He Gossiped Too Much

The case of Rev. J. H. Girdwood, formerly pastor of the Baptist chnrch, Chelsea whicb has cansed considerable talk in thatvillage as well as muchdissension ainong the merubers of the congregation, and wbich some time ago was heard before a council of the Baptist ohurch has agaiu come to the front within the past few days. The Chelsea churcb grauted Mr. Girdwood a letter of dismissal aud that gentleman left the church and village. At the first hearing the council decided that tbe letter wás obtained through intrigue. Mr. GirdwooJ afterwards returned to Chelsea and asked for a rehearing of the case. Tbe couucl was reoalled by the church July 3, and ïuet with the church in session July 8, Rev. Andrew TenBrook, of Ann Arbor, aoting as moderator, and Rev. Robert W. VanKirk, of Ypsilanti, acting as clerk. A reconsideration of tbe whole case was agreed to aud entered npon. After haring listened toall theevideuce presented by the members of the church against Rev. Mr. Girdwood, and the rebutting evidence presented by Rev. Mr. Girdwood, the oouncil revised their former decisión, and following is the report of their decisión on tne case : I'. We reaffiria our decisión regarding tbe grantiug of Brother Girdwood's letter: "Tbat tbe vote of the chnroh to grant Rev. J. H. Girdwood a letter of disinission was ont of oider and nuil and void because tbere was a niotion to postpone the matter to a specified time before the body, whicb motion had preeedence. But from the evidenee before as, we believe the letter was not obtained by any intrigue, bnt its irregdlarity was owing to the confusión of the occasion." 2. We believe that Rev. 3. H. Girdwood has been repeatedly guilty of too much gossip, tattling and the use of language unbecomiDg a Christian gentlemau. 3. Wé also believe that some of the members preferring the charges are equally guilty iu these very tbings. 4. In tbe light of all the evidenee pro and con presented in the trial, we believe that Rev. J. H. Girdwood could be more nsefnl in some other vocatiou tban tbe Chirstiau ministry. 5. We recommend that the church members cease disenssing and agitating tbe matter, and exercise the spirit of forbearance and forgiveness towards one another, towards Brother Girdwood and his family in particular, and towards those who have becorue' alieuated from the church, and that they seek recunciliation vrith one another, and "follow after the things which rnake peace, and things wherewith one may edify auother. " As the matter uow stands it is entirely in the discretion of the church to grant Rev. Mr.Girdwood a letter of dismissal.