, 1876-02-25

thu Fundamental clements OF tho Christian
Church, With common rejoicing or secular
demonstrations; but It ahould 10 received with
grateful hearts. will, tl,ankfulnean and silence
hetoro God; md taae this opportunity bsto.e
to sou.
1ur cousott ExrEn.
Tl,er hnrHt Of harmony arose from tho or
gan, and thu Council filed in by two separate
doors, aud tho choir rote mud sapH triumphant
hymt. 49,.
ttun 10 tue flrss Two gucsttons tho report
@ oees s''S hat o'hst sSssi SSs ha"a ns opss; ssf;
aud .notoriously abanton alI oonn'nnfon
with Tho Church, and alho DO charged with, a
scandatous ofrennc, either BY rntlso rumor OF by
| may. to avoid greater scandal, use a w!ao ta.
crotio,, ID aeluc.iig tue ofcnso on which 1t snlE
separate him from i!s fcllo"ahfp. and alachat9o
!tso!t from all f'arthes rcspoIalbtllty for
t. .ho rule No; ~, T. Of J.. p!1y%ont1 1.a0'sn,
ID not providing tIat notice should bo given,
vhen rtae.icable. 1n tue Ordinary, practice Of
Tho church Tho Council. no far ~ advised. 1ud
nothing to condemn. Wo arc gtatttiod to learn
that neaanrcs arc In progress 10 effect chango
in tho rhrascology Of this and other ru!es. 10 rs
to recognize and enforce distinctly thu prInci-
plcB affirmed
lilo Church nsts tho Council what course It
ought to adopt In teuncct to five csaseea Of enl-
bars. To the first four tho Council xould maize
gyon by sho pssons dssebsa p1 os apcee
and pormanons sbsence from services and
meetings Of tho Church, Without ask .
| ing for lotters Of Dismissal. are. In our
unchristisu. Tie example is destructive
OF all church organisations. II q mombct ID 80
far dissatisfied with tho decision OF tho church
that ho cannot ebero IN i.s fellowship, 10 shonld
II he focln bound to remain In ths fellowship
for tho purpose OF bringlng.its mombcEs to =
bettor mind, hs should show Ai,nself
,1fysl ,,, to rs authority, ,p. es n cssen. t:
to TO- sh'ela 10 may tliuk h's Master hsa csi1ad
hin,. Tho conceit that he may protoat moro
etfoosuatly against supposed errors OF tho
Church by Withdrawing partially from iio follow:
thip, we regard ha sniueutly dangerous and
dsosganizing.
is as follows.
FiHh-Membezs who arc generally reported and bc-
mmnsalsy against othor members Of church. and
who accllnn cihur to affirm deny tho truth Of such
o b:sish Ss hs ss s pa, ss
reaca Of ths church.
Tho report says the !lfth caso asnuds by tsolr,
and admita Of only one possible anaver. Aper-
and can fiud no reasonable explanation Of hla
condnct. ought. II he .reraists, to bo enst out
from the fellowship Of tho Church. Whi!o vs
sss anu 1e'' oba4oh p5hn'pt@s @ "G would ,oo H
Of excitement It rhould use eress forhoaranco
| NTH peraonH who haYe withdrawn themselves
| from ita fellowship under malaken theory Of
their rights and duties IS members OF the Church
Of OhKias,
| TIE FounTn QuEsr1oN.
| 70 tho fourth question tho Council reply 40
| follows: Tho church Ia tho tribunal appointed
By Christ for The, investigation Of thn ofrenscs
cannot, in tho nature Of Tho case. szias, pnlsss
thero nfo two rhr.ca, ono Of which Is agg1ieycd.
In tho c:so supposed tho Couucil cannot properly
bo called unless the aggrleved person llas rub.
nish prima fneto evidence that he can mako thom
tho doctrine that because church,
momoer fnas himself 10 a. minority.
aud Ch5fut!nn character Of his PASTOR that ho
thcroby has any claim upon tho church to unto
With him III calling Mutual Council.
TUE FIFTH QUESTION.
fact, beng disturbed by local infu-
snes n nay ns9efy n be ehos EXCLUDED lss. fom
other churchos for thosc objected to-, and thus
crafty tho expressed desire Of Mrs. Moulton for
Mutual Council.
TIE B1xTH QUESTION.
Question sixth Has plymouth Church iu tho
psancirlea aud rolos which Il hes provided for
tho maintenance OF order and auminintr.-
lion OF d!sclpllne, or in snY known
csses Of Ito administration under those
rights rs Church et ChrIas 40 just!yt to forfeit
Its claim to tho confidence aud fellowship 0! Con-
gregatiouhl churches Z
~ In reference 70 this question tho Council nays :
Tho part which relatcs TO tho ruloa OF tho
church has already !bcen anB1stod. Tho
question OF their application to this case
v.s decided BY fornaer Council. They
from tho pastor hmsslt the grounds Or Of tho s ssu.
church pol|ty for s97 yoars. II this we're done.
ii tho pastor were ga!lty he would haso loft tho
stored to conadsuee: Wo ind 10 zoasou to
comntso hss'e aaa As sonstatsa sasd y EAcs ss a
yeatigatcd tho chateea against tho pastor
nut thoy cannot ororlook:the relations Of Ply,n-
common faith, nor tho dissatisfaction which
moro or Less prevails With TIM previous InYestl-
cation. Who finding nothsng to condemn In
tho adherence Of tho church to 1ta psator atter
Investigation and trial. and whi1o recognizing its
right to decline any further investigation, atl in
Wow of the paBtor's demand to bc brought facs
to faoo With hio accuscrs. osc., thoy recommend.
Plymouth, this church to empower commission
Of Ave to bo croatod by committee OF thsso
hereinafter specified ont Of tho twepty
hereinafter named. tho duty OF which
charger nga!nnt tho pastor Which thoy my 10. ,.
gard ~ not slready sufficiently tried. Any three
OF this Committee shall be a quorum. aud shall
hAvo power IN cAso Of failure 10 complete
other brethron ot known ability aud in.
toErity. 1t Ia provided that the Com-
mission shall not no constituted I'LL :
lesa formal charges agalnat the paator ahall
within lE1tY days after tho dissolution Of tho
Council BY party making himself responsible
for tho truth and proof Of tho same, ualesa
Within tho same time 1t ahail DO hd]udesd to be
church aud Committee Of Three that r. =
tant tessimony, not previously gives is to
might throw light npon the char Bugges-