Litchfield enquirer., 1876-01-20
Church Government.

MR. EDlroR:-As perceive by the pe- rusal of your last issue of the Enquirer" that you have reported, and think some what erroneously, "An Important Issue Decided" on a motion made by Deacon George NJ. Woodruff "to allow women to vote at church meetings, and that "Mr. Geo. M. Woodruff made an exhaustive re- ply to the usual scriptural arguments against the measure" and that "he was opposed by Mir. s. N. Bronson with for midable array of texts, and that several of the older members" (among which was the Hon. Geo. c. Woodruff ''sbook their heads quite audibly." &c. :ps~ssa .>f'
 Mir. Woodruff, senior, remarked, ''that the vote proposed was contrary to the practice of th1s Congregational church for the past one hundred and fifty years" -' "
 followed the motion when made, by the declaration that this was an i,,aovation upon the established system of the Con- gregational system of church polity; and with the following remarks (very hastily penciled, an evening or two previous) as introductory to subsequently, designed argument Out which had no time to prepare) should no other more competent person oppose the proposed motion; and not then supposing that I was to be met by an opponent prepared for weeks before to meet this question in all its bearings, but whose main drift in the argument Gas l understood it) was to show that the church at Corinth, addressed by St. Paul, as would be considered at present worthy to compose Christian church, with their unhallowed daily lives and practices
 Hence St. Pauls rule Gas he claimed, and particularly as regarded the female mem- bers) was that they, the female members, should not speak or address the churches in convocation. although it was not en- forced by "Thus saith the Lord," and was therefore liable under different cir cumstances to be abrogated as inexped;- ent and unnecessary. now quote from my hastily prepared. memoranda. ss
 ''I would like to inquire, frst. by whom and from whom this motion proposed originated? Have the ladies, or female portion of our church proposed it's intro duction as rule of the church? If so, in what manner? Has petition been circulated through their memberships, which has received a majority of their signatures and that expressing their de- sire to be considered a ruling portion of our church, as they probably would be, if acting in concert, as they-I suppose now comprise majority of. its member ships. and probably ever will: and if so, would also like to be assured that they are prepared to assume aU of thc duties and responsibilities of the present male nac,7abers of the church, such for instance ss presiding over it's deliberating assem- plies; keeping it's records; writing its letters missive; attending as delega tes it's councils and consociations, and taking their part in disciplining its delinquent and unruly members, and assisting in its regular oral services. If they propose and agree to assume and perform all of these duties. in their order, may, per haps. add my vote, with God bless you. and consider. St. Paul's instructions and teaching. as applecable to the present, as ''o.d fogyish' and obsolete. But 1 if so-what shall we say to the policy of the Congregational church. See Taylor Congregational Catech1sm. pages 79, so, and S1. and his answer to Q's 11th on page 11th, and Q's 18th, on page 18th, as laid down and elucidated by our homo. ed teacher, the Rev. Edward R. Tyler in his if'Congregational .catechism containing a general survey of the organization, gov ernment, and discipline tof Christian I churches, (see page 85) where in designat- ing the poaoers of Congregational churches in the form of questions and answers, he says that a Congregational church is a democracy. All the members are equal, and all it's affairs are definitely determined by major vote of the broth erAood, (assuming, as I take it, that the i''aGte members o,siy 0ote They he says, select their own officers, admit, govern, and expel their own members, and do all other things, which according to the laws of Christ. may of right be done in and over his church. and on page 69. Its +'t5- 4ts' ts.}12l 23E-' 3I Y .l-,a5 lA ; A 2