South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 158

Searchable source text

148  THE   EX-PARTE   COUNCIL.
porters,  to  Vjelieve  that  lie  was  not  a  loyal  man,  and  tliey  were  ready  to
unite  in  the  call  for  his  dismissal.  It  was  under  these  circumstances
that  the  Standing  Committee  assumed  their  '  discretionary  powers '
and  standing  between  Mr.  Carroll  and  the  Church,  refused  to  allow  the
latter  to  pronounce  its  judgment,  which  it  is  nearly  certain  would  have
condemned  him."
If  this  is  a  correct  statement,  it  proves  that  the  occasion
alluded  to  was  exactl.y  the  time  when  any  discretionary
power  which  the  Standing  Committee  possessed,  should  be
exercised,  to  prevent  hasty  and  injudicious  action.  The
incident  about  the  bell  (which  was  subsequently  explained
to  the  satisfaction  of  a  great  majority  of  the  Church,)  was
seized  upon  l)y  those  who  had  previously  sought  to  displace
Mr.  Carroll,  but  had  signally  failed,  as  an  encom*agement
to  renew  the  onset,  hoping,  under  the  excitement  and  mis-
apprehension of  the  moment,  to  accomplish  their  object.
Had  they  succeeded,  it  is  now  certain  that  they  would  have
precipitated  a  course  of  action  which  a  great  majority  of
the  members  in  their  calmer  moments  would  have  deeply
regretted;  for,  in  every  subsequent  as  well  as  previous
meeting  of  the  Church,  Mr.  Carroll  has  been  sustained  by  a
triumphant  majority.  Not  sustaiued  in  the  matter  of  the
bell,  for  THAT  as  a  distinct  issue  has  never  come  before
them ;  ])ut  sustained  in  his  general  course,  as  a  most  faith-
ful, talented,  and  eminently  useful  minister  of  Christ,  whom
they  desire  to  have  for  their  spiritual  teacher  and  guide,
in  preference  to  any  other  clergyman  within  their  knowledge.
Therefore  we  say  that  if,  at  the  moment  of  the  bell  excite-
ment, the  Church  would  liave  been  "  ready  to  unite  in  the
call  for  his  dismissal,"  as  alleged  by  the  petitioners,  the
Clerk  and  Standing  Committee  did  them  an  invaluable  ser-
vice l)y  refusing  to  call  them  together  at  that  time.
"The  Committee  say  'that  the  right  of  voting  by  females  has  never
been  denied  by  the  Church.'  Very  true;  neither  has  the  right  been
affirmed  by  the  Church,  which  would  seem  necessary,  as  the  custom  of
Congregational  Churches  forbids  the  practice."
This  is  falling  from  high  ground.  Before,  the  practice
was  contrary  to  the  Scriptures;  now  it  is  contrary  to  cus-

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0158. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 158. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n162/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.