APPENDIX.

SINCE the foregoing pages were put to the press, anoth er ex parte council has been convened in this place, on a subject nearly related to those which occupied the attention of the two councils which preceded it. This serves farther to disclose the principles which have been brought into action, in the late disorganizing operations among us.

A considerable time since, some members of the church requested a dismission and recommendation, that they might unite with what they lescribed to be, "the church in connexion with the Second Congregational Society in Wilton;" and which has been subsequently called by them, "the Second Congregational Church in Wilton." A similar request was, afterward, made by some others. The reasons, assigned for the request in both applications, were, their being persuaded that it would promote their spiritual edification and comfort. In both cases, the church proceeded in the same manner. They requested the applicants to furnish information, which was thought might be useful in making a decision, and prevent objections and cavilling against the church as proceeding upon a supposition of facts, not sufficiently ascertained. The request of information, in substance and manner, was alike in both cases. The vote of the church in the latter case, passed the 9th of January, being the more particularly expressed, is here given.

"Voted, that and others, who by their letter, com:nunicated to the church on the 4th of January instant, request dismission, &c. are requested to furnish the church information, in certain particulars, viz:

"When the Second Congregational Church, mentioned in their letter, became a distinct church, and who were its members at the time of its organization?

"Whether said church will hold christian fellowship and communion with this church?

"Whether the council, assembled in this town on the 18th of June last, had any agency in organizing that church, and if they had, when and in what manner were the conditions of being acknowledged a regular organiz

ed church, which were prescribed in the result of that council, performed?

"Who were the members, on the 18th of June last, of the corporation, called the Second Congregational Society in Wilton? And the farther consideration of this subject be postponed to afford the applicants opportunity to give the church, previous to acting thereon, the information requested."

Full and certain information on the subjects embraced in the interrogatories, that relate to the formation and to the members of the body to which the applicants wished to be united, was desirable to the church in considering whether that body, under present circumstances, could be regarded with propriety as a church, or only as disorderly members, who had abandoned the church.

The formation of the corporate society, to which the last interrogatory relates, had occupied a place of so much importance as to be the only reason for organizing another church, that was given to the churches, which were requested to send to the June council.-See letter missive, page 78. It ought not then to be thought strange, that the church should suppose it possible, that inquiry and attention to some circumstances of that society might be useful to the church in their deliberations.

Several communications were sent to the church by the applicants, which contained little or nothing of the information requested, or that only purported to be their belief on the subject. From the reluctance manifested, it appeared that no farther information was to be expected from the applicants; and as they were solicitous for a decision, the church gave the following answer to four of them, being the same who last made their request of dismission.

ANSWER OF THE CHURCH.

The Church of Christ in Wilton, to ******.
BRETHREN AND SISTERS,

Your request for dismission and recommendation for the purpose of being connected with a body you denominate the second congregational church in Wilton, we have had under consideration.

The information you were requested to furnish, in order to enable the church the better to decide on your application, though long delayed, has not been so complete nor from so authentic sources as desirable, nor does it appear that

there has been any endeavor on your part to procure the information from authentic sources as might have been reasonably expected by the church.

From what you have stated to be facts, and also from information which has been elsewhere obtained, it ap pears that the persons whom you designate as the second congregational church with which you wish to be connected, (with the exception of two who have associated with them) are the same persons, who in June last, being me bers of this church, and without giving any notice to the church of their wishes or designs respecting that subject, assembled a council to form them into a distinct church. Subsequent to that in a letter addres-ed to the church, they requested that their particular relation to us might be dissolved and they dismissed, that they might be formed into a distinct and regular church." In the same letter they, for the first time, brought forward severe, and, so far as the knowledge of this church extends, unfounded imputations against the christian profession of members of the church without designating the persons thus impeached, or offering any proof.

66

By that letter, and also, from previous communications, if we have understood them correctly, they manifest a determination to hold no further fellowship and communion with this church.

The church, in a reply to their request, noticed their past public delinquencies and also the obstructions to granting their request, occasioned by their indefinite and unsupported imputations against members of the church, and informed them in substance, that unless some explanation or proof were given of those charges, or they withdrawn, their request could not, with propriety, be granted; and that, if without explanation or proof, they persisted in disregarding their covenant engagements to the church, and would go out from us and be no longer of us, they did it under the censure of this church as irregular and disorderly. Those charges have never been withdrawn nor any explanation nor proof of them offered to the church.

The separation from the church of members residing in the same place for the causes they alleged, and in the manner and under the circumstances it was done, we look upon as altogether schismatic and irregular.

According to your communications, it seems that reliance is made upon the council of June last, as having given them a regular organization.

1

Besides the insuperable objections to the irregular interference of that council in the affairs of this church, to which no previous notice had been given, the conditions on which that council proposed to acknowledge those members as a distinct church, according to our best in-. formation, were not performed; consequently the doings of that council had no effect towards establishing them into a regular church, or acknowledging them as such.

This church have, for a long time, proceeded upon the principle, that fellowship and communion ought to be maintained among christians, and that it is a great offence towards Christ their master, the great head of the church, to build up separating walls between his servants. If it be a fact, as the evidence before us does not permit us to doubt, that the body you denominate the second congregational church would not hold christian fellowship and communion with this church, we should, so far as we promoted your union with them, exclude ourselves from fellowship and communion with you, and you also from fellowship and communion with us. To do this, either directly or indirectly, under present circumstances, we should esteem contrary to the principles of the gospel.

Therefore, until such obligations as justly lie against the regularity of the body you denominate the second congregational church be removed, and we have better evidence of their disposition to be in christian fellowship with this church, it appears improper and unreasonable to the church to commend you to that body for the purpose of being connected as members with them.

It might also be remarked, that our letters of commendation to a church, which would not hold fellowship with us as christians, would be worthless and of no avail.

While the difficulties of fully granting your request are thus made known to you, the church would have you understand, that according to the principles upon which they have uniformly acted, they would be willing, if desired. and any reasonable cause were suggested, to grant you a dismission and letters of commendation to any regular church, which is disposed to hold christian fellowship with this church.

By order of the church,

June 25th, 1824.

THOMAS BEEDE, Moderator.

At the church meeting in which the above answer was ordered to four of the applicants, it appeared that the

other two, who had requested dismission and recommendation, had long neglected to attend the Lord's supper with the church, and that some members alone and together, had attempted in vain to reclaim them. Under these circumstances, the church thought it proper to examine into their conduct, before considering the question of recommending them to any church. That they might have an opportunity to offer any thing which they wished in justification, and a decision be made thereon according to christian principles, the church voted that the two members charged with this delinquency "be called upon to give to the church on next lecture day, or previous, the reasons, if any they have, of their long continued neglect of attending to the celebrating of the Lord's supper with this church."

Without any farther communication to the church, the six members, who had applied for dismission, took measures to convene an ex-parte council. On Sunday, July 11th, the following letter was delivered by the applicants to the clergyman, who on exchange with the pastor conducted the religious exercises of the day, and was by him communicated to the church.

LETTER,

To the Church in Wilton, under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas Beede.

BRETHREN,

Our repeated request for a dismission from our covenant relation to you, that we might join the second congregational church in this town, not having been granted; and our sense of the importance of such dismission still continuing, we have thought expedient to call an ecclesiastical council for advice, and to point out to us the way,

if any can be, in which we may be relieved from our present embarrassed state, and connected with that church. We have accordingly invited several churches by their pastors and delegates, to unite in council at the house of Zebadiah Abbott, in Wilton, on Wednesday, the 14th of the present month, at 8 o'clock, A. M.

We give you this notice, that you may, if you please, appear, and state objections, if any you may have. Your brethren and sisters,

(Signed.)

Wilton, July 9th, 1824.