The Baptist Church of Christ at Rensselaer-Ville and Bern.—To whom it may concern

The Baptist Church of Christ at Rensselaer-Ville and Bern.—To whom it may concern:

Whereas, a number of the Churches of the Rensselaer-Ville Association, at the instance of several professedly aggrieved members of this, the Rensselaer-Ville and Bern Church, did on the 21st day of May 1834, convene at the Meeting-House belonging to this said Rensselaer-Ville and Bern Church, and having then and there formed themselves into an exparte Ecclesiastical Council, proceeded to call in question the standing and character of Elder E. Crocker, our Pastor, and also the order of this Church, contrary not only to the Bible rule, but also to the usage of the Baptist Church.

And whereas, said exparte Council, did proceed to censure Elder E. Crocker, and this Church not only without proper authority, but also without a proper investigation of our circumstances.

And whereas, the Rensselaer-Ville Association at their last Session at Preston Hollow, did call up and treat with great severity the circumstances of Elder Crocker and of this Church, contrary to the Bible rule, or any example heretofore practised.

And whereas, four Ministers of the above-named Ass’n. viz: Elders Elijah Herrick, Samuel Howe, David Corwin, and Ebenezer Wicks, did upon the invitation of Elder E. Wicks, of New Baltimore Church, meet in the Village of Gallup-Ville, Schoharie County, on the 20th day of Nov. 1834, for the purpose of introducing into our Churches a system of New Divinity; and while in session, did without example or precept, either from Bible, Church, or state, so far as it respects our place and Nation; arrogate to themselves the authority to prepare and write letters to all the Churches of R. Ville Ass’n., requesting them to attend by their delegates at our Meeting-House in Bern, on the 3d Wednesday in Jan. 1835, for the purpose of still pushing forward their assumed authority as an Ecclesiastical Court, or Inquisition. See their Letter, hereunto subjoined:

“At a Ministerial Conference held at Gallup-Ville, Nov. 20th, 1834, having understood that the difficulties remained unsettled in the Church in Rensselaer-Ville and Bern, the Brethren here present think it would be gospel wise to recommend to the Churches of this Association, (the Rensselaer-Ville,) to send delegates from each Church, to look after said Church and satisfy themselves respecting their difficulties and standing, and administer to them all that good they are able, to meet at their Meeting-House on the third Wednesday in January next, at ten o’clock A. M. This is to notify said Church with your Minister, and request you to attend with us on that day for that purpose.”

By order of the Council,
EBENEZER WICKS, Clerk.

And whereas, the said Rensselaer Ville Ass’n is fully resolved to support all the popular Institutions of the day, for which they cannot shew us any authority from the word of God:

Therefore, we, the said Baptist Church of Christ at Rensselaer-Ville and Berne, do consider ourselves fully justified in relinquishing our connection with the said R. Ville Ass’n.; and we hereby give notice that our connection with that Association is, for the above stated reasons, dissolved, until they shall return to their original standing, and purity of doctrine and practice.

Signed on behalf of the Church,
EPHRAIM CROCKER, Eld.
Rensselaer Ville, Dec. 13, 1834.

COUNCIL AND RESULT.

By request of the Baptist Church of Rensselaer Ville and Bern, the following Elders and Brethren met with them in council, (being duly appointed for that purpose by the respective Churches of which they are members,) on Saturday, the 27th day of Dec. 1834, viz: From the Church at Lexington, Eld. Hez. Pettit, Dea. I. Whitcomb, and Brethren, Ruel Whitcomb, S. Peck, and J. Densmore.

1st Church in Roxbury: Eld. David Mead, Jas. Ballard, and Thos. Faulkner.

Broom Church: I. R. Porter, Nathan Gates, Jas. Youmans, David Jackson, and Henry Tibbits.

1st. Eld. Pettit Preached from Judges, vii. 20.

2nd, Choose Eld. Pettit, Moderator, and Thos. Faulkner Clerk.

3rd. Elder Crocker, on behalf of the Church, stated to the Council that the Church had been for some time in a divided state and, for the purpose of restoring harmony and Gospel order, had been under the painful necessity of excluding some of its members. Relative to this subject in connection with other matters, embracing the situation of this Church, the Council was called to give its friendly counsel and advice. After deliberate investigation of the several items submitted by the Church through their organ, Eld. Crocker, the Council came to the following result:

In answer to the request of this Church, and as the result of the Council, we unanimously agree, that we do not consider ourselves called upon by you as a Church, to meddle with any individual case of your discipline, but merely to say wither from the information you have given us, and the knowledge we have of your standing, we view you as standing on the same ground which you have occupied for so many years past, and wither we can continue our fellowship with you as formerly. To both questions we do most cheerfully answer in the affirmative, and we do most cordially sympathise with you in your present trials. Should you, upon further reflection or review of your circumstances, find anything wrong on your part, we advise you carefully and immediately to correct it. We admonish you to stand fast in the Faith of the Gospel, and prayerfully enquire for the good old way and walk therein;

And we further advise, that the written statement of your trials, as read to us by your Pastor, in behalf of the Church, to-day, together with the Minutes and result of this Council, signed by the Moderator and Clerk, be published in the “Signs of the Times,” that the Brethren at large, may know the movements which have been made respecting you as a Church.

From the foregoing statements, you are to understand that we, the Council, consider you the Baptist Church of Rensselaer Ville and Berne, and as such, entitled to our cordial fellowship, and to all the privileges God has granted to the several individual branches of his Militant Church, and such as you have for many years lived in the peaceful enjoyment of.

HEZEKIAH PETTITT, Mod.
THOS. FAULKNER, Clerk.