New-York tribune., 1876-02-05
CHURCH AND STATE.
soMR OF DIR. BACON's STATEMENTS EXAMINED
70 fAH Edikor OF Ths Trtbhne.

soMR OF DIR. BACON's STATEMENTS EXAMINED.
TO the Editor Of Ths Tribune.
SIR In THE TRIBUNE Of recent date, under
the heading Of Plymouth Yale" there s report Of
lecture the method Of church discipline OF ofenders
by the Rev Dr. Bacon delivered in his regular Of
seminary lectures at Yale College. Commenting the
referred to. from which the following quotation
appears 1.-THE OF the Church appointed
the prevention and removal OF oenses and the recovery
OF offenders" Dr. Bacon remarks: Every of,ense OF
which the Church take notice is oense against
Christ, against God, against the Church. and Christian
profession and the Church takes notice Of IT, not for the
OF rghting the wrong tho who commits the
wrong, but for the sake Of vindicating the Gospel
and securing the peace and purity Of the
Church" The object Of Church discipline -
given In the manual and that stated by Dr.
Bacon appear to me ~ be somewhat in conflict In one
important particular. Whether this be so or not
Rghting the Wrong" II not the surest way OF "secur
ing the peace OF the Church" is certainly OF the
most eectua ways OF vindcang the honor OF the Cos
pei. "Iu England" Dr. Bacon says all who have
been chrisened are members Of the Church and the
last act Of prison chaplain toward condemned orim-
naI Ia to administer the sacrament just before he led
To the scaOld" Under this comprehensive expression
The Church OF England II Of course included, and per
haps intended TO be specially designated II IT is to bs
understood by this statement that the Church OF En-
gland sanctions practices the administration of the
Holy Eucharist indscrm nately condemned criminals
or to any Others without profession OF deep pentence
bewang their sins and wickedness, aud with stead
fast faith I'm Christ calling God "a have mercy on
Them DR. Bacon entertaDs most erroneous impression
upon the subject Ills not the Teaching nor Is tls
practice Of the Church Of England.
DR. asserts that II an offender under sentence
the law should repent that ~ question between ha
and God The church cannot regard repentance IN sch
case" Why mott Is not this just such case as the
church can and must II she would be faithful 70
the spirit and teaching OF her Divine Headf Tnr Dtse
laws administered by an upright Snd impaItlal Judge,
may through circumstantial evidence; or had laws
accused person with no apparent pOssipIiy ot
his innocence" And yet the man may 60 o the scaiiOd of
stake with clear conscience while the odin OF eliis
upon him. and disgrace upOn the friends ana rea-
tyes he leaves behind. Shall tho Church codiy say TO
that man as he goes to the scaold or Is bound to tho
stake the law has decreed your foe, AMI that decree
pose the is guilty, ackuowlcdsei to be 70
b. lis own confession, il he sincerely repents,
shall not the Church. IN the spirit and er
ample OF her Divine Master, offer even to the
While the church IL obedicnt and submissive to the law
and administration of the law Of the Sate there are
prerogave and be governed and guided by her own aw
Of right and justicc-nOt IN dsregardng, bidding den
ance to- dioDeyng the Law OF the State but wlle SUD
mtting the law II In itself unjust ia It's ad
mnstration mildly in the spirit her Divine Founder
protesting against the wrong. Upon this principle 0f
right rests "A rock the Church and the Christian
faIth. Civil law il not always based on equity, and
when II is not always fairly administered. Were IL 80.
We would not a Nation be called upon 10 witness 20
many sad sIecaces of fraud, robbery. and maadnlns
tratiOn Of the law by called u I'LL the highest clyu
creed worthy Of death, and IN lnllment
OF the law, decree hc sIif red. That man. God
manifested in the hesh" We now ~ Christian people
worship In the Triune jehovah the Giver OF all righteous
law, only refuge on earth, whose submission 70
unjust law has secured to his people immortality.
Aec York, Jan. 10. 1875. PULfir