The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11
WHAT THE O0NGREGATI0NALIST'
RECOMMENDS.

accompanying correspondence, the case
of Universalist lady in Cedar Falls,
Iowa, who requested a letter of COM
mendation and fellowship from the
Universalist church in that place for
the purpose of joining the Congrega-
tional church in neighboring town.
The lady in question was accepted as
Universalist into the Congregational
church, the letter being accepted as
evidence of Christian character and
standing, and no further questions
asked. Practically the result was a
transfer of Christian fellowship from
the Universalist church to that Of the
Congregational. There was no con-
cealment of opinion in the case, and no
pretense of change Of faith. The
Congregational fellowship was sought
for the reason that no Universalist Or
ganization existed in the place, and the
person in question desired to belong to
a Christian church and to have the
privileges of Christian fellowship in
her new home.
The question was presented by Br.
Gorton in a tentative form Was the
action in this case in accordance with
the ecclesiastical regulations Of the
Congregational body? Or was it SIM
ply the action of an individual church
more liberal or less particular than the
body to which it belongs9 1t was fur
Their suggested that an opinion on this
particular action would be acceptable
from any well known Congregational
authority, or any of the representative
newspapers of the Congregational
church.
We have noticed nothing in the way
of response to this matter in any Of
our Congregational exchanges. The
questions involved in the action of the
Iowa church seem to have escaped
their attention. The ADVANCE, -speci-
fically alluded to in the article. and
usually so attentive to matters of this
kind has evidently not heard of the
case. We are still in the dark as to
whether the action of the particular
Iowa Congregational Church in receiv-
ing Universalist by letter of recon-
mendation would be approved or con-
demned by Congregationalists generally.
1t occurs to us now to go one point
beyond the action of this particular
Iowa Congregational church. Let us
suppose case.
This Universalist lady, now men,
Der of the Congregational church,
and never relinquishing her faith, still
cherishing warm interest in the Uni
versalist church, again changes her
place of residence. This time she
goes to city or town where there is a
Universalist church and desires to
unite with it. She makes application
to the same Congregational church for
letter of recommendation and dis
missal. Would it be granted?
We venture no opinion as to how the
particular church in question would
act; but we submit that the Congrega-
tioY1alist, of Boston, has recommended
course which gives little encouragement
that the Congregational body as such,
would approve transfer of fellowship.
The editor of that journal, DR.. H. M.
Dexter, a very high authority on Congre-
gationalism, had occasion, liz August,
1886, to pass upon this question in the
following manner. 1t is in the form of
question and answer, as follows:
| The Question: Mr.. Editor @ is a mem
Der of the Congregational church in d, and
asks for letter of dismission and of recon-
mendation to the Universalist church in E.
| Should such letter be given? If not, what
action should be taken in the case
The Anstcer: It should be given, if
the church be in fellowship with Univers-
alist churches; it should not be given, if
it be not in such fellowship. In the latter
case, aohat should be done is respectfully,
but firmly, to decline the request.
The question arising in the case in
Iowa is not covered by the above. That
relates to person uniting with the
Congregational church and not leaving
it. But the implication is that only
churches in fellowship with each other
can accept or dismiss members. 1t
however, suggests that the lady in
question might not find the Congrega-
tionalists as liberal and fraternal when
she comes to leave their fellowship as
they were when she was received. We
hope that circumstances may not oblige
her to again change her residence; but
if so, we trust she will not fail to test
the case, and ask for regular letter of
recommendation and dismissal to a
Universalist church. The result might
prove,-to use figure of speech, that
all is fish that comes to the Congrega
tional net, but these same fish are not
to go elsewhere when they become
uneasy in Congregational waters.
The Pacific Methodist says of the
beautiful hymn, Nearer, NV God. to