The New York herald., 1873-11-27

and innuence OF Congvgauonausm in tnis important
S Sn o% aa hs dpMn these
brethren have been obliged to write in gnorance OF the
them basis Of mputns g US principles a
eipline which we utterly repudiae and reject They
SnssIIptnTad dangerous in is pIs.sn, sppss and
without cohesion or law out Of which any oender may
sd hs and
sna q S @
the christian community at large !.
ansnass we dssncy declare that the facts alleged
Sa the n
cpes imputed to us have never been held IN theory or
challenge The comparison Of our Christian oyers,ggnt
Of he ehuches e S1r rse Nj s as CON-
slider these points in order.
DR.. BEEcHER then set forth In detail the facts OF
the case, and entered at length INTO the question
0f congregational poiity.
SPEECH OF HENRY WARD BEECHER.
BILE applause. SAID that he did not wish 10 SPEAK
any other brother desired TO ADDRESS the chuTcn,
more than a quarter OF a century he had been
pastor OF that church, and this is the first serious
dicuty that mas @ 1cearTea' @ ad Ways ons lsasUn On
sisted on fair play and free speech.
thus giving the fullest discussion for all opinions.
He might say, without being misunderstood, that
he mad taken the greatest pleasure in the speeches
OF those with whom he disagreed. He liked TO
not speak Tor themselves. Now, II anybody sup
posed that anything that anybody had said would
turn him away from the confidence he had reposed
in DR.. Buddington and DR.: storrs, they were very
much mistaken. He had led too busy life TO
make many friendships with his ministerial breth-
rem; but Dr. Storrs had lived near him, and he had
a great admiration OF his scholarship his mastery
English style, and had DR.. storrs been born in
Indiana instead OF Massachusetts and acquired
that Western freedom which would have enabled
him to abandon himself, he would have been the
greatest preacher in the American Church. The
same. to lesser extent he said OF Dr. Buddington,
and this matter would not make the slightest
difference in his respect and affection for both
these Christian ministers. Now he regarded
what they had done in this letter as q
stand why they did 1t, and mainly 1t was
because they did not understand the policy
explained the broad principles on which member.
ship was founded in Plymouth church, which was
that OF independence and good neghborhood, but
not OF solitarness or vmpatheticness. Plymouth
church stood upon the broadcast and noblest plat
tas church for 20 years demanded q
had received at the hands OF these churches.
The membership OF that church was more than
half Of all the other congregational churches in
than all the Congregational churches put together
in this city for the work OF Christ. On the TEN.
perance question it had been the first to fight, and
when other churches never spoke a word.
lCheersl This church. by the voice Of It's minis
heard over ali the civilized world. 1t has
the noblest band OF workers that the
sun ever shone upon. If there is any church that
has an influence upon the religious progress OF the
country 1t was that church, and he said II boldly
in their name and blessed God in his own name.
Mr.. Beecher concluded by saying that whether
the love OF all mankind and for the glory OF God,
and not for quarreis ana squabbles.
vote was afterwards taken. which resulted in the
adoption OF Mr.. Gilbert's resolutions by 50s to 25