The Practical Church Member: being a Guide to the Principles and Practice of the Congregational Churches of New England. By John Mitchell [pp. 243-268]

Mitchell's Church Member.
Its responsibility vanishes with its existence; as does, also,
the sense of its authority. As the members frequently come
from a distance; it can have no knowledge concerning those
numerous particulars, which respect the transactions to be
judged of; and the characters, interests, views, and contrivances of those who are immediately concerned. As, individuals, these members may, in some instances, have much
weight; and in certain circumstances may, by their wisdom
and piety, do much good. But all this must arise solely from
their personal character. As a Council, as a Judicatory, they
can have scarcely any weight at all; for, as they disappear
when the trial is ended, they are forgotten in their united
character; and, having no permanent existence, are regarded
with no habitual respect, and even with no prejudice in their
favour. Very often also, as they were chosen on partial
principles, they are led of course to partial decisions; and
leave behind them very unhappy opinions concerning Ecclesiastical Government at large.
"In this State, a much happier mode has been resorted to,
for the accomplishment of this object. The Tribunal of
Appeal is here a Consociation; a standing body, composed
of the settled ministers within an associational district, and
delegates from the Churches in the same district: a body
always existing; of acknowledged authority; of great weight;
possessed of all the impartiality, incident to human affairs;.
feeling its responsibility as a thing of course; a Court of Record, having a regular system of precedents; and, from being
frequently called to business of this nature, skilled, to a good
degree, in the proper modes of proceeding.
"The greatest defect in this system, as it seems to me, is;
the want of a still superior tribunal to receive appeals, in,
cases where they are obviously necessary. These it is unnecessary for me toparticularize. Every person, extensively
acquainted with Ecclesiastical affairs, knows that such cases
exist. The only remedy, provided by the system of Discipline established in this State, for those, who feel aggrieved
by a Consociational judgment, is to introduce a neighbouring Consociation as assessors with that, which has given
the judgment, at a new hearing of the cause. The provision of this partial, imperfect, tribunal of appeals, is clear
proof, that those, who formed the system, perceived the apsolute necessity of some appellate jurisdiction. The Judicatory, which they have furnished of this nature, is, perhaps, the
best, which the Churches of the State would at that, or any
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