Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-09

| po' Il huuSOn, council Grove
Rev NJ 2 Hunt, Ellsworth.
t B Mills, Wamego.
Rev E F SergeSon, Wamego.
Rev G II Wareham, Marion.
Rev S Nasmith, CLYDE.
Rev j ID Newell, Manchester.
Rev j j Townsend, Junction City.
NJ + Clark, Junction City.
Rev I G COffey, Harrington.
JnO Walton, Harrington.
ID Compton, Mcpherson.
M ID Morse, Ellsworth.
S c Wright. Mcpherson.
NJ Lindsay, Niles.
E G Brown, Niles,
NJ + Jerome, Clay Center.
J Starkweather, Clay Center.
| d Newell, Manhattan.
S B Abbott, Salina.
G Randall. Union Dale.
j G COwell, Union Dale.
Rev ] d Bradley, Niles.
Rev II A Barden, Russell.
Persons individually invited:
Rev A Jacobs, Harlan, Iowa.
Rev Fl Dunnett. Solomon.
Rev I R Peters. Topeka.
Rev S FL Stole, Lawrence.
Rev E Clark, Flora.
Rev j d P Hungate, Wichita.
Rev A l. Vail, EmpOria.
A S Churchill, Omaha, Neb.
IL Ii Dm'away, Harlan, Iowa.
Whereas, Several of the invited
members and pastors had participated
In so-called eXparte council June 49,,
1888 and passed judgment upon the
same questions, and feeling that such
persons would not be qualified as i'm
partial judges in the matters, having
publicly pronounced an adverse decis-
ion. Feeling this, at the request of
the,aggrieved parties, the following were
invited: Rev Geo Merriam, Rev I'd
Newell, Rey T R Peters, Rev S ~ Stote.
Rev A l. Vail to the counoii,, placing il
the eau the statement that the question
OF the right of sr.ch parties to partici-
IN the uenn Grafton to be determined by
Tue INCL, subject to the condition of
re invitation "That said council is to
be made up of such unprecedented per-
SONS as would be qualified to sit on a
jury in a common court" But when
the council organized, instead of sub
hitting the question of their right to
sit in the council, they themselves sat
in judgment upon their own qualifica-
ton, and
Whereas, Said council did not re-
gard our desire in this respect but
seated themselves in the council and
declared themselves to be mutual
council" while the church only had
part in calling the same, and thereby
defeated the right and arrangements of
the church to present her case in 1.-THE
way she might DESIRE" and which she
was prepared to do, thus greatly en-
barrassing us in the defining of our pO-
sition, and blockading the way for an
unprecedented finding in said council,
Resolved, That we congratulate
ourselves at having been able to so pre-
sent defense against all this prejudice
and scheming of those persons who had
prejudged us, that they were compelled
to sustain our action by a unanimous
vote, as expressed in the following pub
lished findings:
The first unanimous finding was re-
garding the first specifications of TIE
call for the council reading as follows:
First, as to our actions in the case of
certain grievances alleged by certain
members against our pastor" The
unanimous finding was:
Resolved, That while we do not pass
upon the motives of the church, we be-
lieve the church ought to have been
more thorough in their investigation OF
the charges before them.
The other unanimous finding was re-
garding the second specification of the
call, which says: "And as to our &C
tions in the exclusion of two members
from the church." The unanimous
finding was:
Resolved, That while we deem the
offenses charged in the records of the
church against the excluded members
possibly sufficient grounds for exclu-
sion, yet the church should be censured
for not following the rule in Matthew
XVIII.
Regarding the third specifications:
"And our relation, according to Bap-
fist usage, to a so-called exparte coun-
Gil which convened in our city en- the
18th day of June, 1885,"
Resolved. That having adopted
"Hiscox Star Book on Church Council'
as authority, we are by said authority
prohibited from passing upon the third
count in this call.
Whereas, The claim Of the aggrieved
members was that st was not made a
church act rather than q committee In
vestigation," we accept the decision as
declaring our actions right In them
selves, and only lacking in thorough
ness, that we accept the advice, and
will endeavor in the future TO profit
thereby, should circumstances ever do
mand such service, which we pray God
they may not
As regards the second finding, we
are also thankful that We are assured
of being sustained By the council, ind
while we supposed We had no necessity
for preliminary service for a public
offense In open church, We viii never
theless acknowledge that great caution
should be had in time of excitement.
and while we think the circumstances
fwers aRrraystvd 10 the degree tU war.