The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-01
TINE FUTURE or PLrMo crn On rRcH
What NAV be Done nv Congregational
Chnrches In Good standing.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Str: A
correspondent OF the N,tr rorI. Tribune has IN
dertaken % instruct the Rev. Dr. Budin-ton as
to the laws OF the G ngre gntional Church"
lie saws "rhe Congregational chur hes are in
dependent Of each other in regard To their in
tern | order, and even Their associations have
only advisory power. It Is amusing to an old
Ccngregationalist TO hear the Rev. Dr Budine-
ton talking OF the CONGREGATIONAL Church as
though there existed one general ecclesisstic |
body ~ that name. lie knows not, seeminrly,
that the power that holds together ConRrega-
ttOnnl churches must ne that Of love md
brotherhood, as Il cannot be OF authority"
THIS CORE pondeut NAV he ian OLD Congre-
gttionalist." hut when he speaks Of "Congrega-
tonalism without an ecclesiastical body ne
shows Ms own ignorance. 10 sneak ~ " tho
laws Of Cnngregatlonalisn' when IL l. without
n ecclesiastical bod Is sell evident abs urd-
ny. The mistakes 80 often made in the pape rs
a. the day as 10 the polt' ~ the Congregational
churches are more commonly Occasioned 10y an
AMP rent ignorance of the relative differences
between the Congregational ana lndri -pdent
churches. A Conversational church ~ NOT an
INDEPENDENT church. nor - an Independent
church aCongrePation church.
At the general convention ~ the Conrrega-
n nal churches held ~ Boston IN lsil me old
latiorm winch had bcen in furce since lfrS was
revised, AMI such Corfectinus aud n ditIons
were made swere deemed necessary. ono OF
the articles adopted BY that convention reads a.
follows:
council orderly a'emh ~ 10 advise concerning me
acts and administrations Of enureh, ana nnai that
d,ctrincs when su6vert the onndsti5ns OF nc Car
tan h, o. That II wiluT toirrtes and unholds 40.
disregaIs- the communion = caurches, may, ter G.
a4monrion, advise ne enurcrs TO withhold from ihat
errinc church all acts OF communion tll 10 shall give
evde &c Of retormaton. Any eh1r, h, AZ er due ~d-
mon ton, NAV call eoun,n 20 advise m such Gaze.
he grcgatlonal churches maintain that
each indlvldnh church, So fir rs rel ties to iis
Internal af in and organic alton, Is properly nd
entirely independent; mat each church shouid
mainf in the evangelical faith, administer the
dIsciLline Of the hOuSeho odd OF Christ, and CON
tinue In responsible fellowship wi h other such
churches. 80 that If its fuh should cease 90 be
,vanEcrc4l, It's watoi md caro- oter It's mem
bers should be nh ndoncd, these churc es
may munstrate with II, and n II should uer-
sist, may witt draw iru IN II the fellow ship which
had been given onlN on these essential cordi-
tons. ne CONGREGATIONAL ChuIcn holds That
each individual church, SO far AS relates to IT.
internal affairs, T. . tireiv independents, While
I'm relation to It's order, dlsci une, and doctrine,
1t j. amcuahlo to the churches with which II IS
IN fellowship.
he lndclend Mt Church maintains thit
so FAR ~ relates 30 its internal oTPaniza-
tion and o. matt re- or doctrine, order ard DIS
rinlne N / ainenahle to no other cglcsiaattcal
body. Ii holds Itself released from all response
blhts {" other churches, aud I'll other churches
rele .ed from all responsibility 10 II. 1t may
change MS creed as often 70 plcaecs and invite
10 ITS fellowship lniNersalists, I'm ariuns,
SWedenhoreians funtheista, or even Atheists.
IL nay dispense with its chiirch creed in the adj
mi SION Of members TO the church. - D b ru.cs
sion, rs N the c stom Of the Brooklyn PlYmo ia
Ca.ich, VINO voted Jan. :, 1850, that ncmhcrs
joining IN cnurch, on rloier-iuu, should not
be req lirc1 70 give their as-e II To tuo articles
Of b. b whicl we @ adopted hY the chuicu is
rmation Ana wnie claiming m ieliuwsaiu
~ tho Congregation e. iches, theN re de
MED the pIiyi, &c Il rcm0n- rance IN case ~
hereGy, lax dlsciunc. or stundnious offence on
the plit o. Indeueudent CHURCHES"
he currest ondent ui TIC y l. Tribuns can
MOI but perceive int general ecc Ell stic /
hod, ol .he Cnn-I,e lioh.' nd.no dpet oAi =
WITH not merely ADVISORY but also Win dlscl-
lhnary powers