Church Order by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1856

Church Order.

By A. S. Hutchins

BRO. SMITH:—For more than two years I have in some measure realized the necessity of the establishment of Church order in the different Churches. As followers of the meek and lowly Lamb, circumstances which surround us, certainly demand a careful, critical and patient investigation of sure wrongs, and trials, existing among Sabbath-keepers, (or those who have a name to keep God's holy Sabbath,) and an immediate withdrawal of the hand of Christian fellowship from some, unless they shall quickly reform and thoroughly and heartily confess their wanderings from the path of duty.

And while exercised with such convictions it has been my humble prayer that we might all be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves;" that we might not move too fast nor too slow in trying to set things in order.

But for some time past it has been my settled conviction that in some parts of the field we have moved too slow on this point.

Not a few things have laid in the way of messengers in some of their travels, who have anxiously desired to have stumbling-blocks removed. 1st. The want of deacons to aid in this matter. 2d. A general unwillingness on the part of brethren to act in this matter.

What has been written on Church order by Bro. Frisbie and others, I hope may be a benefit to the Church. But I wish to ask a few questions here, which if answered, will probably be a help to others as well as myself.

1. If it is scriptural to exclude offending members by a vote of the Church (which I doubt not) is it not equally scriptural to receive members to the Church by vote, or by some other visible expression of the Church? If not, by what rule shall we determine who is, and who is not, a member of the true Church of God?

2. What shall be done by the Church (if any action be taken) when a member about to be labored with for his past wrongs, withdraws from the Church? This has been done by one who had long been a sore grief to the Church wherever his case was known; since which I learn he has professedly been teaching and preaching the Third Angel's Message, yet no action has been taken by the Church.

3. In case of existing trials in the Church, is it scriptural for one, or two, or more, to leave the Church before any settlement of difficulties has taken place, and refuse to be subject to the voice of the remaining members, and also to the advice and counsel of a disinterested committee, yet still claim to be in fellowship with the Church in other places? Do not such individuals rather, virtually withdraw themselves from the entire church?

Your brother seeking for the truth. A. S. HUTCHINS.

P. S. Perhaps as Bro. Frisbie has recently written on the subject of Church order he will favor us with an answer to the above. A. S. H.