CONGREGATIONALISMS. 



nual average increase for the preceding fifteen 

 years had been C),:.54. Tin- piv-eiit report did 



.hide the additions made in the revivals 



. i.iiH \\intiT. The additions by pro- 



a nf faitli during tin- three, years had been 



'. The gain in members was distributed 

 geographically as follows: In New England, 



; in New York, New Jersey, and 1'enn- 

 iylvania, 8,858 ; from the eastern boundary of 

 < '!iio to tho western boundaries of the first tier 

 it os beyond Missouri, 10,092 ; in the South- 

 States (not including Missouri), 1,245; in 



cstern and Pacific States and Territories, 

 1,'_':;'2. Tho number of Sunday-school scholars 

 had increased 11,089. The benevolent contri- 

 butions had been imperfectly reported. The 

 estimates did not include tho large amounts 

 given by individuals. The report of 1874 

 .-houed an increase of $259,260.24 over that 

 of 1871. Tho amounts raised for the home 

 expenses of tho churches were not included in 

 the calculation. Of $1,218,816 of contribu- 

 tions, reported in 1873, $856,883.19 had come 

 from tho Now England States. The State of 

 Arkansas had been dropped from the rolls, and 

 the States of Nevada and "West Virginia and 

 the Territory of Idaho had been added. The 

 number of theological seminaries in 1874 was 

 seven (or the same as in 1871). In 1871 they 

 had thirty-two professors; in 1874, thirty-five ; 

 in 1871 they had eleven lecturers; in 1874, six- 

 teen ; in 1871 they had 272 students; in 1874, 

 827. 



A Council of Congregational Churches met 

 in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., March 24th, to 

 consider questions which were submitted to it 

 concerning the nature and terms of membership 

 and tho principles of fellowship in the Congre- 

 gational churches. The occasion for summon- 

 ing tho Council was given in certain action of 

 Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, in a case of disci- 

 pline, to which two neighboring churches took 

 exception on the ground that it was not ac- 

 cording to the principles of Congregational 

 church government and usage. A member of 

 Plymouth Church had ceased to unite with it 

 in worship and to attend its meetings in 1869. 

 He claimed that he had thereby withdrawn 

 himself from the jurisdiction of the church. 

 About four years afterward, charges were 

 brought against him for conduct unworthy a 

 church-member. They were not pressed for 

 trial ; but at the annual meeting of the church, 

 October 81, 1873, the name of this member 

 was called in examining the rolls of the church, 

 and tho fact of the existence of the charges 

 was announced. The explanation was made to 

 the meeting that he was no longer a member 

 of the church. Although this was the first 

 public notice that had been given of his with- 

 drawal, the case was dropped without further 

 proceedings, and the member's name was 

 stricken from the rolls. The attention of the 

 neighboring churches was called to this action 

 as presenting novel and singular features. It 

 was discussed at meetings of the Church of the 

 VOL. xiv. 10 A 



1'iL'rimn and of tho Clinton Avenue Cngrega- 

 tion:il Cliurcli. An uddrcsM, txpreMUig the 

 views of these meetings, and their > 

 the principle of action adopted l,y 1'ly mouth 

 Church, was sent to that church." Plymouth 

 Church objected to tho tone of the address, 

 and made a reply to it, in which it wa 

 mated that tho remonstrating churches had 

 passed judgment and condemnation upon the 

 case without fairly examining it. Tho remon- 

 strating churches replied witli a letter, explain- 

 ing their motives, repelling the imputation that 

 they were offensive, and making inquiry as to 

 the position which Plymouth Church held in 

 the case. Plymouth Church replied, embody- 

 ing in its letter an extract from its manual, 

 first published in 1848, in which was affirmed 

 in substance its entire independence of all 

 other churches " in regard to its faith, order, 

 and discipline." It was held by the remon- 

 strating churches that such independence had 

 never been claimed by the Congregational 

 Churches of America. Further correspond- 

 ence was had, with a view of discussing by 

 fraternal conference, or by a council, in the 

 call of which the complaining churches and 

 Plymouth Church should join, .the following 

 questions : 



1. Does tho order and usage of Congregational 

 churches permit a member, who has entered into 

 public covenant with a church, to terminate his rela- 

 tions with that church by his own volition or act, so 

 that no action on the part of the church is requisite 

 to such termination of membership 1 



2. Was the action of Plymouth Church on the 81st 

 October, 1873, in dropping a member against whom 

 grave and specific charges had been formally pre- 

 sented, an action in accordance with the usages of 

 Congregational churches, and with their understand- 

 ing of the rule of Christum discipline ? 



Plymouth Church was also invited to give its 

 adhesion to the following declaration on church- 

 fellowship, to the principle of which it was con- 

 sidered to have committed itself in one of its 

 letters : " Whenever any church shall openly 

 and avowedly change the essential conditions 

 upon which it was publicly received into the 

 fellowship of neighboring churches, it is their 

 right, either by individual action, or by coun- 

 cil, to withdraw their fellowship." Plymouth 

 Church asked for modifications in the statement 

 of the points to he submitted to the Council, 

 and the imposition of conditions to the calling 

 of it, which the other churches did not feel at 

 liberty to grant. The remonstrating churches, 

 therefore, determined to call the Council alone. 

 Invitations to attend the Council were sent out 

 to seventy-nine churches and seventeen minis- 

 ters not settled over churches. The Council 

 met in the Clinton Avenue Congregational 

 Church, Brooklyn, and was constituted by the 

 election of the Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of 

 New Haven, Conn., as moderator ; Judge 

 Charles J. Walker, as assistant-moderator; the 

 Rev. Alonzo Quint, D. D., of New Bedford, 

 Mass., as scribe ; and the Rev. J. C. Meserve, 

 of Brooklyn, N. Y., as assistant-scribe. Two 



