Year: 1876

The attendance at DIR. Storr's church. Brooklyn or
MS Is better known, "thc Church OF the Pilgrims {"
was sufficient to Gil every OF the edi.
ice in fact every seat occupied and camp stools
we're brought into requiston accommodate the peo-
pie in the aises This extra gathering doubtless,
aue 10 the curiosity which existed the part OF
Ihe people of the vcinagc hear what Dr. Sorrs had
10 say In regard to Plymouth church and its pastor
Although IL was simply announced that the Doctor
was TO review the action Of the late Advisory Council
yet II was confidently expected that he would say
something that might tend in some way or other to
throw light the scandal at least give express
sion TO explanation In regard 10 the position he
has been supposed have taken as antagonistIc to
MIR. Beechcr


The general tone OF the meeting last night appeared
10 be OF soemny. The services seemed unusually
impressive and the selection OF the portion OF the
Scriptures which read by Dr. Storrs also appeared
prognosticatc statement full OF portent The
the minister also iorcshadowed something important
or suguarly and trembling in its tones,
though be had come to the conclusion that he had
solemn but dSagreeable duty TO perorII.


Whom the hour had arrived for the usual sermon Or.
Iorrs grated the curiosity of his hearers by fully
planning his position.


DIR. sToRRs' STATEMENT


Tho fact having become public, by agency OF
mine, that have resigned prominent Offices in the
Congregational communion, and it having been IN
ierred by the public that | arm not
In sympathy with its acts and utterances,
It seems proper that should state the grounds Of
my objection to these and my Tor withdraw
Ing IRON the position which had held. As to the
charges against Plymouth church and its pastor, l
have mover taken part in them, and do now
10 begin. have some thoughts which to
just the relation OF the result Of the Council
10 the scheme q CONGREGATIONAL government
and those am not unwilling to present or
ihey express only my opinion, and have right
wish to do than state them for others think OF
!hem us they may The Advisory Council appears have
been one of lair ability and respectable character
though not, perhaps, OF unusual moral right II
arge in numbers, and representing constituency OF
N,tll members IN the churches The Council OF 1874
represented, believe, only a membership OF 2S S43
d the seventeen divines represented in that Council
but ten were present or the twenty similarly invited
~ the late Council twelve appeared The churches
Mus represented are scattered very fairly the
Country, and their advice and testimony proper
To be regarded indicating the views and
the practice which obtain among them. How
!ar many Of them were called 10 this Council
with known prepossessons In favor OF Plymouth
,hurch policy and its minister ! know not Very
likely there was n considerable portion aud the roll
luggests that was so They were constantly under
he influence OF tho pastor aud his friends and this
ihould be considered IN examining the result which
vas put forth by them and in estimating its probable
future eject upon the general UNCONVENTIONAL develop
menL


There were also a number of other capable and dis.
tnguished men whose apparent adhesion to this result
gives IT an Importance IL otherwise might not have had
Colleges, theological scminares prominent churches
we're represented in IT, and the OF the Moderator
who also acted IN that position IN the former
Council IS also Of Importance The formal
niterance OF this large Congregational Council be
pondered ON BY one who would know what the denom-
inalion Is likely in the iuturc to be and to do and how
far he can cooperate with IT. The declarations In
result put forth loosely and ngeniousy stated but
tbe meaning OF them Is hard to be found Some OF
these more important than Others but all have ref
10 occurring cases and intended TO mould
and govern Church practice and SO far have measure
OF Importance.


Frst-The result says that sin many cases'
where member has siguined not writing or in
speech but 'by his acis that he has abandoned fell
owsnp with q church in doctrine, &c, 1t may prop
srly separate him from 1t without formal censure
Tbs is true provided charge has been made against
The member affecting hs character But stated iDden-
ntely AS IN this deduction, II leaves the church
wholly at liberty TO put its construction his
acts chooses TO recognize aud decide ITSELF
Whether this is one OF where such action Is
proper is At all events dangerous doctrine adopt
The who has excited anmosity In the church can
thus be removed Under it a church may cut oil "A


member whose opinions and votes differ from the ma
lority and there redress II hardly possi-
bic that tho Council oresaw the perious range OF its
words. Perhaps the members were intent the
OF those whose exclusion they had been brought
here TO justify that they quite forgot the many others
whom such rash statement would equally Affect


No limit is set 10 The exercise OF women the part
pi tie church. IL might become tyrannlcal and any
abuse would seem justified by this vague but decided
affirmation of the Council. II strikes At the who
would seek for inquiry unless passive agreement
was entered into with the governing power.


v,
the further declaration that when member has openly
abandoned communion with the Church. aud Is charged
with scandaIoas offence, either by public rumor
by specinc allegations 'the church NAV use a
wise discretion IN selecting the offence which
u shall separate him from and discharge
Itself from all further responsibility Tor his
conduct and character" This relieves every church
IRON the duty OF investigating any offence any
offender who does not himself prefer 10 be examined
II allows HIM To escape any ecclesiastical inquiry and
makes him irresponsible 10 the church for any wrong
doing, whether it is a charge OF forgery, adultery
a Ia ne
Council the church Is not bound to the community
the churches TO the man himself or 10 the Lord ana
Judge Of all TO the grounds OF the blasting
accusation though II Ills the AIR, though IT be pre-
senIed BY specific alterations sustained by
liberty to separate the offender ircm future
fellowship on the ground Of continued
Plymouth church cortrsvonton OF tho result Of the
council of 1874 IL hardly be expected that "A
second council with the moderator should
phcty contradict the hrst which declared that "when


council properly convened, and orderly proceeding,
has pronounced lis advice second council, upon the
substance Of the same question: or upon the advce of
the hrsI Is nanfeslly Improper" IL leaves every


TnK STARTLING THING


about the statement is that prompts any criminal 10
eyadc church censure by abandoning church com
munion. church may treat him a recognized ab-
sencc and dismiss IL seems TO me the Council
has heapcd dirt the graves OF ancestors ana done
and righteousness


TAiTd--Though not OF any primary Importance.
cases specified In the letter claims a moments
attention. IL concerns members, otherwise unaccused
who absent themselves from It's the ground
that they believe its pastor guilty OF crime though the
church, after investigation has acquitted and sustained
him.


The wrath Of the Council seems fully aroused against
such ongdocrs though u has just offered outlet
instant and for those accused OF scSndalous
offences. Undoubtedly II Is true that member Uchey.
ing his pastor guilty Of wickedncss should seek else
where Tor religious iustructiOus but there are mani
told in which retirement from the church should
properly be long postponed The better way would
be ior member 10 wall IN patience aud prayer unth
God IN His providence shall bring 10 light the hidden
things and make Others the sharcrs OF his painful
knowledge. not prepared TO say that the
ministry OF ono believed TO be vicious must be ac-
tepted because others adhere TO him; that
the ignorance OF tho church Is TO super
sede the knowledge OF Individual member;
but that member may hope. perhaps by tarrying