
terho0d OF churches the other. In all matters
tanning exclusively to its own internal affairs.
s. The sisterhood OF churches Is independent Of IN
dvidual dictaton and also Of local church in all
matters OF common concernment just as the United
States House of Represe ntatves, as body, is in
dependent both OF its individual members and Of the
States they represent Tue majority lawfully asccr-
taned Is the only governing That is one church
In such matters has equal rights with another and their
common verdict alone should control question Of COM
Government This verdict may be reached in any
way the churches may choose The established mode In
times is by the independent action consent OF
each church. after receiving the advice Of council
The New-England Fathers, however provided for the
decision Of all such questions through their Church
Stale" Since the separation Of Church and State in
New-Ens gland, vital principle has been lost
sight Of until its practical revival recently IN the or
Of the National Council, and in the function
OF supervision and advice concerning general Interests
which 1t will necessarily exercise The loss OF this
wheel the coach for nearly century has seriously
impeded the progress of Congregationalsm outside Of
New-Engand and is the main OF Its failure to be-
come dominant church order Of the nation 10 which
1t gave form and almost existence. DenOminatona in
terests In all their enterprises ed
vocational Institutions, publications and newspapers rep
port the pastoral office, and now even individual
church membershp-have been left lying about. like
abandoned foot balls paygr0und. for body who
chose to pick up and kick about their personal In
terest or caprice might dictate. Slowly but steadily ts
thing Is changing.
without here discussing these principles the point TO
make that they fur common sense, and, as such
will commend themselves to the Of the church and
the men Of the world alike. II the Council called 10
Brooklyn shall enunciate these similar principles, and
shall decide tho in hand by strict application OF
them, Congregaonasm will gain national reputation,
which 1t ought to have had long ago, as system Of
"sanctihed common sense" J.RG
Binghamton, ". Y, March 1e. 1874