The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-02
THE pRooKLrN ECCLESIASTICAL COURT
A PrUt est Against the Idea that n IL Worse
than Other Courts Of the Kind.
no 1nE Ep1Ton or TnE SUISSE

A Prod est Against the Idea that n IL Worse
than Other Courts Of the Kind.
To The EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: I
observe that you seem to be disappointed and
grieved at the conduct Of the conventicle OF
Presbytars now in session in Brooklyn called
THE Court Of Jesus Christ" You seem to be
surprised that the holy brethren there assem-
bled should be so rude. and so ready to hurl
derogalory epithets at each other. as they ap-
pear to bhve been.
SO far from being disguised. or even disap-
pointed by the conduct OF that illustrious body
OF modern saints. there is. the contrary. much
reason for congratulation and encouragement.
Compared with the conduct OF similar tribu-
nails in the early history of the Church. that OF
the so-ca. led Court OF Jesus Christ" sitting In
Brooklyn. iG very commendabe. and shows re-
markable progress in Christian manners and
morals
To convince you Of this. will briefly refer to
the behavior Of the patrarchs. bishops. &c. in
the early history Of the Church. and the con-
duct OF Christian councils and synods. which
are the antetypes OF the modern Court Of Jesus
Christ"
In tho folurth century. be 1t remembered II
was establish ed that the deliberations of the
Bishops were under the special direction Of tho
Holy Ghost md that their decisions were infal-
ible. Now ~ us SEQ what those "infallible"
brethren did in those days They were often
imbued with the bitterest luminosity against
each other guilty OF blackguardism in their
controversial with each other: quarreled and
even came 10 hl ows and hFodshed in their coun-
ellis and synoda, sometimes beSpatting the walls
OF tho sacred forum in which they assembled
with each 9th rs blood.
Socrates. th historian. snys. when the bishops
assembled in council NJ Nicc they began busi-
ness by prcse ttlng the Emperor numerous ac-
cusations against each other. many OF them
founded on raunnl amnesty.
posed Nestoriase because he would not call
Mary the mother Of God.
piety ana icenJuusness. where the worship OF
the saints seems TO have been divided between
the affairs of Jesui' In the city and tho shrnes OF
Venus in the groves Of Daphne summoned
synod of thirty bis hops who deposed cyril. and
described him ns monster born ior w 81 rum l
4 second Coun I'll OF Ephesus. called to decide
voices Of nll oplpsers by clamorous outcrics
and threats OF ' )ence. The conduct o-Nhe
holy saints on tina Occasion was SO rude sId
violent that Dios irus. Patriarch Of Alexan,
dra buffeted and l.icked Flavius. Patriarch Of
Guonstantinople. to ich an extent that ne died.
When IA bishop atit mptcd TO explain the two
natures OF Christ h o was assailed With cries.
" Burn him alive; Let him be cut asunder. MS
he has eundered Christ"
The Council of Cm,lcedon reversed the de-
cision OF the second S?nncll OF Ephssns which
WIS aiterwapd called Ine synod OF Robbers ti.
said OF Councils: -" j dread every Assembly OF
Bshops. for have usyer seen good ,, end to
contention and rule prevails in them. | am
weary Of struggling W tn holy bishops. whose
OF their own quarrels He says further:
:, They fight and run Into schism and divide,
Tho Trinity is mere pr text for the wrangng
the true cause being an Understandable spirit OF
Hilary. Bishop Of Poicti crs. lamentinG the I'M
happy contentious then prevailing says; We
repent OF what we have dome; we defend those
who repent: we anathe Il htize those whom we
have defended: we colIUemn the doctrine Of
others In ourselves. or 'ur own doctrine in That
Of others. Thus reciprC caliy tearing each other
TO pieces we have been he cause OF each other S
ruin"
devout multitude IA those days were
usually assembled at J'n usalem. Yet. in tho
presence Of perpetual woi ship and ministry, IL
was distinguished for IN grossest licentious-
ness. robbery. theft, poisoa inR. and other forms
| Of murder
For the purpose OF conve rtinG sinners, Chris
| tian Bishops pretended q iat rivers and ioun-
tains had been miraculous ~ turned into wine;
| One OF them solemnly a% serted that ne mad
raza. which had thus beeil changed. thus sol
EMMY asserting what he knew. ana everybody
else knows. TO be an unmitii ated lie
some Of the Christian ~ ithers were black
guards. applying "a each Oh 'er such epithets rs
pitiiul benst." on one oc caston the bishops
hell a council 70 settle some disputed point OF
| faith, and their discussions became 80 heated
and bitter that the minority feared for their
| lives and applied to the T. ipcror for military
| protection and escort home which was granted
In view OF this brief. but r from being "A full
/ sketch % the conduct OF our pious old Chris
| tinn Fathers" that of the members OF " Tho
Court of Jesus Christ" now IN session a
| Brooklyn, exhibits great ~ oaress. Instead o.
! censuring them we ought - congratulate then
! on their great advance in Christian faith ant
practice. In time. II they persevere IN thei
! course Of Improvement. they may reach the civ
| ii2ation OF the average man.
II is true. If such conduct were displayed in
| secular court-if. in such a tribunal. on
! brother should accuse ant Their of lying, ny
! pocrisy, cheating. 6c.-he 2uld have In npolo
| But. in view OF the histui -ical sketch of tn,
/ conduct Of the Old Christi an Fathers nbov'
! given, think you must AT init that the mem
| bers Of " The Court OF J' sus Christ" have
made great and encouragin : progress. and de
| icism and censure. ANXIOUS CUMK.