the church who did not profess the faith which we apprehend was once delivered to the saints. And as we have not been able by remonstrance and entreaty to obtain redress of our grievance; and cannot conscientiously, by our continuance, give countenance to the practice with which we have professed ourselves aggrieved, we therefore request that our particular relation to you may be dissolved, and we dismissed, that we may be formed into a distinct and regular church.

Wilton, June 18, 1823.

(Signed)

EBEN'R ROCKWOOD, (and sixteen others.*)

This letter was referred to a committee of five members, who on the 15th of July made their report to the church; which was accepted.

REPORT.

To the Church of Christ in Wilton.

The committee, to whom was referred a letter from brother Ebenezer Rockwood and others, requesting a dismission from this church, having had the same under consideration, report,

That upon recurring to the several communications of the subscribers of said letter, heretofore made to the church expressing their dissatisfaction, it appeared, that the matter alleged in said letter as a grievance, and the reason of their request, had never before been complained of by them to the church. It appeared needful to obtain more certain information concerning that which was stated in said letter as a grievance, as it implicated both the character of the church and of the individuals indiscriminately, who had been admitted into it. Your committee, therefore, made inquiries, personally, of the subscribers of the letter concerning that subject, and also whether it was their disposition and expectation, that the church proposed to be established should be in fellowship with this church.

These inquiries were not met with that frankness which might have been expected, and which seemed necessary under existing circumstances to give a fair understanding of the subject which they had proposed to

*The same members who had signed the memorials, excepting twổ who had deceased, were subscribers of this letter.

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the church. No discrimination of the persons, whose admittance is mentioned in the letter as a grievance, could be obtained.

In the second subject of inquiry, though very little explicit information was given, yet the result of the inquiries appeared to the committee to leave no reasonable prospect, that the church proposed to be formed, would extend christian fellowship to this church.

Your committee in their investigations procured what purports to be a copy of a result of council, convened on the 18th of June last, by which it appears that this council proceeded to organize these persons into a distinct church, so far as to acknowledge them as such, provided they should perform two certain acts, in neither of which is the concurrence of this church made necessary.

The entire disregard and contempt with which the council have treated this church, by undertaking to organize a part of its members into a distinct church without the concurrence, consultation, or knowledge of this church, or any notice given to the church that such a measure was designed, and without ascertaining the standing and character of these persons in the church of which they were members, was wholly unexpected from the representatives of churches, which have ever been in christian fellowship with this church.

We cannot yet believe that there is in those churches such a departure from christian candor, and from a just estimation of this church, as to make this procedure a true indication of the disposition and feelings of those churches towards this church.

From consideration of the subject and the investiga tion they have been able to make, the committee recommend that the following answer be given to the letter which was referred to them.

The remainder of the report is merely an answer recommended and may be omitted, as the answer given by the church and which was sent by their order and directed to the seventeen members who subscribed the letter here follows:

Το

ANSWER OF THE CHURCH.
The Church of Christ in Wilton.

Brethren and Sisters,

A letter signed by you bearing date the 18th of June

last, in which, for reasons therein stated, you request that your particular relation to this church may be dissolved and you dismissed, that you may be formed into a distinct and regular church, has been laid before this church.

The necessity or expedience of forming another distinct church in this place, of persons now members of this church, is not at present apparent to the church; especially as the stated regular administrations of the gospel are maintained in the church, and there are on every side in the vicinity churches within convenient distance, where, if better edification were the object, it might be sought in their connexion.

It must be obvious to every attentive observer, that great evils and injury to the cause of religion have resulted in some parts of the country by too greatly multiplying the number of churches, when neither the number of persons, nor the extent of local situation, demanded it.

There is offered in your letter as the reason of your request, that the admitting persons into the church, who did not profess the faith, which you apprehend was once delivered to the saints, is considered by you as a grievance; and that you cannot conscientiously, by your continuance, give countenance to the practice with which you have professed yourselves aggrieved.

If by the faith once delivered to the saints you mean the christian faith, this church have no knowledge of any person being admitted into their body who did not profess this faith. We cannot in the exercise of christian candour presume, that such is the fact, unless some evidence of it be exhibited; but none has yet been offered. If no person has been admitted, who did not profess this faith, no practice of such admission can exist, nor any foundation for the scruples of conscience suggested. Besides, it is obvious that the continuance of performing the duties of a member in the church, is no countenance to any proceeding of the church which he has disapprov ed.

This church are not sensible of your having ever made any such remonstrance or entreaty as you have intimated in your last letter.

No remonstrances have been offered to the church by you, except in your memorials presented in August and November last. An inspection of those memorials must convince you that neither in any allegation of grievance,

nor even in the indefinite complaints and insinuations contained in them, is there to be found any mention, that persons have ever been admitted into the church, who did not profess the faith which you apprehend was once delivered to the saints, nor can there be found in either of them any entreaty or request for redress of such grievance, or any method pointed out for redressing it, if it had existed.

If any benefits or redress of grievance, which might have followed from "the arbitration of an ecclesiastical council to be chosen mutually" which you requested, have not been obtained, you ought to be sensible that it was not from any reluctance in the church to such council, but to the refusal on your part to specify any defin ite articles, which should be submitted to such council.

And it now appears unreasonable to the church, that you should make the allegation found in your last letter, which severely impeaches, and may render suspected the christian profession of persons indiscriminately, that have been admitted into the church, and at the same time seek to be dismissed from the church without offering any proof to support the truth of what you allege.

As you have not designated the persons alleged to be admitted, who did not profess the faith which you apprehend was once delivered to the saints, it does not appear to the church, whether the persons, whom you have in view, were admitted first as members here, or on letters of recommendation and dismission from other churcheswhether they are among the number of those, who now request a dismission, or among those who do not. The charge thus indefinite, equally implicates all members of the church, until the persons whom you had in view, when making the charge, are designated; and, unless withdrawn, or supported by some evidence, renders it less proper for the church to comply with your request, than if no attempt to assign a reason had been made.

As no proof of the existence of the grievance, which you now mention as the cause of your request, has ever been offered to the church, and as the church apprehend that if a candid examination should be made, you will be convinced that no such grievance does exist, and as it is not known to the church that you would wish for a dismission if it does not exist; therefore, until some expla nation or proof of what you state as a grievance in your letter is offered by you, or your wishes farther manifest

ed, the church consider that your request cannot with propriety be granted.

It is with deep solicitude and concern for your spiritu al welfare and the prosperity of pure religion in this place, that we have observed the course which you have for a considerable time past pursued.

Your long neglect of attending in communion with this church to the christian ordinances, notwithstanding the forbearance of the church and the many reasons offered to remove any supposed difficulties from your minds, may well fill us with most painful apprehensions on your ac

count.

On the seventh of March last, there was declaration made on your part to the church of an earnest desire, that you might in your present connexion enjoy the regular and stated administrations of the gospel.

The church, on supposition of your sincerity in making that request, and, if sincere, of its being evidence of your disposition to return to the observance of commanded and covenant religious duties in the church, cordially assured you, that you might enjoy the administration of the gospel with this church conformably to the earnest desire you had expressed.

Contrary to the expectations, which might have been justly formed by the church from that request, you have continued the same neglect of religious ordinances to the present time, without offering to the church any justification of continuing such neglect.

What has transpired of the measures you lately took to be organized into a distinct church without the concurrence, consultation or knowledge of this church, indicate a disposition for schism contrary to christian charity. If such a disposition should prevail in this place, it must in its consequences disturb and mar the happiness and religious improvement of families and individuals, and the general prosperity of that religion, which is pure, peaceable, easy to be entreated, and full of good fruits.

The church, in the way of admonition, present to you these considerations, that you may be induced seriously to review and reflect on the course you have taken, give christian satisfaction to the church, and return to that course of conduct which becomes the obedient disciples of Christ.

This church have no desire to retain unwilling members in their connexion, but that all things may be done