South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 140

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130  THE    EX-PARTE    COUNCIL.
"Third.  The  voting  of  women  in  the  Church,  by  which,  in  the  settle-
ment of  Mr.  Carroll,  the  majority  of  the  brethren  was  overruled,  is
contrary  to  the  Scriptures  (I.  Cor.  xix.  34;  I.  Tim.  xi.  12;)  and  contrary
to  the  usages  and  principles  of  the  New  England  Churches,  and  invali-
dates the  act  of  a  majority,  which  was  made  such  b)-  these  votes."
The  assertion  here  is,  that  it  is  wrong  for  women  to  vote :
(1)  Because  "contrary  to  the  Scriptures."  There  are  no
such  "  Scriptures  "  as  those  above-quoted,  nor  any  others
denying  the  right  of  women  to  vote  in  Churches.  (2)
"  Because  contrary  to  the  usages  and  principles  of  the  New
England  Churches."  But  not  to  those  of  our  indepejident
Church.  (3)  That  it  "  invalidates  the  act  of  a  majority."
It  might  so  in  a  consociated  (Church,  but  not  in  ours,  which
being  an  independent  Church,  has  a  right  to  establish  its
own  rules  as  well  in  regard  to  voting  as  to  other  things.
ADVICE   OF    THE    COU.NCIL.
"  First.  In  consideration  of  the  facts  wliich  have  appeared  before  this
Council,  and  which  we  have  already  recited,  we  advise  the  complain-
ants that  the  South  Congregational  Church,  so  called,  ought  not  to  bo
recognized  any  longer  as  a  Congregational  Church,  and  as  a  Council
we  advise  the  Churches  which  we  represent,  and  all  other  Churches  of
our  communion,  to  withhold  from  that  Cliurch  those  acts  of  mutual
recognition  and  fellowship  which  are  customary  among  Congregational
Churches,  and  which  are  the  form  of  their  unity  as  an  ecclesiastical
commonwealth."
Thus  far  in  our  history,  acts  of  "  recognition  and  fellow-
ship "  toward  us  on  the  ])artofthe  Churches  represented  iu
the  Council,  have  been  few  and  far  between.  Whether  the
action  of  Council  will  make  them  fewer  hereafter,  remains
to  be  seen.  At  present  we  are  unable  to  appreciate  our
loss.
"  Secondly.  "Wo  advise  the  complainants,  and  as  many  other  members
of  that  Church  as  may  associate  with  them,  to  wltlidraw  from  their
present  relations  to  it.  And  we  authorize  our  Moderator  and  Scribe
to  give  to  them,  collectively  or  individually,  in  our  behalf,  letters  certi-

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0140. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 140. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n144/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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