Year: 1875

selled with ua Not one minister has come % mo
In fellowship; not Christian man Of all those that
hnd fault has 10 me personally NOT one man
has come 70 this church bearing fellowship Tor
other churches saying, why do ye SOY" But where
any trouble was expected they have lam back and
waited that il might be pounced on and made argu
ment against this church. And we have stood in the
midst Of fault finding OF sharp, uneharitabie watch


ngs and evil counses Tor the period oi three years
Aud supposed BY some that we shall be forced
by vexatons and long continued prosecutions, and
that, for the sake ot peace, we shall be


Hro ISOLATION ASp DEPENDENCY.


II Is possible that Plymouth church may stand out.
side OF the 200 Congregational churches Of North
America, but Il viii be when they put us and not
when We ~ out loud applause We propose 10
stand where We In no spirit Of obstinacy; but
believe that this church represents the fundamental
deas of the Fathers better and unfods them better
plausel And We are standing for-hrst our
own own 1gnls, as as committed 70 US BY our our
right Of each church 70 administer It's own affairs ac
cording 70 the light and wisdom that God gave 10 IT.
and We are standing under peculiar circumstances when
u IS being endangered by spurious doctrine OF eoW
ship, which means, IN terms fellowship" but IN
tact, government doctrine Of fellowship which
as II has been explained TO us means the
absolute surrender OF local independence in the
Church and substitutes the majority Of the votes OF the
churches of the neChborhood Now on that principle
stand with the Fathers and we stand for the
churches We say that while in the providence OF God
II has been made our peculiar duty 70 stand or he I'D
erty of tins local church, We are standing Tor ~ al
Tune when there is more danger Inan
any other in the churches, that there Will be
uOCLrlne OF fellowship iOiStci upon US
Will be poor, weak base imitation Of Presoyterianisn
Presbyteriansm . system is an admirable one It's
the Result Of long experience, and those qualities
possesses, In common with every system, have been
devised BY and resulted nom experience PSesbyter-
iauism pure and simple is to be respected Uongrega
tionaltsn pure and simple has Also as the result or
long experience made itself to ho respected ad-
mirabie and some respects Judge II 30 be better
than Presbyterianism Congregationahsm Is good and
Presbyterianism Is good but


PRESSED GArroSALIsM MEAN


(Laughterl while then We are attempting % main
tain our own integrity and our own right feel that
called also 70 battle for many, many weak churches
that might be able under unavorabe circumstances
to bear up and do themselves justice wish 70 say
more than that wish To say that the time Tor silence
land informed that there is time TO speak and
time % be slentl has gone by. loud applause And
that whatever is 10 oe said, and should be said
will be said And whatever is TO be amended and
whatever is TO be proposed by proper parties in proper
methods win be accorded applause And pro-
pose, and say to you and 70 the brethren who
concerned that when in association in council mat
ters pertaining 70 this church are again In issue in
tend TO be there applause And now we are going
TO consider the case that is before us wish to say
that have not any person who is connected with
this church. and whose name has been brought for
consideration before US, under other circumstances
than those which pastor should hold for the
members Of has church. have never entertained for
them feeling which could not unfold in prayer be-
fore God, and have not now. But this we do say,
that when members so far disagree with Us that they
submit to the public and well ordered opinion of
the majority; when they far disagree with that
they cannot any longer attend our public services
our private meetings. when they can no longer attend
with the performance OF those duties which they
publicly and soemny promised to perform; when they
lend themselves those who are seeking the disintc
grafton and disorder OF this church, becomes our


SEPARATE THEM PROM MEMBERSHIP


this church (Applause.) We mean 10 terminate that
connection as easily as is possible for Them
but stand responsible before the world, and
have watch and guard over them when they take them
selves out from our guard. II is shame for us to be
held responsible for people that won't como near
permit us 10 exercise any. influence upon them 1t is
shame, when treat them with eniency, with every
that ought bestowed Christian
upon woman or upon brethren, when we seek by
every means IN our power TO have the action OF the
church made as harmless may be-as beneficial as
may be-to take very kindness ground of fresh
offence and seek to condemn the church and
its action under such circumstances think
that is the Judgment of every reading,
thinking man-we appeal TO the common sense,
appeal TO tho good feeling Of men whelher any honest
attempt TO cleanse the church OF that which 1t cannot
take Of any longer and 70 do it without harm TO
these persons that to be dealt with whether IL has
any right any Christian right 70 attempt TO investigate
and entangle and trip up the church on that
count is not wicked tApplausel ] need not
say that these resolutions have my heartiest assent
and that II seems TO that they will have also the
heartiest of the Christian public when shall


FIRST read them and If there anything these
minded man | think would be as soon as any one to
know IL; but they seem TO me imperatvely necessary
unless the church is going TO give up all organization
and therefore second the motion


AS he finished Mr. Beecher descended from the plat
form and took chair by the side Of Dr. Edward
Beecher. The Moderator put the question on the
adoption OF the resolutions and 1t carried aHrma
lively and afterward emphasized by rising


Mr. Shearman said that he had at late hour in the
afternoon received letter from Mrs. Emma c. Moul-
ton, which be would read. Mr. Beecher
interrupted him with motion that be referred with
out reading TO the Examining Committee, Mr. Shear
asked for tho reasons which the motion
based, and Mr.. Beecher explained that the letter
had been received late time had been allowed for
its consideration He suggested that the committee
wouo read it and probably would be position TO
recommend action to the church in the premises
The motion adopted with great unaninity and the
meeting then adjourned