St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-12-30
Result Of Peacham Council.

his council having nealu the rec
ords of the church read, and patiently
listened, through two prolonged ses-
sions, to statements made by the pas
tor, and by the committee of the church,
and by all members of the church who
wished to say anything and after
careful examination of the manuscript
used by the pastor when he preached
Oh the death of President Garfield, and
also the manuscript sent to the print
ers, and having carefully compared
these with the printed sermon and
certain newspaper articles submitted
to our examination, on which the
charge of plagiarism is based we
have unanimously reached the follow
ing result:
adopted by the church-on which
judgment was asked. I've think the
church were justified in passing such
resolutions expressive of their faith in
the inspired Word of God and belief in
the doctrines assailed, since their good
name and the interests of Chrisfs cause
seemed to require them. In view of
the experience of this church in ad
hitting into their pulpit as teacher
of religion man of known unevangel-
zeal views, we express our decided con-
viction that such course is unwise in
any ordinary case, as the prophecies of
the occasion and what is due to courte
sy are liable to be disregarded."
SecORd.-In regard to the matter of
plagiarism charged against the dis
course upon President Garfield, the
result says: CATER a thorough exam
nation of all the documents laid before
us, and Il careful hearing of all testi-
mony presented, we entirely eXOnerate
the brother of all charge of plagiarism.
AT the same time we regard the brother
as having laid himself open to criticism
by II failure to be sufficiently explicit
in the delivery of the sermon to in
dictate clearly in each case what was
and what was not quoted, and in print
ing the sermon III not being more rigid
ly careful III the use of quotation marks
in the usual form. We do not believe
that excerpts are made by ministers
whom we know without acknowledge
ment that such quoting has not been
the practice of brother Wild, appears
from the fact that in the eight years of
his work here, no other charge, or evil
dence of, plagiarism has been alleged"
Third. In regard to the continuance
or dissolution of the passionate on which
advice had been asked, the result says :
"Under all the circumstances, we adj
wise and do sanction its dissolution.
The counsel are constrained emphati-
cally to censure the conduct of some
members of the church, who for appar-
emily slight reasons having become
preiudiced against their pastor, ~I
alienated from him, and watching fOr
faults have eagerly seized with keen
relish any evil report or rumOr that
seems to them well adapted to injure
his character and influence. The coUm-
ell believe that those members of the
church who have forsaken the public
worship of God in his house and the
communion and who have refused to
bear their just proportion in. sustain
ing the preached gospel among them
well deserve the censure of the church.
At the same time we heartily com
mend the majority of the church who
have faithfully stood by their pastor
and sought the welfare and prosperity
of the church,
Fourth. In view of all the facts sub
mitted to the council relating to the
administration of the pastor, we conf
IDENTITY bear testimony to the faithful
ness and ability of his labors and then
good results. The council find evil
dence that both in the pulpit and i'll
the parish he has been faithful to his
trust and proved himself IL brother be-
loved and efficient in the work of the
ministry. They therefore commend
him in all confidence to the prayers
and kind offices of this church and all
our churches and brethren in the min
istry.
And now, brethren, beloved in the
Lord, having spoken thus plainly i'll
fidelity, kindness, yearning tenderness,
and great sorrow of heart, we wish to
express our heartfelt desire and prayer
for your woll-being, your progress ill
the Christian life, and your growth i'll
every grace and virtue and to this
end we commend you to God and to
the word of his grace, entreating you
all to seek the things that make fol
peace, and the things whereby one
may edify anOther-and if the pastoral
relation now existing shall he dissOlV-
ed, as we have advised it to he, we beg
you and solemnly admOnish you, Ia
unite i'll earnest prayer and fervent
supplicatiOn to the great head of the
church, that he will in his own time
and way, give you faithful minister,
to whom you will all give a warm place
in your hearts, and with whom and
with one another, You will heartily CO.
operate year after year, in diligent
prayerful and successful labor.