The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-12-05

COok piace at hee1ihe H0AU 0h
Wednesday evening last, attended
by over a thousand ladies and gem
tlemen, members of Mr. Beecher's
fold. 1t was in some respects one
of the most remarkable religious
meetings ever held in this country.
Plymouth Church had stricken from
its rolls the name of one of its mem
bers. This was Mr.. Theodore Til
ton. The Congregational usage has
generally been to part with members
only by death, dismissal to other
churches, expulsion, or excommuni-
cation. Remonstrance from other
Congregational churches were sent
to Plymouth maintaing that such a
course Gas dropping Mr.. Tilton from
the rolls), however attractive it may
be in avoiding trouble and escaping
issues such as it is never pleasant to
encounter, ''is directly subversive of
all true Christian discipline" These
reasons we're elaborated in lengthy
paper, in which the objecting breth-
ren claim that the proceedings of
Plymouth Church in the Tilton
case
"Imperil the name, the influence,
and future of all our churches; that
you are giving the sanction of your
large numbers and prominent posi-
ton to measures and policy which
will recoil, with injurious effect, on
your own fame and Christian pow
er, and which will work a sure dis
aster wherever applied; that you are
leaving a palpable blight on the
name Of your pastor, by seeming to
shirk from that investigation which
the man accused of SANDERS against
him distinctly challenged; that you
are doing essential dishonor to the
Lord himself, by representing his
kingdom on earth as promiscuous
and casual society, without cohesion
or law, out of which any offender
may pass at any moment, whatever
his offense, without resistance and
without rebuke."
This gage of battle was promptly
taken up by Mr.. Beecher's congrega-
tion at the meeting to which we re-
fer. After the reading of the pro-
test, set of resolutions were offered
declaring, among other things, that
while Plymouth Church is ready at
all times to be admonished or advis-
ed by sister churches of any denom-
ination, beginning with proper in
quiry into facts, and proceeding
through successive steps of mutual
explanation and discussion to the
final expression of opinion, includ-
ing, if need be, admonition or cen
sure; but Plymouth Church is not
ready to reverse this order, and sub
NIT first to censure, secondly to ar
gument, and afterward to request
for the facts"
On this resolution, Mr.. Beecher
made what his friends claim to be
the greatest speech of his life. 1t
takes the highest ground possible,
announcing that the true Congrega-
tional polity is that which nearest
conforms to the democratic idea of
government. One extract is all we
have room for:
"This church stands upon one of
the baoadest, and, l think, noblest
platform of any church that lives.
First, absolutely independent, but
using that independence, not as
means of solitude, but neighborhood
to all Evangelical churches of what
ever name; and we. say we stand in
fellowship with you according to the
spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. It
is true our intercourse has been
more intimate with congregational
churches than any other, but that
was to be expected, because we are
more in accordance with their eccle-
siastical polity. But our ecclesias-
tical basis puts us on precisely the
same relations with Baptist, Metho-
dist, and Presbyterian churches that
it does with Congregational church
es. The Congregational churches
have no more ight to interfere with
us than the Presbyterian churches
have. On this broad ground of fel-
lowship, alike to all, the charter and
constitution of this church pledges
us, and I don't, for my own part,
wish to see any departure from it.
/ stand for sone saying, . An indie
pendent Congregational church is
competent to manage its own inter-
nal affairs [applause], and if sister
churches feel that, in managing our
affairs, we trench on their territory,
and that we interrupt their legiti-
mate service, that we revile them
from our pulpit, that we travesty
their doctrines, they have perfect
right to come to us end say: ''Your
use of your power is direct load
upon us, and SO under these circum-
stances L say that your neighbor-
hood requires us to take heed of any
such representations. But when
they come to us and say, 'The man
ner in which you are keeping house
in your family is not agreeable to
the people in our family" on that
/ feel disposed to say, Gentlemen,
if you don't like our housekeeping,
don't come here"
The tremendous power which Mr..
Beechers oratory exerts over his
congregation was illustrated during
his speech. His impassioned man.
ner and rapidly uttered words car
ried aH before them. The outbursts
Of applause were Of great hearth
ness and frequency. When his
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