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To the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec in meeting assembled in Zitn Congregational Churchy Toronto, June 8th, 1881. Dear Brethren : The Deacons of Bond Street Church, believing that it will be helpful to you in the formation of a correct judg- ment in the consideration of the application of the church for re-admission to the fellowship of the Union, have resolved upon printing the following resolutions and correspondence, together with the application itself, and the three recommendations re- quired by rule. On behalf of the deacons, Thos. Elgar, Sec 1st, Resolution passed at a church meeting held Aug. 4th, 1880:— "That every effort he made for a renewal of fellowship and co-operation with churches of all other protestant denom- inations, and especially with those of 011 own faith and order, in all Christian work and enterprise." "That a communication be addressed to Zion, the Northern, Western and Yorkville churches, inviting the pastors, deacons, and such other members as these churches may appoint to a mutual conference with the male members of this church oh as early a date as possible." Negotiations connected with the call to the Rev. Dr. Wild, and his acceptance thereof caused considerable delay in fcllowing the instructions conveyed in these resolutions. Of this the churches referred to were duly informed by the Executive Com- mittee of the church under date of September 27th. On October 30th an invitation was sent addressed to the Revs. J. Burton, H. D. Powis, J. B. Silcox and W. H. Warriner, reading thus : — Toronto, October 30th, 1880. Dear Sir, In furtherance of the resolution of the Bond Street Church, a copy of which was forwarded to you on the 27th ult, the Executive Committee have much pleasure in inviting yourself and the olificers of the church to a meeting to be held in th*^ Bond Street Sabbath School on Tuesday evening, the 23rd prox. nt 8 o'clock. We trust that, with the Divine help and guidance, this mutual conference may be productive of the happiest results, by cementing and binding together in Christian fellowship and labour all the churches of our denomination in this city, and that the cau^e of the Master may be srengthened amongst us, and His name be glorified. Signed on behalf of the Committee, W. McCartney, Sec. The conference met in regular course on the evening of November 23rd, and adjourned for three weeks in order that the Bond Street Church might, in accordance with suggestions of the brethren, make some expression of regret with reference to the late pastorate. On December 8th the church held an adjourned meeting at which the following resolution was passed on the recommendation of the Executive Committee: — '"'■ Resolved^ That we, the members of the Bond street Congre- gational church, desire to express our deep regret that the results which have followed upon the call and settlement of our late pastor have been of so unhappy a nature. " While we cannot admit that in giving that call, or in our subsequent action, we were actuated by any motive other than that of seeking and securing the best interests of the church, we see in the results the evidence that we were unfortunate in our r i action, and have accordingly taken those steps which we deemed right and proper, and have erased the name of T. W. Handford from the church roll. 'We further desire to give expression to our regret that a reproach should have fallen upon the cause of Christ, and especially upon the churches of our own denomination, in conse- quence of the late course of events at Bond street, but we hope and believe that our Lord and Master, "Whose we are and V/hom we serve," is guiding and leading us in the present, and that the future of our church will be a happier, a brighter, and a more successful one. " It is therefore our desire to be in bonds of fellowship and union with all God's people, " The church rejoices in the settlement of Dr. Joseph Wild in the pastorate, and pledges itself to hearty labour with him in the extension of the Gospel of our common Lord." It was further resolved that a copy of this resolution should be sent to each of the Congregational Churches in the city and Ycrkviile, The church had during these negotiations elected a new deaconate, and it was with surprise that they received the follow- ing note from a " conference " of the holding of which they had no cognizance, and at which there was no representation from Bond Street Church. Toronto, Ont., December 23rd, 1880. W. McCartney, Esq., Secretary Bond Street Congregational Church, Toronto. Dear Sir, — At a conference of the Pastors and Deacons of Zion Church, the Northern, Western, and Yorkville churches, held thii evening, the Resolution of the Bond Street Church dated Dec. 8th, 1880, was laid before them. As Secretary of the meeting I was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the Resolution, which will be laid before the seve- ral churches at their nexti^gular monthly church meeting. I am, dear sir. Yours very faithfullly, J. C. Copp, Secretary. show. uujuinea account of the proceedings will thus fddrted^'t'oS DecemC'H"''T°"^ of the churches agreed to sub.it to S^^^ iLS^eHlIltS::^ .^^ ^ ■ n.eet;:^.jSoSrru^^^ P-r- the for the 'results' is nienionedtifnn^ ^'°^'"' '^"^"^ ^hat regret actions which neresS^ed to fl ^ expression of regret for the studiously avoided." ^ ^^'°'^ '"'"'^s appears to have been regui:?;LlSs%t?t?v::'inX^^^^^^^^^ ''' "S^^ °^ ^ ^'--h to not have made the uni^^Dv e-nl ' fi'^'"''' ^^^ ^^- ^^ would tion with the church in BoLstret'';^''^''"' occured in connec- action, had not that churcT^e , ' .^H^^ ^''"''"^ '"^j^^^ °^^h"^eh ersto meet with themTnform^f f.^°"^ P'^^^tor and office-bear- have laid these resoludons before .^^ 7'"l'' ""^ subsequently us to allude to those actionfsf l'^ u '^therefore forced upon placed itself outside thrConJreJnl''^ Bond street church ship of their sister churcLs ^aT^n ^ '"^ °^the fellow- the cou,-se which perpSuaLl ?he aS^adon °"^'"^ ^"^^'^^^^°" '' ' -f^:S:a^^j;^^^2y^-- ^^^^^ 5- -ed not only to which he belonged "-hen the -" '° denomination believe that the acS of the ^Lri vTo' T" f° '^"" ^ ^^''^ ^^^^^ mmority, who protested al.in^f Ik ^ T""'^' "" ^^'^^ and worthy and were in coisequence f rh / ^ °^ '^^ ^'^^e pastor, from the church, '?asrki/dth.;l"''^°^°^''S^ ^° ^'^'bdra^ in retaining Mr. Handford b snite f' P^^^'^^ency of the church matters of public notSy evef.nlT.''^^?.^'^'"^ ^^^ become the public press, was at Wt mn ? . ''' ^"^'"^ their way into the action of the Bond stSchureht'T '• ^'" "^^" ^^^^"^ that committee appointed by the Union w '"^"''"^ '° "^^^^ with the calculated at once to des trov Yll fe^l J'°"^ ^"^ uncourteous, the results which have been Ln[n'''''P' '"^^ ''^ ^^^'^^'^ that gational body in Canada hnf ',"J""""t^°t only to the Congre- Toronto, and which "he resoh^in? '^ ^^^"^^ian churches%f able results of tL unwise and ,1n^/''' ^'"' ^'''' '^' '"^^'t- and that, therefore, trs^ptat" ^.ff^^^^^^^^ church and other churches of the denomination (in which the Bond street church was once one of the mpst honoured and use- ful members) has been solely occasioned by that churches' deter- mined action. "We consider that the Bond street church should not only ex- press regret for the sad results, but frankly acknowledge regret for their erroneous conduct, and this in simple justice to themselves, to the minority who were driven from amongst them, and to the Christian public generally. "In our judgment, therefore, it is the Bond street church alone that can place itself in true fellowship with the Christian community and with the once sister churches, and until this is done we are constrained to say that a mere formal fellowship would be worthless to them and unworthy of those who tendered it. " We unhesitatingly say that we desire the true prosperity of the Bond street church, that these utterances are made in no un- friendly or critical spirit, but being called upon by that church to take action we find it incumbent upon us to take and maintain such a position as will honestly show our views in regard to those unhappy events that have so troubled and disturbed our denomi- nation in this city and province. " The Bond street brethren felt t^at had each church been left to its own course, passing its own uninfluenced judgment, it would have been strictly in accord with congregational usage, and a more kindly and sympathetic feeling would have been en- gendered. The churches met and acted upon the Conference judgment, with the following results : — The Northern and Yorkvilie churchesKit their regular church meetings on December 29th, aaopted these last resolutions sim- pliciter; the Yorkvilie church adding their readiness to grant fellowship when the conditions were fulfilled ; the Northern appointing the pastor with Messrs. Baird and Nasmith to convey the resolutions to the Bond street church; ^\on continued the consideration to an adjourned church meeting on the 5th inst., and adopted the same, simply adding to the last paragraph so as to read, " we desire the restoration and true prosperity," &c. From the Western Congregational church the following letter was received : — 7o the B0nd Street Congegational Church : " Dear Brethren. — The resolutions submitted by you, having reference to a renewal of fellowship with other churches of our faith and order, were read before this church, and the fol- lowing resolution was passed in reference thereto :- wifh t'J^p* ^A ^^^"'^ ^f ''^^^' ^^^" ^"y '■"Pture in our fellowship Slei unon"t^ freet church in the past, we do not feel ourselves them Z?" '""^t ^"''^"^ ^"^l"" '" '^''' "^^"^^ *han to assure them that as we have sympathi/.ed with them in their troubles ?f w w tl '"^ ^-^ ^°i^" '" '^^ ^"^"^e ^l^ays to extend to them ou? cordial fellowship and good will. " By order of the church, at its meeting, January i'.«th, 1881. "D. Lang FORD Graham, •'Secretary." denuflionL^^ "^'^'"^'^ '^^^ '^^ ^^'^^^'^ charch appointed a elcT\Tl '° "°"r^y "« resolutions (those passed by the confer- mortler it l^^fu''"'' '^T*^' ^"^ ^^^^ ^'^^^ «^"^ ^y mail, and BondTpp^h kM" '^'"'^ "P°" ^y '^' P^^^°^ and deacons of fnce re?errpH r 'Y u"" "°'^l" "^"^'^ ^^ ^aken of the confer- its rpln^^r °'- ''^"^.th^t^s the Ncrihern church bad adopted Its resolutions ./,/.//,,,/,^, " ^o"'^ "ot be wise :o receive the ?nr ^"/f P°^"'."^- "^^ "°' '^he action of the church been forwarded by man, the result might have been otherwise The Bone, street church proceeded further as here detailed : street chnrrh 'T "^^"'i"''^' ""^ ^''^ ^"""^'^ "^^^"^^"g ^^ the Bond the nevv Hp^; ' resolutions were ^aken in con^der.tion, and the new deacon's Board submitted the subjoined reolv which was adopted unanimously :— ^ ^^' ^^ "^" faith nnTJ'^^i" '^""'fu- ""'■ ^^- '"''^"^ ^^*i«" °f the churches of our toward a rpnpw"; '^'Ut'^ m. response to the efforts of this church towards a renewal of f«ilowship, be it hereby ^•esolved •— Rev Vr^^ '"* ''^^^^^tern Church ana its late pastor, the ChrlJ-: I '''^ \^^ ^° ^""^'^^^ «"'' ^'gh appreciation of the circumTanLTt' '"^ ? ""^^^'P ^^^^"^^^ ''^ time and unde? needed ^nHf "".>,'" '"'^ sympathy and fellowship were most centlvindpin T^'^^r^ expression of its confidence so re- cently tendered. The Church assures their brethren of its heanv reciprocation, and pledges itself to earnest co-operation wth them m every good word and work. It gladly avails itseTf of th^ oF^hone' InH '''"'^'1!° '"^^'^^ ^^ '"^ '^^ Western fdlowship ot its hope and prayer that an under shepherd may ere long be Its opinions that the proceedings of the kd confereni were uncongregational, inasmuch as definite action was taken, which action should have been left to the respective churches referred to. " 3. That tht church emphatically repudiates th- suggestion of 'wrong doing' conveyed in the resolution, and considers the nnputation as unworthy of a body of Christian brethren, them- selves subject to error nnd mistake. " 4. With regard to the withdrawal of the church from the Congregational Union of Ontarif^ and Quebec, the church regrets that the conference alluded to felt itself caHed upon to pass judgment. This is a subject entirely between the church and the Union, and will be considered at the i)ro[ier time and ploce. In the meanwhile, the church would place on -ecord that no dis- courtesy whaf^. was shown towards the committee c/ the Union appointc. .. confer vith it, but the very reverse, ay, the following correspondence will prove : — LETTEP FROiM DR. WILKES, DATED HAMILiON, JUNE 2 I ST, r88l. "To the Secretary 0/ the Bond Street Church: •' Dear Sir,— Your communication from the Bond street Church, withdrawing from the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec, was in accordance with rule referred to the Member- ship Committee, which, after due consideration, reported a resolution as fallows -.—Resolved, that the lettti of Bo^nd street Congregational Church, Toronto, be laid upon the table mean- while, and that a committee be apj^ointed to confer with the Church and report thereon co the Union as soon as possible, because it is due to a church that has held the position which this church has for so long a time to make all reasonable efforts to retain it in the Union; said committee to consist of the chairman of the Union, the Revs. R. K. Black, Dr. Wilkes, Dr. Cornish, and K. M. Fenwick. "Prior to leaving London this committee met, and appoint- ing me convcier requested me to address you as secretary -f the church stating our appointment, and that as it would' not be possible for us within any reasonable time to confer with the church otherwise than by written correspondence, we should feel obliged by any communication from the church to us which they may deem it proper to make in view of the design mentioned in the resolution. I resurn to Montreal probably next week, and may be addressed there at any time. " Yours very truly, "Kenrv Wilkes." lO The following letter was sent in reply:- Bond Street Congregational Church, Toronto, August 9th, 1878. ^/le^J^ev. Henry Wilkes, D.JD., L.L.D. • and ^-^^^l!'^~^:i^^^^^^ -'- duly to hand 31st. The church instrurtPH ,>! % '' ''^"'''^ vat^lxn^ on July as convener of the com mf.. °^^^'' *° ^^^'^^^ a letter to you -> June last, IX'iZ^^^^^^^'^^^y T^t^'l' ^^d^ to express its full apprecia?ior of ".h I I ''^^ ^^^ ^^"^^^ begs appointment of that ?Seen/ti. "''' '^^' ^^^ ^° ^^e to assure the committeTtCft w^f ; ^^n^e time the church begs that It resolvep t^vSrfw 1^^'??"- ^^^^^^^^^ irritatio^n pleasant task to seve associating W ^"J'k" ^' ^^^ "^^ ^ more than a quarter of a centu ' p^f.u^'l. ^^f ^^^^"^hed for by self respect and urLdTv .'he v. f '^^^' "°™ break away. The chu'rch d^H^not de're' t""^' ^'^"^"^^ ^« Union nor any of its members nor dfH ;f ^ • ^?"^P^omise the of strife, but it did desire forLelf fh?/> ''• 'J '°u^" '^^ ^^^^^io" perform undisturbed the work the M."''^^^''' P^™^"^d to church quite clearly unders ands hnt ^ '' "''^^"^^ ''' The IS not severance from the denomination '''"'' ''°"^ ^'^^ ^nion "The Year Book for tSt^ ^ necessory to the good and reFuhfsf n nT' P-/4,.that 'It is not to be connected'with "he Unir' '^^^^^ cision deliberately and nraverf X" a. '^^^''''^ ^^"^^ ^^ its de- a doubt of the wisdom Kc^'e E^h/l '\ ^'^ '''' entertained inatzonal organ would havfsetS tC VoubV""' "'^'^ '^"°'^- the denominalit^a'nTd^"^^^^^^ "« ^"-^ment to of Congregationalism in clada k s f ,l/'' "!5'™^^^ '^^ ^^"^^ the opinion that ^vlthdrawa? from the rl^ """^ unanimously of Ontano and Quebec is its onlXotSrcS""'^ ''"°" °^ Jame:iirnln';'S;r^-BS^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ J-- Eraser, Robinson, deacons." ^^"' ^'^"^^^ Farquhar, Francis K ofits^r^^iss^^sis^r^ under no consideration will t "v ve L h '^"'''^ '"^°^-^«« ^^^^ happy mistakes into which it feTVnH ?'^"l'!? ^^ those un- WW.V and regret. Such a cou se wm/ T '"'l;''^-''^ '^^''^"^^ ^'^^ allay di/Terences that necessLi^exL^llh respect'S^^^^^^ II " 6. While forgetting the things that are behind, we desire to press forward in the spirit of the Gospel, which invariably cherishes " peace and good will " towards all ; and may the Divine Head of the Church ever be our strength, and use us as a people for the furtherance of His Kingdom in the hearts of men. Signed by order of the church, Thomas Elgar. To these resoijtions the replies sent were as follows : — Northern Congregational Church. Toronto, February icth 1881. Thos. Ei.gar, Esq. Secretary Bond Street Congregational Church, Toronto. Dear Sir,— At our adjourned church meeting held last even- ing, the Resolutions of the Bond Street Church dated Jany. 27th, were read, and received by the church. And on motion, ordered to be placed on fyle. I am, dear sir, Yours fraternally, C. A. HODGETTS, Secy. N. C. C. ZiON Congregational Church. Toronto, February 2nd, 1881. Dear Sir, — Your communication of the 27th ultimo, contain- ing a copy of Resolutions, passed at the Annual Meeting of Bond Street Congregational Church on the 26th ultimo was laid before the regular Monthly Meeting of Zion Church held on the date hereof and was duly received, ordered to be entered in the min- utes, and courteously acknowledged by the secretary. Yours Sincerely, To Thos. Elgar, Esq. W. Freeland Secy, ttond St. Church, Church Secy, Toronto. A similar acknowledgement was received from Yorkville church, but this was supplemented by the following letter : Yorkville, March loth 1881. Thos. Eloar, Esq. Secretary Bond Street Church. Dear Sir, — The Yorkville Congregational Church being in- 12 formed that the Bond Street Church anticipated some further action m regard to their resolutions held a pecial meetinriast mght to consider the matter, when the following e."ouS wa passed unanunously, and I was instructed to forward a copv oT ^° y°"- Yours faithfully, ' W. H. Warriner Pastor Y. C. Church. Copy of Resolution. S^ l^""^ ^^? Yorkville Congregational Church having consid- ered the resolutions of the Bond Street Church, the receipt of aSfhL '" ^l;;eady acknowledged, believes' no immediate action hereupon, beyond courteously expressing good will and kindly teehng towards the brethren in Boid Streefis necessary, Znl rr'" ^' "' '^' '™' ^""^ '^^ "^^^^^"g °f the 'Congrega tional Union' is now sooner at hand. " The Yorkville Church understands that Bond Street oro- poses seeking re-admittance into the Union, and when their t'ainidtT, ^'^'^°'^ ^'"^ ^°'>' "" ^°"'^^ ^^^ ---- P-i-ts con- tained in their resolutions will be deliberated upon by the rep- Snd"ef.r ''•''' """"^ congregational churc^hes assembLl Under these circumstances the Yorkville Church considers that the preferable course will be to allow the whole matter to rest in nroSr,^;" \ -^T' next, when they will be prepared to ap- pioach the subject in conjunction with their brethren of the sister churches in a fair and uiipartial spirit." And now brethren, members of the Union, we present our von^- S^""" l^"" 'u '^'' ^"^'°"^"g application for re-admission to you. fellowship, the terms of which were agreed upon by the deacons unanimously, and subsequently passed by the church uMfh !l!r'"^'. ^"^'^ ^''f ^""t^ ^"^ ''^^^^^^ ^"d Christian conference n Mnd^ ""' "r f ^k"°^'\^^^l^-'d leaders of Congregationalism n T^ ' fxrn^'y °^ '^^ membership roll was sent tS the Ven- erable Di. Wilkes of Montreal, with the express desire of the deacons that he should take into his confidence the follow ng esteemed brethren :--Dr. Cornish, Prof. K. M. Fenwick, Rev. Liu ^''Tu""''' W'-^' ^^'- J- L- ^°^t^^' ^^"h Messrs Geo. Hague and Henry Lyman. The application reads : 13 The Bond Street Congregational Church, Toronto, to the Congre- gational Union of Ontario and Quebec : Dear Brethren, We believe that the time has now come for a renewal of our interest m the various organizations of the denomination, and for co-operation with you in the promulgation of those principles of freedom in matters of Church government and discipline to which as a body we adhere. You will agree with us that this will he best accomplished by our return to membership with your Union, and we accord- ingly make application for re-admission thereto at the ensuinij meeting to be held in Zion Church, in this city on the 8th Tune next. ^ We feel that in submitting this application it is ahke due to ourselves, and to the churches of our faith and order gene^ally that we should again express our sorrow and regret for the mis- take we made in extending a call to the laie pastor of the church. The deplorable effects of the extension of that call upon the church at large we now realize, and earnestly desire that the matter may from this time forth be considered as for ever closed. ^ Accompanying this application is one from the Rev. Joseph Wild, D.D., our esteemed pastor, and the hope of the church is that both may be received to your fellowship together, and that henceforth nothing may occur to disturb the peace ond pros- perity of the churches. On behalf of the church, Signed, Joseph Wild, Pastor. Francis Robinson, Geo. Virtue, Thos. Elgar, William St. Croix, )-Deacons. Ed. Beckett, W. McCartney, R. DUNLOP. Thos. Elgar, Secretary. Toronto, May 30th, 1881. The following are the three letters in support of this appli- cation, required by rule of the Union: — Montreal, 4th May, 1881. Secretary Bond Street Church : My Dear Sir,— I have read your application for re-admis- sion inro the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec, and ^4 'Xtr/^'n-'^'/''\"°^^'^Sement of serious mistake in the matter of callmg to the pastorate one who was under a cloud thmking him penitent and reformed, and the expression of deen sorrow and regret for all the sad 'results of sich mTstake a'e amply sufficient to place you in a true position before Srethren negard to this matter. Again, I have carefully examined the roll of memoership of the church with the notes of the deacons appended, (including the appended names with whomit is pro posed at once to take ^.roper action) and have arrived at the conclusion that the Bond Street Church is worthy of the confi dt'line/'^ "^^" ^'""'^^ ^" ^^^P^^^ ^' "^ mLtJshV a"nd Streef Itfrrh^ .'^^"^" l^- T u"^" ™Portance that the Bond btreet Church, around which there are so many pleasant mem- ories and which has been aforetime distinguished for usefuTne^s the denomination to which it belongs,' should again take is place_ in the sisterhood of churches. Animated by its former principles and spirit it can do much for the advancem^ert o? Ou Lords Kingdom, and I think there is good ground^ hope tha It will be so animated now and in the future Yours sincerely, Henry Wilkes. 7, ,, ^ . Paris, Ont., May 9th, 1881. Jo the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec u-h U"^f 't^^"/^"g that the Bond Street Congregational Church who withdrevy from the Union a few years ago is abourto \nn Iv Z^A-^^'T^ of membership, I feel pleasure in cordiaHy S be .tS'to'f '° ""' ^"""f "^ ^^^"^■^^' °^ Christ whom we shdl be glad to have m more formal connection with us. I recom- ^om ufV^f "^""^^ ''T'""> because she voluntarily wihXw h.s T/osed' W '!"' P''' °^ '^'^ -"^"''^^ '^^^ been erroneous, and nas exposed her to private criticism from individuals she has i^^^'o^Thr^^s^er^sf T^ ^^^^^^ of having departed 'irom t. laitn 01 the gospel. She has been grievously betrayed bv one whom she trusted, and weakened by trusting too ?ong She has now put away her betrayer and is earnestly working for our com mon Saviour We trust she may be heartily wckomed o thl' dUhe ^huiS.'" '^'"^"^°" "^^^ ^^ ^°^- ^^^ -utuarbenefit^of Yours &:c. W. H. Allworth. {» IS Winnipeg, Man,, May i6th 1881. The Secretaiy Bond Street Congregational Church, Toronto, Dear Sir, — It was with great pleasure that I learned that Bond Street Congregational Church had resolved to make appli- cation for membership to the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec. With fullest confidence in the church, and in the clxaracter of its pastor, officers and membership I most heartily recommend the churches' application, I am persuaded that the return of Bond Street Church to its sister churches will be to the mutual benefit of botn the church and the associated churches, and I trust and will pray that both, forgetting the things that are behind will press forward in the sei- vice of the King with renewed consecration and redoubled zeal, and may we individually and unitedly receive that baptism of the spirit of peace and of power that will make us mighty in resisting evil and strong in advancing the Kingdom of Truth and Right- eousness in the earth. " For my brethren and companion's sake I will now say, peace be within thee; because of the house of the Lord Our God I will seek thy good." Yours &c. j, B. SiLCOX. Messrs. Jas. Farquhar, Francis Robinson and Thos, Elgar have been duly appointed by the church to answer any questions, or make any explanations that the Union or Membership Com- mittee may rt^quire. The whole respectfully submitted by order of the Board of Deacons. Thomas Elgar, Secretary. Bond Street Corgregational Church, Toronto, May 30th, 1881.