Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-28

his opinion relates to the integrity and Christian
character of his pastor--he thereby has any claim
! upon the Church to unite with him in calling q
mutual council. He may, in view of the excited
aud unsatisfed state of the public mind, urge the
| Church to submit the case to a reinvestigation
| by tribunal removed from local and disturbing
influences; but if this proposal is not accepted he
has no alternative but to accept the decision OF
| the majority and either leave the Church in
binary way or remain in its fellowship, and labor
| in Christian spirit TO convince his brethren OF
| their error.
| ON THE FIFTH QUESTION
". The fifth question is follows.
Has the course of Plymouth church. and Of the
committee appointed by it, in the conduct o nego-
| tatons between the church and MR. Moulion con
| corning the call OF proposed mutual council &,
brief statement OF which is mcloscd been Use and
just, or has there been error on The part at the
| church in this matter which it should correct?
The answer of the council to this may be gath
cred from the following general principle
mutual council is selected by mutual
| agreement between the parties, and it is very
desirable that all the churches called should have
| the confidence of both parties in respect TO
impartially, if it is not almost essential to the au
| thoriy and effect Of its decisions 1t occasionally
happens that churches of the vicinage,
however high-minded and Christian they nav he
in fact, disturbed by local influences which
unconsciously affect their judgment, and there
fore they may properly be excluded from repre-
scntation in mutual council. 1t has not unfie-
stituted altogether from churches remote from
the scene of excitement. In respect to the
principal facts of the case, the council find no
disagreement between the statements of the
committee of plvmoptb I,b,rcb and NJ the ZEN
! resentativc of Mrs. Moulton. There may be room
for difference of opinion in respect to the con-
struction put by each party upon the propositions
and proposals of the other, but not in respect to
has no bcsitaiion in atfrm,no that the committee
| of Plymouth Church had right to object to the
| two neiyhborng churches and that they had not
| To-, IL onnor,,,,,;ty oc ,,oL;, Lnoyn tba;, oh
| ections at the time when thew were communicat-
ed II was vcrv unfortunate however that they
| dil not state ihem fnlIv at the first interview.
| when the nrincnle IN which they rested was mar
tally eynressed hut the Fact that they were made
of later ;ntcrv;ow. docs NOT ;nvaIJstc tho claim
| which they n,oed hat thcv we,e ...ircerelv de
s;rons ri Secur;p9 fair ami ;,nna,t;.l counci ~
| W. reora, that in view of his clam the rrnre-
sentative of Mira Moulton did not resnonl to their
ovnrossed Jos;,o and substitute two oher CHURCHES
| CO. .bso ~ ,,hch nL;oo,;on IA hoen r,nIo a nj
.Ins lrat;fy tho .,nrsssed do.;re of NJ. Wonlton
| for a mutual connciI We take the liberty to add
tbat ,hn nract;co nf adlrcssinr nrnIimin.ry inomi
| 80 " natore or cbr,cbes fnr Tho nu,nn., If "a,
cer,a;ninr wbether tbev will consent tn serve upon
| council i, in onr view omen to crave affections
| -
| On The LAef Qohsi'oN'
| V. The church has also presented the follow
| ing question:
Has Plymouth church in the principles and rules
which it has provided for the maintenance Of rider
| and the administration Of discipline or in any
known cases OF Its administration under tEo.e prh
cpes ndruies-gohe oeyonu us rights as d cnu VI
u Nfs, 80 az Jusuy w Of
~. ~.
mat part OF lhis question WHICH relates 70 tiie
pnncipies ana rules Oh thls Charfh mas areauy
peen answered.. Inc qucs'on ci 'iie aflA. ppm, "ion
10 the case Whch Cccasio1Tu loilheI councii was
decided by mat council: me only case OF aulhi. u.
istfa.loh anuei lhese .tneipies "hiH W. -.
consiuer Is 'he caee VI VI. P"s'pi ti'',
inns IRON 'ile isa m~ Gu i'' MAUI .uE .ha.
IL was me real tase iol ln'es'isaor' .nas SUN. INV,
| ohe ia y houtn cn"tCn vi VI. y. ~ ,. 10 y;
sought ior sa'isla1'lon ilo'h VIC p'7toi hson ~
respect 70 inc rear elouhus Vi 1ne siahueious re-
Poits winch WIZ ~ VI. ii'u ' .
doan in Matthew Is. according to the uniform
practice of our policy for 397 years. this grevous
and appalling calamity with all is evils might
| never have been known II the pastor were guilty,
| he would have left the ministry if he were inno-
cent, he would have explained his silence and been
restored to the confidence OF the brother who had
| sought to gain him.
We find no reason to call into question the
method by which the committee was constituted
which investigated the charges against the PASTOR
their high personal character, nor the integrl-
| ty with which their proceedings were conducted.
We believe they sought to satisfy their own minds
to the guilt or innocence of their pastor. They
sat in secret every such inquest does and ought
every similar investigation in calling for witnesses
and in judging whether their testimony would be
material, but they were held to the thorough dis
charge of their duty by such consideration of
| evidence as is rarely offered the minds of men.
| The Church accepted their report, and confirmed
| it by unanimous vote. That judgment was re-
affirmed by the verdict of three fourths of jury
after six months trial of extraordinary severity
in a court of law. While then, we find nothing
to condemn in the present united adherence Of
Plymouth Church 10 its pastor. and while we full
" recognize the right to decline any further in
vestigaton upon the evidence hitherto brought
against him, we cannot overlook the relations of
this Church to its pastor, to the churches of
fellowship, to all churches Of our common faith,
nor the dissatisfaction which more or less extern
s"eS p'''"ls WIN 'Ae p'o''ou' INV A'oA''
!o"inh" IN l,oN nn' iaADAn'
pastor OF this Churcn mas oeliahoeu 'nat his ac
such investigation as this council may think des-
able Tor the peace and prosperity OF the cnurches'
anu ~ raro,ors nrnceedngs th;s cnunc;l adx;ses