South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 141

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THE    EX-PARTE    COUNCIL.  131
fying  their  regular  standing  as  professed  followers  of  Christ  in  full
communiou  with  the  Congregational  Churches  of  Connecticut,  and
commending  them  to  any  Church  with  which  they  may  choose  to  con-
nect themselves,  or  to  any  ecclesiastical  Council  which  may  be  con-
vened for  the  purpose  of  recognizing  the  formation  of  a  new  Church.
The  question  whether  they  shall  proceed  to  constitute  a  new  Church
in  the  south  part  of  the  city  of  New  Haven,  is  a  question  to  be  deter-
mined partly  by  local  considerations,  with  which  they,  and  the  mem-
bers of  the  other  Churches  here,  are  better  acquainted  than  this  Coun-
cil can  be.  Yet  we  cannot  refrain  from  saying,  that  for  the  sake  of
patriotism  and  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion,  there  ought  to  be  among
the  growing  population  of  that  quarter  a  truly  Congregational  Charch,
from  which  the  sympathies  of  patriotic  Christian  souls  may  freely  go
up  to  God  on  the  wings  of  prayer  and  praise,  and  in  which  the  whole
counsel  of  God,  "revealed  from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and
uurighteousuess  of  men  who  hold  the  truth  in  unrighteousness,"  shall
be  preached  plainly  and  unswervingly.
"  Signed  in  behalf  and  by  direction  of  the  Council.
"REV.  JOSEPH  ELDRIDGE.  Moderator.
"Ret.  TV.  T.  ErsTis,  Scribe."
In  this  second  and  last  paragraph  of  advice,  the  Council
recommend  (1)  that  the  complainants  and  such  as  sympa-
thize with  them,  "  withdraw  from  their  present  relations  "  to
us.  In  this  recommendation  we  cordially  concur.  (2)  A
modest  intimation  that  they  proceed  to  constitute  a  new
Church  in  the  south  (this)  part  of  the  city.  Reasons, — con-
siderations of  "patriotism"  and  of  "pure  and  undefiled
religion."  If  "  pure  and  undefiled  religion  before  God  and
the  Father"  is  this,  "to  visit  the  widow  and  fatherless  in
their  affliction,  and  to  keep  ourselves  unspotted  from  the
world,"  this  we  have  humbly  tried  to  do,  not  only  positively
but  negatively ;  our  Church,  by  refusing  to  convert  itself
into  a  political  machine,  and  our  minister,  by  refusing  to
preach  or  pray  politics.
In  what  respect  are  the  patriotism  and  piety  of  the  pro-
posed new  Church  to  differ  from  ours,  as  above  described]
But  without  pressing  this  question,  we  are  inclined  to  hope
that  the  recommendation  of  the  Council  to  build  a  new
Church  will  also  be  complied  with,  and  that  the  old  and
wealthy  Churches  here  will  give  it  a  liberal  support.

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0141. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 141. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n145/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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