The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1906-01-12

church that again it has called the
messengers of the churches together
to advise it.
The function of the Council is
purely advisory. 1t neither claims
nor possesses any'eeolesiastical pow
er. Its result has only $50 much
weight as there is weight in the
reasons of it, But the result fur
nishes complete justification both
in morals and before the courts for
those who accept and govern them
selves by it.
For instance, if previous to the
assembling of this Council, the
church in Worthington had voted
to.disband, that vote would have
been effective only If unanimous.
Any protesting minority would
stial be the church, entitled to it's
position and property. If however
Council advise the .discontinnance
of the church, a majority vote &C.
cepting the result, would justify
the issuance of letters to all the
members and the proper disposition
of the property. If On the contrary
this Council should advise that the
work should be resumed and pressed
their advice is the complete moral
and legal justification for the sur
render by any of their personal
preferences and individual judg-
ment in the matter and hearty CO.
operation in the course advised.
We are thus full in our state
ments, that it may be clear that,
while the Council is competent only
to advise, it's advice carries with it
not alone THE weight of that fellow
ship of the churches, which is es
sential to the orderly life of a
church of the Congregational way,
but important moral and legal re
suits as we'll.
We find that IN the present con-
dition of this church three courses
of action have been proposed on
grounds that have commendedt hen-
selves to different persons.
After the destruction of the meet
ing house by FIRE, it was inevitable
that there should he serioas con-
sidaratlon of the future, not only in
the Light Of the past and under the
pressure of h2llomed associations
but uader conscious sense of obi
CATION to the highest interests OF
the community and the paramount
interests Of the kingdom of God
1t belongs to that system of church
order which we deem Serdptural and
apostolic and such consideration
should not he by anybody profess
ing to rule the church or by any Sc
leet circle in the church but by the
whole church each member having
the same right as every other to the
possession and expression of his
own mind with the grounds upon
which he was constrained to hold it.
We are grateful that in such con-
sideration, in whose progress 80
many different views have been held
and expressed with the utmost free
dom there has been maintained so
general . confidence each in the sim
cer1tv and motive of the one who
differed from him and that there ap-
pear no lines OF cleavage or Dltter-
ness of division that would make
impossible united and harmonious
action at this time under our advice.
The three alternatives before the
church are:
I. The church in Warrington
ceasing to exist as church of the
Congregational way may continue
it's life and activity in union with
and as an organic part of the Pres
byterian church Of Worthington.
II. The Congregational church
in Worthington may formally dis
solve, grant its members letters, of