USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the South Congregational Church, New Haven : from its origin in 1852 till January 1, 1865 > Part 7
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strength. On that day was held a Church meeting, of which public notice had been given, for the special purpose of providing for the supply of the pulpit after the termination of Mr. Carroll's year, ending Ist of June following. It is not to be denied that there was some anxiety among the friends of Mr. Carroll, as to what would be the result. The lines were not so distinctly drawn among the members, at least in many cases, as they are at present. There were quite a number of floaters, standing upon our books as members, who very seldom attended our Church. They were truants under Mr. Noyes' ad- ministration, and equally so under Mr. Carroll's ; but now they were all on hand, as in duty bound, to assist in determining the question who should be our next minister. After the meeting had been organ-
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ized, a member moved the following resolutions, which were duly seconded :
Resolved, That with grateful acknowledgments to our Heavenly Father for the blessings he has bestowed and is still bestowing in connection with the labors of our beloved Pastor, Rev. J. Halsted Carroll, we hereby express our earnest desire for the continuance of those labors, and of the relations now existing between Mr. Carroll as Stated Supply, and this Church and Society, until the same shall be annulled or modified by the joint consent of the parties, to wit, this Church and Society on the one part, and Mr. Carroll on the other, or by the separate action of either of said parties, in which latter case it is the opinion of this Church that at least four months notice in writing, should be given by the party desiring a change, to the party not desiring it ; with the single exception, that this condition should be waived in favor of Mr. Carroll, if at any time by reason of bodily infirmity he should be unable to perform the duties of his office.
Resolved, That if, to relieve himself from an amount of labor beyond his physical strength, Mr. Carroll should de- sire the cooperation of Rev. Myron Barrett as Associate Supply, and if the expense of the whole arrangement can be brought within the means at the disposal of the Society, this Church deem it very desirable that Mr. Barrett, (whose labors among us have been highly appreciated,) should be engaged as such Associate, until the 1st day of May, 1864, leaving any further arrangement with him beyond that date, to depend upon circumstances and the wishes of the parties.
Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to the Ecclesiastical Society connected with this Church, at its meeting appointed to be held this evening.
New Haven, Feb. 18, 1863.
On the question of adopting these resolutions, a lively debate ensued,-most of those members who were opposed to Mr. Carroll, expressing their views
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in words. £ A few of his friends also spoke,-one of them as follows :
" I protest against the doctrine that because a man does not deny an accusation, he therefore admits it to be true. Why, according to this doctrine, a minister might spend half his time in vindicating himself against false accusa- tions, and after all there would be " a few more left." I trust this Church will never have a minister who will spend his time so unprofitably.
" Besides, a minister's private judgment on public affairs is his own property : as much so as the private judgment of any other citizen is the property of that citizen. It is lodged in a sanctuary which no man has a right to invade. The owner of that sanctuary may open it, or not, as he pleases ; but no one can force it open without being guilty of impertinence and oppression.
" If a minister cannot justly be required to declare his politics, much less can he be required to preach them. He has a right to preach them, if such be his convictions of duty, but he has an equal right to withhold them. In either case he is responsible to his Maker, and to his own conscience, for the course he pursues. He is also respon- sible to his people,-to this extent, that if they deem his course objectionable, and if that course is persisted in, they have a right, as individuals, to withdraw from his ministry ; or as a Church and Society, to dissolve their connection with him, under proper forms, subject to all the obligations and conditions of his settlement. Thousands of Churches and religious Societies in this our land have been broken up or depleted by one or the other of these processes. We need not go beyond our own city to find an illustration. How else can the fact be accounted for, that the aggregate attendance upon Congregational Churches in this city has scarcely if at all increased within the last 25 or 30 years, although in the mean time the population of the city has increased three-fold ? Within the same period, another de- nomination in this city, from whose pulpits, as a general remark, political topics are excluded, has greatly increased, both in the number of its churches, and in the aggregate
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attendance. Congregationalism had the ground, and would have kept it if there had been no drawback upon its admin- istration.
" Now, to bring the subject home to ourselves,-we have a minister who does not deem it his duty to preach politics, but who does deem it his duty not to preach them. He prays for our country, our rulers, our civil institutions, our liberties, our officers and soldiers, especially the sick and wounded, but he does not cater to the appetites of politicians of any party. He pursues the one great object for which he was commissioned as an ambassador for Christ, leaving secular topics to secular days and secular men ; or perchance to those ministers, if such there be, who desecrate the Sab- bath and the pulpit by making both subservient to political ends. Whether Mr. Carroll remains with us for a longer or shorter period, there is no probability that he will change his course in this respect, as it is founded upon settled con- victions of duty, and these cannot be yielded to friends or foes. Now suppose, to gratify a few of our members who require a different style of preaching and praying, we con- sent to give up our minister after his present engagement shall have expired-what then ? Are we to have a man in his stead who will give us political preaching and praying ? . Is this Church to have such a man for its Pastor in place of Mr. Carroll ? If it is, I greatly fear that our prosperity is near its end. But if the Church will regard itself as an organization for strictly religious purposes, everything will be likely to move on harmoniously and prosperously ; for there appears to be no other subject of difference. On this basis all can meet, on equal terms, and work together for the common cause :- Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea and Cappa- docia, in Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and in the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes, Cretes and Ara- bians,-Democrats and Republicans, Abolitionists, Seces- sionists and Traitors. And the greater sinners they are, the more they need the pure Gospel of Christ, which is able to make them all wise unto salvation.
" It is worthy of remark, that the men who are loudest in their complaints against Mr. Carroll, are those who know
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least about him. How is it that men who have seldom if ever spoken with him, and have rarely heard him preach or pray, should understand his views, and also his character and history, so much better than we do, " who have been with him from the beginning," listened to all his sermons, -who have seen him in the prayer meeting and conference room times without number,-met him at the fireside, in the chamber of sickness, and in the home of sorrow,-in short, who have seen and heard him continually for the last nine months, in all the different phases of ministerial and pastoral life. Yet such men come to us at this late day, and tell us, in effect, that we have made a great mistake in the choice of our Pastor, and should by no means retain him longer than the period for which he is now engaged. Well, they are entitled to their opinion, and we to ours. We know what he is. We have listened to his heart-search- ing discourses, his thrilling appeals, his fervent prayers, and his faithful warnings. We have felt the breathings of his gentle spirit upon our hearts, and the Holy Spirit upon his own and upon ours. We have seen the effects of his ministry in greatly increased congregations on the Sabbath, in fully attended prayer meetings during the week, in a goodly number added to the Church or propounded for admission ; in others still seeking the way of life; in a Sabbath School of 230 members actually attending; in a large and prosperous Sewing Society ; and in a pervading religious interest, more or less apparent, throughout the con- gregation. And should he still "abide with us," assisted by Rev. Mr. Barrett, we may hope for yet greater things than these. God grant that it may be so ; and that this Church and Society may not so undervalue their inestimable privi- leges, as to sell them for a mess of pottage."
At a late hour of the evening, the question was taken on the resolutions, and they were ADOPTED, by a vote of fifty-one to twenty-two. They were then communicated to the Ecclesiastical Society connected with the South Church, which met the same evening agreeably to public notice ; whereupon the Society
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adopted the following resolution, with only one dis- senting voice :
" Resolved, That the resolutions of the South Church, communicated to us by its Clerk, in regard to the future supply of the pulpit of that Church, are cordially approved by this Society, and that a Committee consisting of Deacon Thomas Horsfall, be instructed to endeavor to carry the proposed arrangement into effect."
It was carried into effect accordingly ; and the same arrangement still continues. So far, it appears to be a very good arrangement ; giving both to min- ister and people all the freedom of action they could desire, while yet it requires no periodical agitation, as in the case of ministers who are engaged from year to year. The result of the meeting was of course a disappointment to the opponents of Mr. Carroll, and soon after [in March, 1863] a number of them asked and received certificates of dismission,-some to par- ticular churches,-while others took general letters, having reference, it was understood, to the formation of a new Church. The Clerk also resigned, [in April,] who, under the practice then existing, would have had a right, as he would doubtless have been disposed, to call as many Church meetings as the disaffected might desire. Some time previously the Society had been freed in a great measure from the elements of opposition, as appears from the all but unanimous vote above recorded. Thus far, the policy of the opposition had seemed to be, to desert the sinking ship, and leave that portion of the crew who remained,
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too weak, or too much disheartened, to carry her into port. But the effect was exactly the contrary. Both the Church and Society were chereed and encouraged by the absence of a power which, to a considerable extent, had been available only for mischief. True, there were individuals among the opposition, includ- ing one of the Deacons, who had performed their duties faithfully towards the Church and Society, as they understood them ; but others were a mere dead- weight, doing nothing towards the support of public worship, and seldom attending the religious exercises of the Church, though always on hand, or liable to be so, whenever there was any voting to be done.
In July [1863] a little incident occurred which promised for a time to give them considerable capi- tal ; we allude to the bell affair. A few members who had before been wavering, seemed now to be with the opposition. The leaders of the movement took heart, and under the excitement of the hour, seemed really to hope to accomplish their object. Accordingly they got up a paper, with as many signa- tures as could be obtained, requesting the Clerk to call a meeting of the Church, in order to consider the expediency of asking Mr. Carroll to resign. But here a new difficulty presented itself. In place of the resigned Clerk, a successsor had been elected (Rev. Mr. Barrett) who was not in sympathy with the " movement" party. When therefore the disaffected members applied to him for the above object, he saw fit to exercise his discretion, under the advice of the
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Standing Committee, by refusing to call the proposed meeting. This led to a further secession of disaffected members, (including the aforesaid Deacon,) who asked and received certificates of dismission-general letters-July 31st and August 4th. In a few days or weeks the bell excitement passed away ; the old Church was there yet, and its minister also. He appeared to have no idea of leaving ; it was impos- sible to get a Church meeting at that time ; and if a Church meeting were held, especially after this latest secesssion, there would be no chance of voting him away. Under such circumstances, what was to be done ? Clearly, they must give up in despair, or endeavor to retrieve their error. Somehow or other, they must get back into the garrison, where they could have more power over it than they could as mere outsiders and enemies. So they sought to re- turn their certificates of dismission and resume their membership. But the Church (practically) said no ; we have dismissed you at your own request ; and now we must hold you to the bargain. We cannot receive you back. Here was a dilemma, to be sure ; and it required all the wisdom of the wise and all the ingenuity of the sagacious, to tell them what to do. Various consultations were held with each other, and with friends in town. We were not there, but may safely infer what was the result of their deliberations, from the course subsequently pursued. Call a Coun- cil, they said ; a Mutual Council, if the South Church will consent ; if not, then an Ex-parte Coun-
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cil, which will answer just as well; for, in either case, they are sure to be condemned. If they consent to a Mutual Council, you will be restored to your rights as members, and, with such re-inforcements as you can get from other quarters, will soon be able to out-vote them. But if they refuse that bait, then do you call an Ex-parte Council, which will be still more sure to condemn them, as all the evidence, and all the pleas, and all the judges, will be on one side. Such a Council will doubtless unchurch the old con- cern, and either pronounce you the South Church instead of them, or assist you in building and organ- izing a new Church, where the " whole Gospel" shall be preached. So the disaffected members,-those who had asked and received letters of dismission and those who had not,-gravely applied to the South Church to join them in a Mutual Council. As they expected, the Church declined. Or rather, the Clerk, with the unanimous approval of the Standing Com- mittee, refused to call a meeting of the Church to consider the question ; and the Church, at their annual meeting a short time afterwards, (Nov. 24, 1863,) passed a resolution approving the action of the Committee, and declaring that in future " the power to call a Church meeting for business, shall rest in the Church Committee together with the Clerk." Thus the way was prepared for the calling of an Ex-parte Council.
During all these agitations, which were aimed chiefly against Mr. Carroll, in the hope of either
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driving or mortifying him away, he maintained a calmness of demeanor and a steadiness of purpose, which even his opponents cannot fail to respect. Such moral heroism, lodged in such a delicate phys- ical structure, (or any other,) is rarely to be met with. But all these troubles are now over ; even his enemies are at peace with him. At least they are comparatively silent, while his friends, and the com_ munity generally, honor and applaud him. We doubt if to-day there is a more popular minister in New Haven. Certainly there is no one whom the public manifest a greater desire to hear.
CHAPTER V.
THE EX-PARTE COUNCIL.
The following is a copy of the letter missive by which the Ex-parte Council was convened :
" The Majority of the Brotherhood of the South Congre- gational Church in New Haven, to the Congregational Church in
"Brethren : We having been deprived by usurped au- thority of the rights which belong to a Congregational Church, and having stated our grievances in a memorial, asking for a Mutual Council, which memorial was rejected by those who have assumed the power of government in this Church, do therefore invite you to be present by your pastor and delegate in an Ecclesiastical Council, at the Orange street Chapel in New Haven, on Monday the 21st inst., at 4 P. M., for the purpose of considering the difficul- ties existing in this Church as exhibited in our memorial and in the action thereupon, and of advising us concerning our rights and our duty.
E. S. MINOR, JOHN NICOLL, AMOS SMITH, G. H. BUTRICKS, WM. C. SCOBIE, ROBERT DYAS, GEORGE S. MINOR,
Committee.
New Haven, Dec. 12, 1863.
The Council accordingly met at the time and place above mentioned, and was organized by the choice of Rev. Wm. T. Eustis, as Scribe, and Rev. Joseph Eld- ridge, D. D., as Moderator. There were present from the
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First Church, Hartford-Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., Pas- tor ; Hon. William W. Ellsworth, Delegate.
First Church, New Haven-Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., Pastor ; Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, Delegate.
Church in Norfolk-Rev. Joseph Eldridge, Pastor ; Bro- ther Robbins Battell, Delegate.
North Church, New Haven-Rev. S. W. S. Dutton, Pastor.
Church in Wallingford-Rev. Edwin R. Gilbert, Pastor ; Deacon John Atwater, Delegate.
Broadway Church, Norwich-Rev. C. P. Gulliver, Pastor. Chapel Street Church, New Haven-Rev. Wm. T. Eus- tis, Pastor ; Deacon Smith Merwin, Delegate.
Third Church, New Haven-Hon. John Woodruff, Dele- gate.
Church in Greenwich-Brother Allen Howe, Delegate.
Church in Bristol-Deacon William Day, Delegate.
Church in Essex-Rev. James A. Gallup, Pastor ; Dea- con Charles H. Hubbard, Delegate.
Church in Theological Institute-Rev. E. A. Lawrence, Delegate.
The South Church, having had no agency in get- ting up this Council, and having declined to recog- nize it in any way, or even to present their records, as requested by the Council, cannot be presumed to know what occurred there during its three days sit- tings, commencing December 21st, 1863, and ending December 23d, except so far as the same has been re- vealed or indicated by the published Result of Coun- cil, which is as follows :
RESULT OF THE COUNCIL,
Called by " the Majority of the Brethren of the South Con- gregational Church, New Haven."
This Council has been convened by certain brethren styling themselves "the majority of the brethren of the South Congregational Church in New Haven," and com-
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THE EX-PARTE COUNCIL.
plaining that they "have been deprived of the rights which belong to brethren in a Congregational Church." Whether they are, or are not, entitled to the rights of a majority, is a question upon which we are not called to express an opinion, for it is not material to any of the issues involved in their complaint. These brethren, twenty or more in number, have addressed the Church in a memorial asking for a mutual council to consider certain matters by which they are aggrieved, and their request has been denied. Their right, therefore, of obtaining advice from neighbor Churches through an ex-parte council, in conformity with a reasonable and long established usage of the New England Churches, cannot be disputed.
First of all, this Council has made a communication to the Church through its Clerk and Standing Committee, and also to the Rev. J. Halsted Carroll, as another party interested in the matters referred to us, inviting them to appear and offer any explanations which they may desire to make concerning the transactions complained of. But these invitations have been explicitly declined. We are sorry to add, that we have been denied all access to the records of the Church, and that the complainants have not been able to obtain authenticated copies of the records, which they desired to present for our consideration.
Having carefully considered the documents submitted to us in behalf of the complainants by their committee, and having heard such testimony as they, in the disadvantageous circumstances in which they are placed, have been able to adduce, we find the following matters of fact :
I. The Church in question was instituted as a Congrega- tional Church, with the advice and approbation of a council of Congregational Churches, and the complainants became members of it, in the warranted expectation that they were to enjoy all the rights belonging to the brethren of a Con- gregational Church, according to the principles and usages of the New England Churches.
II. The Rev. J. Halsted Carroll commenced his labors at the South Church in December, 1861, being invited by the Society's Committee to officiate as a candidate. He was soon afterwards employed by concurrent votes of the
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Church and Society to supply the pulpit for a year. Before the termination of the year, a meeting of the Church was held to consider the question of a more permanent settle- ment of Mr. Carroll in the work of the ministry there. An arrangement was made, purporting to be between the Church and Society as one party, and Mr. Carroll as the other party, by which he was to remain in the work of the ministry among them indefinitely, and which could be ter- minated only when either party should give four months notice of a desire for the termination.
III. In that meeting the majority of the male members present voted against the proposed arrangement, but their votes were overruled by counting the votes of female mem- bers.
IV. The aforesaid arrangement having been made, Mr. Carroll assumed the title and authority of "Pastor of the South Church," subscribing official papers in that charac- ter, being habitually spoken of among the members of the Church, and in Church meetings, by that official title, and being frequently announced to the public as Pastor of that Church.
V. Certain members of the Church, fourteen in number, being dissatisfied with the ministry of Mr. Carroll, and desiring that notice might be duly given to him for the ter- mination of the arrangement, presented to the Clerk of the Church their written request for a Church meeting, which request was refused by the Clerk and Standing Committee.
VI. Afterwards the same brethren and others, twenty in all, addressed their memorial to the Church, stating dis- tinctly the grounds of their dissatisfaction with these pro- ceedings and with the ministry of Mr. Carroll, and asking for a Council of Churches, to be mutually agreed upon, who should advise with the Church and the complainants. The Clerk, to whose hands the memorial was committed, refused, by the advice of the Standing Committee, to lay it before the Church.
VII. Between the time when the request was made for a Church meeting and the time of preparing the memorial, some of the complainants asked and received letters of commendation, in the ordinary form, by which their mem-
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bership in the Church would be terminated whenever they might become members of other churches. But in the memorial those brethren gave notice to the Church that, upon mature deliberation, they had relinquished their inten- tion of connecting themselves with other churches; and they remained, in the language of the testimonials which had been given them, "members of the South Congrega- tional Church."
VIII. The reply which the Clerk, by the direction of the Standing Committee, returned to the signers of the memo- rial, was addressed "To Amos Smith, G. H. Butricks, and as many other signers of the above-named request as are still recognized members of the Church;" the said Clerk and Committee thereby assuming to exclude from member- ship those signers who held at that moment the written testimonials of the Church to their good and regular stand- ing.
IX. At the annual meeting of the Church, held on the evening of November 24, 1863, Mr. Carroll, acting as mod- erator, denied to the members above mentioned the right of voting, or of speaking in defence of their right to vote ; and that denial was approved by the meeting. The same meet- ing ratified all the doings of the Committee, including their suppression of the memorial.
X. The reasons for the dissatisfaction with the ministry of Mr. Carroll, presented to us by the complainants, and sustained by such evidence as the nature of this investiga- tion has made practicable, are the following :
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