New Haven · Membership and death references
South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 124
Uncorrected OCR. Name spellings, dates, symbols and column order may be wrong. Verify against the original scan. Includes an alphabetical past-member list, death dates and explanations of death and dismissal symbols. Also contains sermons and church history. A dismissal to another church is not a death.
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114 THE EX-PARTE COUNCIL.
Church." Whetlier they are or aro not entitled to the rights of a ma-
joritj-, is a question upon which we are not called to express an opinion,
for it is not material to any of the issues involved in their complaint.
These brethren, twenty or more in number, have addressed the Church
in a memorial asking for a Mutual Council to consider certain matters
by wliich they are aggrieved, and their request has been denied. Their
right, therefore, of obtaining advice from neighbor Churches through
an Ex-'parte Council, in conformity with a reasonable and long estab-
lished usage of the New England Churchc.?, cannot be disputed."
The evidence furnished to substantiate this claim, is
thvee-fold : {a) an assertion of it : " Result of the Council
called hi/ 'the Majority of the Brethren:^ " {b) a modifi-
cation of it : " This Council has been convened by certain
brethren 'styling themselves a majority ;' " (c) a partial
abandonment of it : " Whether they are, or are not, enti-
titled to the rights of a majority, is a question upon which
we are not called to express an opinion ; for it is not mate-
rial to any of the issues involved in their complaint." The
Council may regard the question of majority or minority
as immaterial ; but for important reasons, it is a point not
only upon which an hitelligent and unprejudiced opinion
shouUl have been formed and expressed, but formally de-
cided; for, with this claim undecided, how was it possible
that the Council should know what case was before them ?
And is tliis an unimportant point in the estimate of a
Church Court, to know who are the parties before them ?
And yet this can only be settled when this claim is settled.
If these petitioners, meml)ers of our Church, be a majority,
then is the Council dealing with our Church ; and in this
case, because the Church has convened them and asked for
advice. If, on the other hand, these "brethren" be a mi-
nority, then are the Council dealing only with a few indi-
viduals asking for advice, and should (lonfine their action
to them. They have nothing to do with our Church — they
have no jurisdiction over us — unless we, as a Church, asked
for the Council, or consented to become a party to it. We
say that this is the only way in which tht-y could have any
legitimate right to discuss and decide upon our affairs ; for.Cite this page
Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0124. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 124. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n128/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.
Historic U.S. publication before 1931; public-domain assessment based on publication date. Internet Archive does not necessarily provide an explicit license. Preserve publication and digitizing credits.