Year: 1875

TIE REV. DIR. LEONARD BAcoN's vrEws-REIArioN


OF CONGREGATIONAL TO OTHER CHURCHES


RECEPTION or LETTERS.


NEw-HAyEN, Dec. 21.-In his last lecture,
recently delivered before the Middle Glass in the Iheoog
cal Seminary here the Rev. Dr. Bacon spoke OF seVed
points often occurring the experience Of ministers tha
frequently rise to pcex them The gst OF his lecture
was as follows:


Members may be dismissed at their own request no'
without their request for any good reason either e1
pressed or understood to other churches; not 10 no
church What good reasons for asking ana granting
dsnissoni In the early history Of NewEn gland dsmis
sion from churches serious siar ii man "ah'eu
to remove his church relation he must ask tie consent OF
the church His church must be convinced that
his removal was for Christian reasons Just as IL
thinks with regard to the removal Oh
ministers. Removal Of residence is the very pest
reason 1t is mans right not only, Dut MS
duty to ask dsmssion In such Then greater ed


caon or usefulness another good reason but 1t may
be painful give, painful to the pastor or the
church FOR a member to say ~ think can be ediled
more by going TO be with another church Which mas
another pastor than yours" This request ought not
often to be made is mistaken by supposlng that
by hearing so-and-so he will be more edited Often
he will not be- It is ordinarily the duty OF man In
church TO stay in and help it, He there not merely
to be edited but to cdy. But better reason for going
Is hope for greater usefulness a member may say


This church Is strong numerous able in rs means
Of supporting the Gospel able in its gifts Here Is an
other church convenient TO my dwelling where can CO.
and where there is demand for even my poor gifts"
That is the very best for asking dsmson, and
am sorry people don't more often ask them.


There is another ground which dismssion is asked
and granted. man has changed his Judgment on some
matter not essential to godncss This change does not
imply apostasy On that ground he asks dismisson.
He has become convinced OF the apostolic SUCCESSION,
ana have the benefit Of that We are sorry Tor
him. and try to reason with him but If he stll wants TO
be dismissed we say Co., and when he is received into
the communion OF another church. his relations with THIS
church will cease. Or he may say, 81 have become
Baptist" If you cannot persuade him to stay, let him
20. He is good and will do more good than II you
try restrain him. But II he says, want TO go TO the
Universalist church." or, 90 have become Jew, and
Will 20 and be creumcised, you cannot give him let
ter Of dismission You dismiss man whom you
regard ap0sGtiZng from the truths OF the Gospel.
That comes under the head of onenses.


For any good reason member in regular standing
s e ma t be dsmSSed to any Church %ich
nizeI In ccnuuion with the disrnissing church
II you don't recognize church of Christ holding pro-
fessng and man aiming the gospel OF Christ you cannot
with 1t that fellowship that will justify you in say
ing "GOdspeed" to a man. He must 90 on his own re-
spOnsibility, not on your Recommendation.


Question Would you receive letter from Universal
ist church, Answer. No, Sir, would not They don't
require evidence of what we cali "regener9tiono We
cannot take their papers They don't pay cash. would
receive persons from such church on profession OF
faith .
O. Would you receive n letter from Episcopaan
church A. That would depend good deal on who
brought it, and partly who signed it. have received
letters from Episcopal church. would receive let
ters from the elder younger Dr. Stephen H. Tying with
great alacrity have received letter commenting the
person into the hands Of those who had authority. Well
had no doubt had authority. Liberty OF withdrawal,
provided it from Christian communion. is now
conceded and think IL il right An attempt TO censure


because he has made up his mind to be Baptist.


Methodist, Episcopalan is harmful IL does him
good. and does the church no good But you don't
dismiss churches considered 10 be antteyangelica
The OF denominations changes gradually in
rous respects. Some denominations are doubtful They
are in transition Some retrOgrading. The
question whether you win remit members to Join such
body Of rli iJnsts, whether you VIII receive their
mernbers times difficult; but this is always TO he
remarked church is not bound 20 receive any person
who brings letter without personal confidence In the
bearer the letter The relation in any church Is that
ofmutual confidence.


O. Suppose person removes to n place whose church
he does not know A. Then the person is commended
TO that church Of Christ with which be convenient
to himself but dsmssiOn is never cOnsummated
til the person dismissed unites with another church by
virtue disniss1On II person takes letter away
but never presents to another church. he is still
ber OF the church giving the letter His relation with IL
is not severed TIL it IL officially announced that he has
been received into the and communion OF another
church.