Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-04-03
II H T. BROOKE.sN CONssfsE-s- A
TlONAL COUNCs..-ET z Re .s.S
NJ X. Re ECHEEas AND RE-
CHURCH TO 60 A p SIN EG


TlONAL COUNCs 1T 4 Il !. -
M k. BE ECKHEas AND RES
CHURCH TO 60 A p SIN EG
MORE.
The average congregational has
not been happy Ct late. Plymouth
Church is what's the matter, and il ~
grows out Of the DISCRETIONARY
on-Woodhull scandal.
1t will be remembered that Hrs.
Woodruff published certain state
ments in her paper, alleged 10 be
made upon the authority of tir.
Theodore Tilton, rejecting very Sc
1iously upon the moral character Of
Henry Ward Beecher.
Mr.. Beecher's friends said these
statements were ISLANDERS, and in the
course OF time MIessrs. Beecher,
Bowen and Tilton held sort Of tri-
partite convention, in which most
curious settlement was made, Mr..
Beecher magnanimously forgiving all
men and all women for anything he
had done to them. The settlement,
however, did not prove satisfactory to
outside parties, and Mr.. Tilton was az
raigned before the Plymouth Church
authorities for slaEdering its pastor.
Mr.. Beecher.
Upon investigation it appeared that
Mr.. Tilton had not been a member OF
though his name was still borne upon
its rolls, and he therefore refused to
acknowledge its right to discipline
him. Plymouth Church decided that
any man might sever his connection
with his Church at will; that it was
not Mr.. Tilton's fault that his name
had not been erased from the rolls at
the proper time, and ordered it then to
be done. The erasure being made and
Mr.. Tilton not being subject to their
jurisdiction, the investigation into the
Beecher scandal came to an end. Nh
Tilton did indeed, we believe, then ap-
pear and announce his willingness to
answer any charges that might be
brought against him, but Mr.. Beecher
had none to make, being AT peace with
him.
Two other churches of The Congre-
gational persuasion took issue with
Plymouth Church upon its ruling that
any man could dissolve his Church
connection at will; and held that it
further required the assent of the
Church, being in the nature OF a con-
tract, and called a genera! advisory
council of Congregational churches TO
dispose of the matter. The Council
met at Brooklyn, New York, on Tues
day of last week, Plymouth Church
refusing to take any part in its pro-
ceedings.
The popular interest in the Council
and its proceedings arises from the
scandal out of which it grew. The ac-
ton of Plymouth Church, it is con-
tended, has very much the appearance
of being lame way to squelch an in
vestigation. On the other hand it is
""''ens!"d that the action of the two
OPP Churches, is instigated not
by lest desire to settle point of
Chuc.- liscipline, but by a desire to
open up an ugly scandal before the
gaze of the public to the detriment of
Plymouth Church and its pastor.
On Saturday the Council declared
that Plymouth Church had 'erred in
dropping member from its rolls be-
cause he had abandoned the Church
for some time, especially while charges
were preferred against him." 1t was
recommended, however, that all Con
gregational Churches maintain fellow.
ship with Plymouth Church with the
understanding that it ''must not do SO
any more" The Council thereupon
adjourned sine die. But in spite of the
decision of the Council, we are inclined
to think that Plymouth Church will
never make an investigation into the
charges against ito pastor,