South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 129

Searchable source text

THE    EX-PARTE    COUNCIL.  119
secured  by  tliis  arrangement,  is  admitted  by  the  complain-
ants themselves  ;  for  they  say,  "  it  could  be  terminated  at
anytime  by  giving  four  months'  previous  notice."
"  III.  Ill  that  meeting  a  majority  of  the  male  members  present  voted
against  the  proposed  arrangement,  but  their  votes  were  overruled  by
counting  the  votes  of  female  members."
How  did  the  council  obtain  this  information  ?  If  from
the  clerk,  (Dr.  Nicoll,)  how  did  he  obtain  it?  If  from  the
other  petitioners,  or  any  of  them,  how  did  tliey  obtain  it  ? —
the  vote  being  taken  (on  motion  of  the  clerk)  by  "  secret
ballot:'
"  IV.  The  aforesaid  arrangement  having  been  made,  Mr  Carroll
assumed  the  title  and  authority  of  "  Pastor  of  the  South  Church  "  sub-
scribing official  papers  in  that  character,  being  habitually  spoken  of
among  the  members  of  tlie  Church,  and  in  Church  meetings,  by  that
official  title,  and  being  announced  frequently  to  the  public  as  Pastor  of
the  Church."
If  the  charge  is,  that  Mr.  Carroll  assumed  the  title  and
authority  of  installed  Pastor,  we  deny  it. — We  have  called
him  Pastor  among  ourselves  and  in  Church  meetings,  and
announced  him  so  to  the  public  :  but  so  have  several  of  the
petitioners.  On  one  occasion,  three  of  them,  with  others,
addressed  him  as  "  Pastor,"  in  a  formal  letter,  expressing  the
"  great  pleasure  and  profit  with  which  they  had  listened  to
his  Tiumksgiving  sermon  on  the  claims  of  our  country  on
Christians,"  and  asking  a  copy  for  publication.  The  late
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  (Geo.  S.  Minor,)  one
of  the  petitioners,  often  announced  him  as  Pastor.  At  quar-
terly and  anniversary  meetings  of  the  Sunday  School  in  the
Church,  how  familiar  these  words  from  his  lips — "  We  will
now  listen  to  our  Pastor."  When  thus  "called"  and  "an-
nounced" by  us  and  them,  were  any  of  us  deceived,  or  did  we
or  they  intend  to  deceive  others  ?  No  more  did  he,  in  "  sub-
scribing" lumself  "  Pastor,"  deceive  or  attempt  to  deceive
others.  The  oflfense  charged  here,  is  about  as  formidable  as
tliat  of  addressing  a  man  l)y  the  title  of  Esq.,  who  is  not  an
Esq.,  who  himself  knows  he  is  not  an  Esq.,  and  who  is

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0129. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 129. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n133/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.