Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-03

fANf 414hN A'is II AEh 4-'f E-9A lhA 44DHs
To satisfy other churches, and to pat al
end to all doubts which may exist in tht
world at large, provision has been made fol
a commission Of five prominent men, to b'
selected hv a committee Of three from among
twenty CJngresationalists Of eminence anC
undoubted integrity. 10 receive and exam
inc all charges against Mr.. Beecher, which
they consider not sufficiently tried. Tn,
three gentlemen who are to select the com
mission-Pr0f. Dwight of New Haven; Rev
DR.. Wellman. OF Maiden. Mass, and Hon
Bradford L Wood, Of Albany-are men o.
the highest standing, and the list Of gentle
men from whom they are to make up tn,
tribunal contains such representative name
as ex-Pre~ident Woolsev, of Yale ex-Presi
dent Hopkins. Of Williams College presi
dent Angel, Of Michigan University Presi
dent Chamberlain, Of B)wloin College
Prof Seelye, Of Amherst; Judge Shipman %
Connecticut Alpheu~ Hardy, Of Boston
and other,
the FINAL slENES
Tie evening session of the Council, whici
was also the last. was the most interesting
and earnest Of all. The news that an open
session would be held spread rapidly through
Brooklyn. and Plymouth Church wa,
filed to hear the findings of the Council
The excitement was intense The Council
met a few moments in private session to give
final share to the vital points of the reu0rt,
and in the meantime Mr. Beecher took the
pulpit and called upon his friends to receive
the report Of the Council with no expression
If applause. The organ sounded as the
members of the council filed in from the
Snnday-school room. The scribe read the
rcr0rt on the result Of the Council. which
was listened TO with hreathle-s interest
The Rev Dr. Wellm2n took the pulpit and
addressed Plymouth Church on behalf Of
the Council lie dwelt upon the remarka-
Die unauimity and Christian deyoteiness
which had marked the deliberations Of the
Council and closed VITA an expression of
sympathy for the pastor.
President Sturteyant. Of Illinois. fol-
lowed in n brief speech yin1icating the hon
ct motives and intentions Of the Council
/ toward Plym0uth Church, but more e>pec-
/ ially toward the purity OF the Church Of
/ Christ. President Porter, Of Yale. gave an
account; OF his first acquaintance with Mr..
| Bsecher's troubles, and while he did not
| believe in Mr. Beccler- metaphysics. and
/ while be dill ROT ALWAYS believe in Mr.
Baechcr's theology. he did have full
| confidence in his purity. and admiration for
his so.t-sacriicing course, while lie regretted
IL unfortunate consequences.
DR.. Bacon male 4 characteristics speech,
He said be did not come there either to try
Mr. Becclcr ~ TO sioriiy him, but to affirm
and maintain that which the result Of the
Council declared. namely. that until the
pastor Of the church shall be proved upon
the allegation Of definite charges to be
guilty man. be shall be held to be an limo
cent man lie called upon Mr. Beecher to
speak, and the latter stepped to the pulpit
table, and scarcely raising his hand from its
support delivered an address which was
one Of tie most impressive addresses OF
biz life. Tie Plymouth pastor closed By
thankfully accepting the advice of the
Council, and declaring that it should speed
lily he put in practice.
TIlb COMMISSIONS oE THE COUNCIL.
In answer to questions one and two. the
Council advises
First-lhat person becomes member
of the Church of Christ by vows and acts
which are made directly to Christ himself
in the covenant which in its nature is ever
lasting and from the obligations of which
he can never be released BY mar.
Sec)nd-Ihata person becomes 4 mem
Der OF particular local church by entering
into a special eoyenent, by virtue of which |
he Is responsible to the church for his con-
t0rmity to the law Of Christ and the church |
l. responsible for him. and that this re- |
sponsioility does not close until the church, |
by some formal incorporate acts, has de |
clared the dissolution of the covenant
Thiri-That church nav declare it,e If |
released from all responsibility for member
lst. By finally separating him from its fel-
lowshin with cen,ure, after giving him a
fair trial and using all reasonable measures
to bring him to repentance. u. 1t NAV do
the same without formal ceremony in many
cases in which a person Signifed by his acts
that lie has abandoned fellowship with the
church in doctrine or worship or Christian
sympathy. 81. The case may occur that
a member should openly and VIGOROUSLY
abandon all communion with the church
and also be charged with a scandalous
offence. either b, publc rumor or BY speeif-
ie allegations. In such a case the church
may, to avoid greater scandal, use wise
discretion in selecting the offence on which
it shall separate him from its fellowship
and discharge itself from all further respon-
sibility for his conduct and character. We
believe that these principles are all scriptural
and acted upon in the administration Of dis
,ipine in churches of every denomination.
and that it is wise to affirm them at the
present time.
In respect to the rule No. of Plymouth
Church, in relation to dropping members, we
;uggest that it Is deficient in not providing
that notice should be given when practical
be. In the ordinary practice of the church
he Council, so far as advised, find nothing
20 condemn. We are gratifed to learn that
measures are in progress to effect such a
,hange in the phraseOlogy Of this and other
'ule- u to recognize and enforce more dis
inctly the principles which are here affirm
u. The first four reasons supposed u be
,iyen by persons prescribed for deliberate
md permanent absence from the services and
meetings of the church, without asking for
etters Of dismissal, are, in our opinion, en-
irely invalid. schismatic and unchristian.
The example Is destructive of all church or
animation. Ii member j. so far dissatis-
ed with the decision of the church that he
annot share in its fellowship, he should at =
nee ask for dismis>iOn in an orderly way. :
be feels bound to remain in fellowship ,,
Or the purpose Of bringing its members to q.
better mind. he should show himself loyal
. its authority as the essential condition of .
the work to which he may think /.
is Master has called him. The corceit :
nat he may protest more eiectually against =
he supposed errors Of the church BY with :
rawing partly from its fellowship We re- y
ard as eminently dangerous and disorganiz- .
x. h
The fifth case stands by itself and admits .
only one possible answer. A person who =
convicted of the offence described, and can =
nd no reasonable EXPLANATION OF his con !,
act ought. if he persists, to be cast out y
ON the fellowship of the church. While r.
e assert these principles, we would advise y
~ church that in n time of excitement it =,
lould use great forbearance with persons :,
no have withdrawn themselves from its y
llowship under mistaken theory OF their a.
ghts and duties as members of the Church :
Christ. To the fourth question the Conn-
would reply aa follows; The church is
ibunal appointed by Christ for the inve>ti- ei
lton Of the offences Of its members. A mu- Il
al council cannot, in the rature of the CT
Sc, exist, unless there are two parties, one "