168 CONGREGATIONAL POLITY. [CHAP. XII. 



principle of the Independents, so that the majority of a separate 

 congregation should be entitled to resist the appointment by their 

 bishop of a priest to whom they had strong objections. The 

 courts seem hitherto to have determined that, as the building 

 belonged to the majority of the pew-holders, they might deal 

 with it as they pleased ; but they have declined to pronounce 

 any opinion on points of ecclesiastical discipline, leaving the 

 members of each sect free, in this respect, to obey the dictates 

 of their own conscience. 



But to exemplify the more regular working of the congrega 

 tional polity within its own legitimate sphere, I will mention a 

 recent case which came more home to my own scientific pursuits. 

 A. young man of superior talent, with whom I was acquainted, 

 who was employed as a geologist in the state survey of Pennsyl 

 vania, was desirous of becoming a minister of the Presbyterian 

 Church in that state ; but, when examined, previous to ordina 

 tion, he was unable to give satisfactory answers to questions 

 respecting the plenary inspiration of Scripture, because he con 

 sidered such a tenet, when applied to the first book of Gene 

 sis, inconsistent with discoveries now universally admitted, re 

 specting the high antiquity of the earth, and the existence of 

 living beings on the globe long anterior to man. The rejected 

 candidate, whose orthodoxy on all other points was fully admitted, 

 was then invited by an Independent congregation in New En 

 gland, to become their pastor ; and when he accepted the offer, 

 the other associated churches were called upon to decide whether 

 they would assist in ordaining one who claimed the right to teach 

 freely his own views on the question at issue. The right of the 

 congregation to elect him, whether the other churches approved 

 of the doctrine or not, was conceded ; and a strong inclination is 

 always evinced, by the affiliated societies, to come, if possible, to 

 an amicable understanding. Accordingly, a discussion ensued, 

 and is perhaps still going on, whether, consistently with a fair 

 interpretation of Scripture, or with what is essential to the faith 

 of a Christian, the doctrine of complete and immediate inspiration 

 may or may not be left as an open question. 



Some of my readers may perhaps exclaim that this incident 



