The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-22
MIR. MTIv,s CJTURCH,
Heecher Keeps hts Prornlse to See Its Pastor
Through, aud then scoIas Hi,,.

The Congregational Council in Brooklyn,
which broke ny in confusion two weeks ago
over the proposal to admit the East Congrc-
gatonal Church into fellowship. with its short
and rs it was asserted. imperfect confession Of
faith. rcasscmbled yesterday afternoon in the
little wooden church at Tompklns avenue and
koseusko street. with the Rev X. y. Stone.
Moderator. There was q strong oprositi to
the admission Of tho new church, led by some
conservative clcrgymcn. because all the crcod
1t had was this question propounded to its
members:
peyon here aud now confess faith snd trust In the
: %, doul OF liz Will a. that wilsfc,caicd ia tc Holy
3 upturVsi
Objection was made at the first meeting Of tho
Council that this made the church common to
all. and when the Council adjourned 1t had be-
foro Il undetermined motion declaring the
confession OF faith and the covenant to be I'M
satisfactory. and recommending the church to
adopt moro formal creed. II was the first part
OF Yesterdays work TO clear all OF the previous
growth OF opposition out Of the wny OF the adj
mission OF the church. rs Henry Ward Becchcr
Ind declared that he would see the Rev. Geo. G..
htln through. and the church admitted into
me Congregational connection. So the rcsou-
ton named WIS tabled. that Yesterdays Coun-
Ell might begin with u clean page. MIR Hragdcn,
clerk VI the now church, read u statement de-
clarng that the congregation had resolved not
20 change its confession OF faith but that ~ pro-
mote harmony il had declared that ts prcva-
lent belief wis reflected In the Apostles creed.
liz prevalent theology. however, was subject Ia
Il change AZ any time. and could only bc de-
tcrmined Tor given time hy q vote oi the mem-
bers ~ tho church.. II was not intended that il
Should le embraced In any permanent formula.
The Rrv. Hugh Smith Carpenter said that ne
didn't ike the expression. prevalent thee
ology. but he thought that the question was
one Of social Christian courtesy md equity
more than Of theology. and he moved that the
great Congrcgnt .onal Church be re- 'ogn2cd as
Il church ol tho Lord Jesus Christ.
Henry Ward Beccher said that the question
was whether this church wake In the fuith and
Is in general teaching In harmony with the
Congrrgati pnui church. Ii was nothing to the
Council whether IL had or had not articles o
faith. The explicit statement Of the creed lies
with the individual church. Tho Councils
province Is 10 determine whether the church's
organization and tile documents 1t had pro-
pounded were fatal to its being received If So
the church WIS not to bc mathematical: h
could walk It's own way. There was Il time whoT
the church needed a formula Of faith for il,
existence. but not at this time. A church coul,
70 on without any declaration Of faith. y,
church has right TO refuse him whom Chris
has been laid aside in the reception of mem
bers. and the latter are received on confess iof
| Of faith. III this church Is satisfied with tn,
aud If the Council were satisfied that 1t is In tn,
main stream OF evangelical doctrine. they shoul,
accept it,
! issue with Mr. Bcecher. They said they shout,
not consent 10 receive the church into the con
| nection until they were satisfied that Il was IL
| harmony in views, doctrine. and polity will
! the great body Of the Congregational Church.
Tho church was received by a vote of 10 70 g.
| Mr.. Bcecher said that the brethren OF the new
| church seemed possessed Of the devil Of beinI
| free He thought that the church and the pas
| tor had not acted wisely. and added scot
Mr.. Min for not taking my advice TheCoun
self" II announced its reception Of both ehurcl
| and pastor.