The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 25 (Castres) · Chapter 22 – Chapter 23
CHAP. XXII. Diſcipline Exerciſed upon a Delinquent Miniſter.1626. The 25th. Synod.
44 THE Acts and Memoirs produc't againſt Monſieur Peyroll, as alſo his Declinatory Letters written unto this Aſſembly on deſign to elude his citation and appearance being all read; and the Sieurs Aſtier, Carlincas, and the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc being heard, it was judged that the Provincial Synod and Conſiſtory of Montpellier had been too indulgent to the ſaid Peyroll, and borne with him too long conſidering that the ſuſpenſion threatned bore no proportion to the greatneſs of his Crime, and that the Conſiſtory ſhould not have payd any reſpect unto his Appeal, when it was done on purpoſe to obſtruct the Execution of the Synodical Decree, nor ſhould they have connived at thoſe Defaults obſerved in his Sermons, which have occaſioned ſo many Perſons to complain of him. Moreover it was ordained, that the ſaid Peyroll for his Contentiouſneſs at Law, and frequent failures in his promiſes, ſhould be ſuſpended from the Sacred Miniſtry until the next Synod of Lower Languedoc, during which time the Colloquy ſhall take care that the Church be provided of another Paſtor; and the Synod being informed by the Conſiſtory of Montpellier of the verity and reality of theſe Offences taken at his Sermons, and of the other defaults whereof he is accuſed ſhall aggravate his cenſure even unto a Depoſition from the Miniſtry, in caſe the ſaid Peyroll refuſe to teſtifie his Repentance by informing his promiſes, and by giving plenary ſatisfaction unto the Church, which he hath ſo grievouſly ſcandalized through his violations of them.
45. The Sieurs Taby and Longuett Commiſſioners appointed by this Council to paſs over unto the City of Ʋſez, and to cite Monſieur Noguier Paſtor of that Church before them, having heard him, and the Witneſſes brought forth unto them, returned, and made Report of all the Acts produced both for and againſt Monſieur Aſtier. After which the ſaid Aſtier, and the Sieurs Noguier, and Eſpagnac, and the Provincial Deputies of Lower Languedoc were all ſuffered to ſpeak in order; whereupon the Council Confirmed the Judgment of the ſaid Province in all its Articles, and immediately abſolved the ſaid Monſieur Eſpagnac of the Crimes brought in againſt him by the ſaid Aſtier, and cenſuring the ſaid Aſtier for his animoſity and paſſion, ordaineth that he be reconciled with his adverſe Party, and that the Papers produced in this cauſe ſhall be ſuppreſt; which being done, and the ſaid Monſieur Aſtier having intreated Monſieur Aſpagnac to forget what is paſt, The Council conſents that the Cenſures denounc't againſt him by the Synod of Lower Languedoc be repealed, and taken off the File.
46. The Synod heard the Sieur Mercurin Paſtor of the Church of Grace declare his particular grievances of which he complained in his Appeal from the Provincial Synod of Provence; and judging that the ſaid Province ought not to refuſe their aſſiſtance to him againſt the Perſecution ſuffered by him from the Adverſaries of the Goſpel, it decreed that Monſieur Cuper ſhall immediately pay him out of the Common Stock of Moneys belonging to the Churches of Provence the Summ of an Hundred and Fifty Livres, for which the Receiver of that Province ſhall be accountable, and that henceforward an half Portion ſhall be ſetled upon him for his encouragement over and above what the Church of Grace hath hitherto injoyed.
47. The Council doing right unto Monſieur Berauld upon his Appeals, and diſanulling all former proceedings againſt him, except thoſe of the Committees, which it had particularly ordained and conſtituted about his Affair, and having examined all thoſe Accuſations, Depoſitions of Witneſſes, Denyals and Defences relating to it, did unauimouſly and without the leaſt diſagreement declare, as it now declareth the ſaid Monſieur Berauld abſolved and juſtified from all crimes impoſed on him, and that there may be a real and hearty reconciliation of the ſaid Monſieur Berauld with thoſe who were tranſported againſt him; and that the peace and edifying of the Church of Montauban may be ſettled and promoted, the Reverend Mr. Charles and Delon Paſtors of the ſaid Church were commanded to come into this Aſſembly, and preſenting themſelves before it, they were acquainted with its Holy Deſires and Intentions, and were all of them joyntly and ſeverally exhorted unto Concord, Union, and Brotherly Love, that ſo the Church in which they officiate may be edified and comforted by their Miniſtry, and that all ſence of injuries and bitter animoſities may be for ever buried in the Grave of Oblivion.
48. Thoſe Acts brought into the Colloquy of Albigeois by the Commiſſioners Nominated in the Synod of Realmont to make inquiry into the crime impoſed on Monſieur Fabry Paſtor of the Church de la Caune were all examined: And the ſaid Fabry was heard as to thoſe grievances of which he complained in his Appeal, as alſo was the Sieur de Maroule Paſtor of the Church of Pont de Larq one of the Commiſſioners, and the Provincial Deputies of Higher Languedoc. Whereupon the Council condemned the ſupine connivency of the ſaid Province, which for many years together had never called their Paſtors to an account for ſundry Accuſations laid unto their charge; and paſſing by the reaſons inducing that Colloquy to give Judgment as it did, it ratifieth the Sentence of ſuſpenſion denounc't againſt the ſaid Fabry, and having ſharply reproved him according as the Nature of his Offence required, it did farther decree, that when the time of his ſuſpenſion ſhould expire, he ſhould be reſtored unto his Office, and to the Exerciſe thereof, but in another Church, and not in that of La Caune; from which the Colloquy hath already determined that he ſhould be diſcharged.
49. That Appeal brought by the Elder of the Church of Vic-fezenſac from a Decree of the Synod of Lower Guyenne in favour of Monſieur Bragerac its Paſtor, that the Churches of Montreal and Vic-fezanſac ſhould pay him his Sallary, was declared null.
50. Monſieur Gravier neither appearing in Perſon, nor ſending any Memoirs to defend his Appeal formed by him againſt a Decree of the Province of Lower Guyenne, the Contents of which was a Declaration that Monſieur Potet a Miniſter having paſt his word unto Mrs. Gravier to acquit her of a certain Summ of Money, Mr. Gravier demanded its performance; but this Appeal was declared null and void.
CHAP. XXIII. A Scandalous Miniſter Depoſed.
51 STephen Girault heretofore Miniſter of the Goſpel in the Church of Barbezieux, having not defended the Appeal brought by him from the Sentence of the Synod of Xaintonge, which Depoſed him for many and grievous Crimes, and in particular for Adultery: The Council declared his Appeal null and ratifying the Depoſition of the ſaid Girault, doth aggravate his Sentence by cutting him off from all hopes of ever being reſtored unto the Sacred Miniſtry, either to the Office or Exerciſe thereof.
52. The Inhabitants of St. Lawrence in Aigouze appealed from the Judgment of the Synod of Lower Languedoc which had reſtored Monſieur Tuffan unto the Miniſtry in the Colloquy of Niſmes; but their Appeal was turned over to the cogniſance of the approaching Synod of Sevennes, which is ordered to proceed againſt the ſaid Tuffan in caſe the Matters whereof he is accuſed be averred, and proved upon him by depoſing him from the Holy Miniſtry, and Monſieur Aymar is charged, to be preſent at the next Colloquy of Niſmes, and there to receive all proceedings old and new againſt this unworthy Fellow.