Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1879-06-12
THE ELDERsHlp AND RIGHT OF APPEAL.
[Ftom Am. Chris. Royiowl
CnILLIcoInE, NO.. May 2, 70,

BRo. RowE:-In the last Review, in answer
10 "a Brother" you made somo statements,
which / regret, because l regard them not in
accordance with the word of God. AS such,
1 ask permission 70 examine them.
You say as follows; when elders have
On un truly member on trial, one who is charg-
cd with some misdemeaoor, they should try
him by the word OF God, and pronounce
sentence upon him according TO tho word OF
God"
This procedure in the case ia all right.
The trial was according to the word of God,
and tho decision was made by the word Of
God, hence the case Is settled by tue devino
will, and, Of course, Endorsed by the Lord.
Nolhing more is necessary but for tho elders
to announce 20 tho next meeting, that the
Gaze was settled.
But the unfortunate statement follows.
and YOU say: after they have rendered 3
decision, either in condemnation 0. the
accused. or in justification Of him, their
decision should be submitted 20 the church.
either TO be confirmed or rejucted, or that
an appeal may be taken for tho decision by
any portion OF the church"
In this statement you say, after the case
has been tried and decided according to the
word Of cod, that the decision must be- sub
I mitted TO the church for confirmation or
! rejection. Putting the decision OF heaven
into the hands OF the unintormcd, the youth
and the relatives, giving them 2 chance TO
reverse tho decision of God, and If not TO
reverse, at least to make a decision in the
church. What n sight before heaven, angels
and all earthly intelligence, the decision of
God put in Jeopardy. and liable TO be set
,.gna hr rarg,a1 reIaffuna nufntprmnd marianne
and children! And ali this done 10 the
Church of the living God, the pillar aud
support of the truth. a vote 10 DO taken on
a point of discipline as 10 whether The decis-
ion of God in the csse shalt be carried out or
not. is an insult 10 heaven. Aud, further,
TO give all hands a'chance To vote upon Tho
gilt or Innocence OF the accused, under such
circumstances, is an Insult, rather than a
privilege. AS you first blindfolded them,
and then called upon them to say whether
the case was white or black; that ia, the evi.
aence upon which the decition wa formed
had never been heard aud examined by them,
how, then, could they be prepared to reverse,
by their vote, the decision of the elders who
had heard and eXsmined sll tho evidence and
the law OF God on the subject? Noiwith-
standing all this, yon offer such unqualified
persons the chauca 10 set aside tho decision
Of God, made by his appointed officers. and
that. too, without their hsying heard The
evidence in the case, or the law en- the sub
loot. There ~ no more authority for such
proceedings n'the Church of God than there
is for Remain Catholic indulgences. Bot there
IL a worse feature in your pieco than the
above, found in these words. O that an
appeal may be taken from the decision by
any portion OF the church." You said the
''elders should try tho offender by the word
OF Cod Here, then. VIC have an offender
tried hv the word Of God. and sentence pro-
nounced upon him according to tho word Of
God. This work l regard, "a done by the
Lord, rs II Is said 10 be done by hta word,
and according 10 his word, and as such
should be regarded as auHl in the case, But,
strange beyond description, you grant to any
portion of the church an appeal from the
decision Of the word of God made through
the eldsrship. This appeal ia taken from the
decision ofths highest court known in the
kingdom nf God, and carried to Che lowest
court known on eartb--A court composed OF
uniformed men, women End children. Look
st the inoomp.tibilitY 10 the case. An 6p-
peal from q high court to n low court, where
the decision OF heaven is gabbied ana csviled
over, TO the dIFgusG OF angels, in order to
change the decision OF Gods word, and make
Il more suitable to carnality. You will oh
serve, brO. Rove, that / have said al | had
TO say on the assumption OF II competent ell
dership, tor OF no other kind would | ever
like to speak, as We shOuld never lower the
word and decision OF God to suit Improper
organic atoms and imperfect officers, the I'm
fortunate work generally ofour own hands.
I may be favorable 10 political democracy,
but may the good sense OF the Church of
Christ never permit a congregation to exar-
else democracy on the suite Of discipline.
Our lord is sovereign, aud from his decision
there ia no appeal.
w. D. ~JouEpAN.