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


action. 1t is fortunate for him that his
party in the House is in the minority, as
| it places him on the floor as the leader OF
the opposition to the democratic-conleder-
ates, and affords him admirable opportu-
mites to lead his forces in attack and aid
| them in defense, and in short to exhibit to
the best advantage the stuff of which he
is made Thus far he has not thrown
away any of his chances.
DECISION IND CLOSE or THE AD-
TISOY COUNCIL.
From the full report Of the New York dailies
VIC gather the following interesting facts relating
to the Advisory Council.
| The church was densely packed to hear the final
report of the Council, which was read by Rev. DR..
Clark. by request of Mr.. Beecher perfect quiet
prevailed, and no demonstration of applause was
INDUCED in. AS the result of its inquiries the
Council submitted the following:
| ON QUESTIONS ONE AND TWO.
| I. The first two questions submitted to the
| council by Plymouth Church relate to the teaching
| of the scriptures concerning the method by which
terminated and the consistency with Christian JUS
tice and the Word Of God of the special rule OF
the Church (Rule No. y, and also the practice of
the Church in the application Of this rule. In an
three principles: % That a person becomes a
| member of the church of Christ himself in COW
enant which in its nature is everlasting, and from
the obligations of which he can never be released
| by man. (2) That person becomes a member OF
| particular local church by entering into special
| nv virtue of which che ic tp
the church for his conformity to the law Of Christ
| and the church is responsible for him, and that
this responsibility does not cease until the church
| by some formal incorporate act has declared the
dissolution Of the covenant" 81 That O church
may declare itself released from all responsibility
for a member: First, by finally separating him
from its fellowship with censure after giving him
fair trial and using all reasonable measures to
bring him to repentance; second, it may do the
same without formal censure in many cases in
which person signifies by his acts that he has
abandoned fellowship with the church in doctrine
or worship or christian sympathy third, the case
may occur that member should openly and no.
toriOusiy abandon all communion with the church,
and also be charged with q scandalous otfense
either by public rumor or by specific allegations.
In such case the church may, to avoid greater
scandal, wise discretion in selecting the Of
Tense on which it shall separate him from its fell
lowshp, and discharge itself from all further re-
sponsibility for his conduct and character. We
acted upon in the administration of discipline 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, we suggest that it is deficient in not pro-
viding that notice should be given when practical
In the ordinary practice of the church the coun-
Gil, so far as advised, find nothing to condemn.
We are gratifed to learn that measures are in
progress to effect such change in the phraseology
Of this and other rules as to recognize and enforce
Itattr ft.n nr1A1
frmed.
ON THE THIRD QUESTION.
ii. The church asks the council what course it
ought to adopt in respect to five classes Of mem
bers, as follows:
First-Members who deliberately, purposely and
permanently absent themselves from The services
and meetings ofths church. without asking for let.
tiers of dlsmssion upon the ground that the church
has not taken certain steps mot affecting them per.
sonally) which these members profess to con clen.
tiously believe it ought to have taken, but which
they never asked it to take.
Second-Members who absent themselves in like
manner upon the same ground, with the diffe ence
and that the church has, wi h substantial unanimi.
ty, declined to do 50.
Third Members who absent themselves in like
manner upon the ground that they believe the pas.
tor of the church to be guilty of crime notwith.
standing the church has made as complete and ex.
harstve an investigation into the facts as a church
could make, and has acquitted and sustained its
pastor without dissenting vote.
fourth--Members who absent tn sely.s In like
for some or all Of the before stated
Flh-Members who are generally repoi ted and
believed to have made charges or insnuations of
gross immortality against other members of the
church, and who decline either to affirm or DENY
the truth of such reports or Of such charges when
properly questi med by suitable brethren Tor the
sake Of the purity and peace of the church.
To the first four Of these questions the council
would make the following reply:
The reasons supposed to be given by the persons
described for deliberate and permanent absence
from the services and meetings of the Church
without asking for letters of dismissal are, in our
opinion, entirely invalid, schismatic and unehris-
tan. The example is destructive of all Church
organization. If member is so far dissatisfied
with the decision Of the Church that he cannot
share in its fellowship, he should at once ask for
dismlssion in an orderly way. If he feels bound
to remain in its fellowship for the purpose of
bringing its members 10 better mind, he should
show himself loyal to its authority as the essential
condition of prosecution the work to which he
may think his Master has called him. The con-
cet that he may protest more eifectually against
the supposed errors of the Church by withdrawing
partially from its fellowship we regard as eminent.
| ly dangerous and disorganizing.
| The fifth case stands by itself and admits of
| only one possible answer. A person who is con-
victed of the otfense described and can give no
reasonable explanation of his conduct ought il he
persists to be cast out from the Fellowship Of the
Church.
While we assert these principles we would ad
wise any church that, in time of excitement, it
| should use great forbearance with persons who
have withdrawn themselves from its fellowship
under mistaken theory of their rights and duties
| as members Of the Church of Christ.
ON THE FOURTH QUESTION.
| III. The fourth question is as follows:
Ought this church to call mutual or other coun-
Gil OF churches for the purpose Of investigating the
character ofits pastor, when requested to DO by
a member OF the church who has never submitted
any charges against the pastor, and when such re.
quest is made for the first time more than year
after an investigation has been had by the church
itself and the pastor has been sustained by unan.
mous vote?
To this question the council would reply as fol-
lows:
The Church is the tribunal appointed by Christ
for the investigation Of the offenses of its mem
bers. A mutual council cannot, in the nature of
the case, exist unless there are two parties, Of
which is aggrieyed. In the case supposes the coun-
ell cannot properly be called unless the aggrieved
person has submitted specific charges against the
pastor, and can furnish prims facie evidence that
be can make them good. We utterly and emphat-
icaly repudiate the doctrine that because Church
! member finds himself in minority-even though