New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL.

CONGhEUA llON AL OOONNAA'
THE POINTS FOR DISCUSSION STATED.
,ur CHARACTER OF THE COUNCIL NOT PASSED UPON
rur REPLY OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECEIVED
wITn PAIN AND REGRET-AN UNFAVoRABLE I'M
rprsSIoN CREATED BY IT-IAiPREssIvE SPEECHES
by pRs. BURLINGTON AND sToRRs.
The Congregational Council reasSemOied III 'no
Clnton-ave Church, Brooklyn yesterday morilnE
and after praver had been Offered the reSoi'ion VI
Tho Rov DIR Dexter regarding the character OF the
Council was announced ~ the hrst question
70 Ia discussed DIR. Dexter entered upon an
exhaustive and technical examination Oh JUG
import and nature Of the several xmas Oh eouhcns
Lno,yn 10 Congregationalism. AS the author OF one
of the most elaborate works upon Congregational
. ;sm-onc which is very widely quoted and received
in the denomination as authority upon disputed
opostions-his estimate Of tho matter under debate
was REGARDED as important and was carefully lis
toned 70 by the Council He cited historical
cases quoted established authorities, and hav-
iDe reviewed the circumstances which had resulted
in the assembling Of the Council, concluded that
,bis could not possibly be parte council.
long debate followed DR.. DeXter's exposition; the
Hon Amos Barstow claimed the Council to be
nothing more nor less than &c parte; the Rev. f. w.
Bartlett named it an "cr pdrte advisory council;
the Rev DR.. Post expressed fears of schisln, ana
urged that the matter DO settled upon
grcat Christian principles; tho Rev. DR.. Quint
declared that if a strictly advisory council 1t could
no. PASS ccnsure upon another church. Judge
Walker affirmed that Plymouth Church was now on
t;aJ II hogan to look as if the question could not
bs settled without much discussion, President
s,earns and others declaring the Council to be at all
events advisory. Finally the Rev. Dr. EDWARD
raylor formerly of the South Church. made the
somewhat unclerical suggestion that 1t was
taking "a long time 80 baptHe tins
child and the Rev. Dr. Pike thought
that unless Inc Council should get to work ere long
they would hear the question, What doest thou
here. Eiahw Or. Sorrs feared that valuable time
was being wasted which needed for the con-
,idoration of more vital matters. The resolution,
with the amendment offered by Dr. Quint, which
sought 10 remove the objection which Plymouth
Church might.urce was laid on the table
When it was announced that tho Committee in
vited from Plymouth Church were in waiting and
ready to be heard the church assumed for the mo-
mcnt almost oppressive silence, and after the
Appropriate words of welcome had been ut
tered by the Moderator. tho Rev. Dr..
Edward Beecher introduced Prof. Raymond,
who presented the reply of Plymouth Church TO
the invitation to be represented in tho Council Tho
reading of this document received the close atten-
ton of the members who regarded it with various
signs of approval diSapprOval according as they
were respectively favorable opposed to the posi-
ton therein assumed. Some of the delegates heard
what they expected Others betrayed their dSappoint-
mont at the tone of the paper and felt that
II mad advanced the of the two churches cali
ing the Council and injured that of those presenting
it. The carefully armed references and gentle
thrrsts directed to the two churches seemed to
grieye certain of the delegates who had manifested
their sympathy with Plymouth Church. and
tho spirit of the paper seemed TO
them quite in contrast with the ac-
tion and speeches of the Council thus far One
prominent delegate remarked that the document
was "adroit" and was probably intended rather to
attract the popular than to instruct or please the
Council Others regarded the hits made and the
position taken with approval.
The afternoon session was devoted to the address
Of tho Rev. Dr. Storrs, who presented to the Council
tho first five points regarding which advice was
sought. This speech. which was made without
manuscript. and with only documents and author
tiles TO refer to- two and half hours in length
aud during the whole time the audience were held
by The cearness of thought and power of OatOIy by
which it was characterized The speaker was loudly
applauded upon taking his seat.
In the evening the Rev. DR.. Burlington presented
the last two questions upon which advice was
asked, urging the true principles OF independence
as be and the committees regarded them, and argu-
ing that the present attitude of Plymouth Church
tended to the disintegration Of the Congregational
body and the destruction of the Christian fellow
ship which had always been held sacred