The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-27
BEECIIERISMS NEW BEBUKE.
THE CLINTON AJENUE CHURCH WIZ
NOT ATTEND THE COUNCIL.
A Lively Debate ana m Overwhelming VIC
tory for the Anti-PIymouth PRrty-PIy-
mouth not Hereafter to be FeIIowshtppcd.

mouth not Hereafter to be Fellowship ped.
The storm OF last night was not too furI-
Gus to deter the members OF the Clinton Avenue
| Congregational Church. who had hitherto failed
to give full expression to their Views in connoc-
ton with Mr.. Dccchers name. and it, influence
on their church relations with Plymouth
| Church, from attending the meeting Of the
church and society called by the pastor to pass
| incidentally on the acceptance OF tho in
yltation TO council to install the Rev
d. Hclmcr as pastor Of the Tompkins Avenue
| Church but to settle tho question as 10 tho
| church's attitude toward Plymouth Church.
| There were many applicants for admission
| from Plymouth Church. but the church officers
stood at the door. pointing TO large black
| board. on which was notice that tho meeting
was for members Of tho congregation and So
| ccty only.
Tho Rev. Dr. Burlington opened the meeting
| by prayer and then read the call for the meet
ing. He asked Mr. James Mitchell. Vice Prcsi-
dent Of the Stock Exchange. TO preside Mr.
Gambler the clerk road tho letter of invitation
from the Tompkns Avenue Church. asking the
| Clinton Avenue Church 10 join ON Wednesday
| with Plymouth and other churches to install
| Mr.. Hcmer. motion to limit all speeches to
| ten minutes was carried
long silence followed and II was very sug-
| gcstive OF tho reluctance with which the subject
was approached. The Chairman suggested that
as there was nothing before the house n motion
to adjourn was in order There WAS no response
for the moment but Mr.. Benedict at lcngth
moved that the invitation bo declined. and that
the church refuse to send u delegate 10 the
Nj. Harvey II. spellman offered as nm amend
eb' nrrs HAY 1ss in2h NJ "nigu; sna;n nn wh mr
| previous position Of accord with his pastor
cnuscd some 10 wonder at his position in favor
lA .NNH mad al. fl..arl
! WIS no past acton ~ the church to put Obstacles
in the way Of accepting it, unless they took
tion at that time 81 the contrary II any
thing was done 1t must be accompn-
MED with the fullest ronsons. Second the
Of Of ihs church and stat. had been fally
4 termincd and thorc was not The leasi probaril-
iiy TINT II would ever bc disturbed, either by the
| civil court or the church. and however much
they ds.cnted from the conclusions. they must
accept ile result Tho only way 10 prevent ac-
| cep,ng the result wns 10 awnit or induce n fur
thor Investigation, and there was no moro
probability, OF this than Of the stars falling
| Now. what basis of iaf lad they t. stand on In
declining to accept IN invitation because OF tho
churrh'5 dsapprnval of certain arts charged TO
W. H. support such action. that viii engage pub.
lie confidence. II the decisions are wrong and
parties guilty. Us @umn believe. We must let tho
uprooi the wheat also. H. and the pastor had
devoted mu ~ time to the consideration Of the
question, although th"y had arrived at widely
Mr. A. 5. barnes said The question before
III involves tNf w 'll-ll"inE nl inns fllrfl ana
the interest uf religion. few Christians, Just
struggling into cNt-t"n'o ~ "A body. desire to
form themselves into aCOngrrgntio nal Church.
with uhsior at its hrhl, against whom no voice
II raised. rms organ lzition has prepared letter
misssive; inviting every Congregmion Church
| delegate To assist In the formation oi church,
after their order, and 10 be recognized ms one Of
| their number Among the churches invited is
| Plymouth. Similar invitations have twice in the
pgst been rrceiyed 10y this church. in which
| Plymouth thurch was also invited, and. by
thinly attended meetings, at the pastors re-
quest. and through his influence. they havc
In ,his cilsr from tho position taken by Dr.
Darlington. We ARE confronted with the uurs-
l., Gi- views, / IAN -prnk only i5r ono am in
Wlll not serve Jet ~ :. l.,t ono from our
nuiuh.r 10 give the right hand II fell wish ~.
| contend that the Clinton Avenue ChUr'h
should he on terms Of Christian fellowship with
long a. no council has dl,ownrd any one of
thrm. W. all understand that our past9r Is not
Church. lle hus decided opinions in re-
gard - hlny ana ne has rght 70
Ms R5o, Bag" ws sho"a "na RG Ri. ask a% to 5 d8
him is ,yrqns hut will he qoi l,t h.s roPle 9t
Clinton Avenue rraly I" drchnn 10 a'c,m 81
this invitation from 1cmpkins Avenue Church
he'ause invitations arc sent, to Plymouth
sinners above all others2 What las Plymouth
Church done mat we cannot be IN fellow,
churchf Can We 50 continue il hy vote We
dec inc this invitation? >, How about The laStor
his own church. under the careful scrutiny and
closest examination of their pnrgst ani h,st
| In civil court Of our country. and acquitted Z
And then hy an ecclesiastical advisory council.
| and arquittrdt And now commission have bee n
waiting for tho last twelve months 70 eX-
anime any charges which might DE brought
sainst this wondcTful man. lly any Responsible
party. Has there been any response None.
We must remrmber that in our action We not
only r'ict upon Plymouth Clurch. tut uEon
all Other churches who send delegates e. this
new society II We do not accept W. declare
diselow-hip with them. Have we. the mem-
hers Of Clinton Avenue Church, tho heart
10 reject such body Of Christians on any pre-
tended ecclcsias,lca groundf Gun We Tor any
personal rnnson decline the lnviNuunf
James W. Ewell offered the following suhsti-
tute:
4 lc'isr mi..iye from 'l,, rowpkn' Ay,nqc Church
btruhAu B., pastor AMI dglgsai.. az council 70 be-
,%on'' % % 'n R u'. -7!l' n, i9I ,, ,ng r6 o, % %,,
urr pasnrccct IN the fellowship r. ihc CONGREGATIONAL
churches But innsmuch n; the ! i,r mls-iye Of ne
m"; A.emae sagh N a. 'niSe o,g. NJ a' ,1ns rSsgo,
becomes an uhwe!conc, uut an an ''o9d"piv' duS
fr.i-rhat th. church has clt bound in conscience to
Woies, n.mn,, c'r.an pt.t.f@i,n.s @ 81 w., church a.
s.oeni That in mis- protest, I've Represented the in
~ho" rrn.ile, q ai'oipne rna Ml.si ina &, stan
n cerftgsagnsl C9agoL ,.s 9'.,'' ANA most 'm
ng.f NJ nin TER ever before a-s'i,nl'l ,, , , IT,. -
c mai ohlia''ry by subsequent ov,nt-. by oar ilcy
ourlsc, rn tio i,uou.natgn at larsc. ami above a.l
!. ,o ,'1 In tr", M, ,','i v, , oicct We w are
slndl, lromuc, Of m any council to which rNmouul
naiopur. this minur The church, hes 'Knro s,in'
it, good vii To- the 1unl Rims Avenue Church and ~.
ra'or ccci d'i'c. sl,o ia nan'ein lloe.ip Win n
,hnrghe- ownns uc s9na"aa, % (" M, '",1 f't",ops
,ag e., r By i' & ai IN ,IP . lo Shur. G,u M lNg A. a
llc clark ofhe church i, hereby instructed 10 send
gtift tf Ills Do L.