Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-03-15
BAPTIST POLITY.
THE MODE OF PROCEED
URE
THE RECOURSE OF AN EXCLUDED
NEMBER-A CHURCH AND
THE LAW.
The Calling of a COuncil-Tbe ExpIa-
nation Plain-The Rules Which
Govern The Baptist DenOm-
inatiOn.

Hiscock's New Directory for Baptist
Churches, also known as the Baptist
Polity on Page 202 says:
''Since church may err, and invali-
date its action of exclusion by irregular
and unjust methods of procedure ia dis
ciphne, as well as for insufficient cause
IN exclusion; we may enquire, what are
the more common mistakes in processes
of discipline, which would invalidate
such action and give member, thus
disfenowshiped, good reason to COM
plain of injustice done to himself ?''
After stating the causes it says:
SHOULD GIVE THE CHURCH "cooLISG
TIME"
''He Eexcluded memberI should, after
little time, and when the heat of ex-
citement has died down, make an ap-
peal TO the church for a re-hearing of
his case. In doing this he should give
his reasons for claiming that he did not
have fair trial, and that he was un-
justly judged. If a new hearing should
be granted, with the opportunities he
claims, then he must submit TO the re-
suits.
If the new hearing should be granted,
but with similar irregularities as at first
then he is left IN the same attitude as at
- he end of the first trinl. If re-hear-
V&g be refused, then:
SHOULD ASK FOR A MUTUAL COUNCIL.
2. He should request them to unite
with him in calling mutual Council TO
which the case may be submitted. If
this request be granted, he will have
the selection of one-half of the Council.
Whatever the result of such refer
enoe may be, it would be unwise for him
TO prosecute the matter further.
AT any rate, the action of a Council so
convened must be very extraordinary to
Justify him in any further attempts at
Standardization. If this request for
Mutual Council be declined by the
Church, then:
SHOULD PRESENT HIMSELF TO ANOTHER
CHURCH.
3. He might present himself to some
other church and request to be received
TO its fellowship on his experience, as an
excluded member, giving them all the
facts. The church thus appealed to
might think it wise to call a council TO
advise them as to the propriety of re-
ceiving member excluded from a sister
Church. Should they, however, see fit
TO receive him-as they would have an
undoubted right to do without Coun-
cil-that would dispose of the case, Civ
ing him Church standing and fellow
ship again, and he would have no occas-
ion to pursue the matter further.
WOULD HAVE NO CAUSE TO COMPLAIN.
And should this be done, the Church
which excluded him could have no Just
ground for complaint.
One church has the same right to take
a man in as another has TO put him out,
But should the Church appealed to,
for any reason, decline to receive him
or TO call a Council, then:
AN UNDoUBTED RIGHT.
4. He might with propriety-and it
would be his undoubted right to do so as
the only further step toward redress
call an ex-parte Council, before which
the whole case could be laid; both as to
his trial and exclusion and as to his sub
sequent efforts for reconciliation. OF
course he should be ready to place be-
fore the Council, when convened all
the facts, and evidence needed to justify
his course in having called them togeth-
err"
THE EXCLUDING CHURCH NOT TO PARTICI-
PATE.
On page 32s, Paragraph 81:
''When persons, excluded, as they be-
heve unjustly, resolve to call a Council
ex-parte, they cannot be expected to
ask the excluding Church TO send dele
gates to sit IN the Council.
1t would be contrary to a natural
sense of justice for those who had pre-
Judged the case, and decided against
the plaintiff, unfairly as he believed to
be asked to sit against its decision.
Such persons could not be regarded as
unbiased or impartial judges.
But the excluding Church should be
asked to send some one to the Council
10 give information to the body, and to
present their version of the case"