The New York herald., 1874-07-11
A Letter from the Pastor of
Plymouth Church.
An Investigating Committee
in Session.
sKETCHES>OF THE MEMBERS
Their Relation to the Church and
the World.

Mr. BoeCnor has At length broken silence In
reference to the charges made by Mr. Tilton in o
manner that will commend itself to all men, mas
much as he has taken the bold and manly course
OF asking for ian impartial and thorough examina-
tion OF all sources Of evdencen In relation to the
scandal. 1t will be seen, also, by the correspond
ence given below that this action was taken very
promptly after the publication Of the letter OF Mr..
TlIton. On Tuesday last a letter was addressed
to the Examining Committee Of Plymouth
church, stating that he had requested cer-
tain gentlemen, members OF the church and
Of the society, to make thorough and
detailed examination into the ''rumOrs, insinua-
tions, or charges made respecting his conduct"
and asked them, II they approved Of the SELECTION
to add their ofllcal appointment to his personal
request The letter asking the gentlemen to serve
was as lonows:-
BROOKLYN, June q. 1874.
GRNTLHMEN I'm the present state OF the pubic
feeling owe it to my friends and to the church
and sooiety over whicn am pastor, to have some
proper investigation made Of the rumors, insinua-
nons, or charges made respecting my conduct, as
compromised Dy the late publication made by Mr..
Tton.
should be represented. and take the liberty OF
asking the following gentlemen to serve IN this
may require. I beg that each Of the gentlemen
named VIII consider this letter as II 1t had been
Paom s to saRe
Storrs, Henry M. Cleveland.
From the Society-Horace b. Claim, John Wins
desire you, when you have satisfied yourselves
by an impartial and thorough examination OF all
sources OF evidence to communicate to the Exam
lining committee or to the church such action as
HENRY WARD BEECHER
This action was approved by the Examining
Committee OF the church, and the gentlemen
named were formally authorized to act a COM
mittee on its behalf, and report the result of their
inquiry for Its information and further action. The
COnQTe0dttOnGltSt lately suggested that the
charges against Mr.. Beecher should be referred
for examination to several distinguished men in
different parts OF the country. But Mr.. Bsecher
seems to have thought that the matter might
more appropriately be referred to members of
his own church and society, whose interest
in the purity OF his ministry would make them
do their work thoroughly and impartialy; and
who. having been chosen to oflclal trusts by
their fellow members would especially command
their confidence. This, moreover, is in accord
ance with the principles ana the genius OF Congre-
gationalism, which impose upon every church the
duty OF settling It's own dhiculttes without need
lessly troubling Others
Mr.. Tilton's publication, 1t will be remembered,
was made ON Thursday, June 25 Mr.. Beecher
coming to town from Peekskill, Friday, conducted
his usual prayer meeting, and on Saturday, the
9th, wrote the above letter. asking his church to
Investigate the matter.
The committee has commenced its work and
will prosecute it TO the earliest possible compile
ton.
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Henry W. Sage is well known In religious
circles as the founder OF the "Lyman Beecher Lee
tureship on Preaching" to which he gave the
liberal sum OF $4,000. He also gave 5000, 900 to
1ound the ''Sage College for Womenn In Cornell
University and $40, 900 towards the building Of
church In Ithaca, N Y, his former home He Is a
deacon of the church and trustee OF the society.
He is lumber dealer, doing an immense business.
and is regarded in commercial circles as man OF
unblemished commercial reputation.
Augustus Storrs Of the commission house ofStorrs
Brothers. is q member Of the Plymouth church
Board Of Trustees, treasurer Of the society; man
Of ample means ana kind, charitable disposition,
clear sense and consistent Christian character.
Henry M. Cleveland has been a member of Ply
mouth church some fourteen years; ts member
OF the Examining Committee, and ls known as q
keen-sighted, genial, honorable man. In business
Is member Of the large paper house Of q. @. Hull
| bert Co. He Is q Connecticut man, and he did
signal service In his State some years ago in the
Board OF Education.
| Horace B. Claim, one of the trustees OF the
society land, with the exception Of It's President,
James Freeland, the oldest member Of that Board
in service, not In years. has always been known
as one OF the foremost men In the affairs OF the
society, and as business man ranks as one Of the
largest dry goods dealers In the worlds man
whose uniform courtesy, generosity, integrity and
ability are facts Of public knowledge.
John winsow is the District Attorney for Kings
county, appointed by Governor DIX, and is mem.
ber Of the law hrm OF winsow q Van Cott, IN
Brooklyn. He Ia q sound lawyer and respected
| citizen. His partner, Judge Van Cott, is leading
member OF the Church Of the Pilgrims lDr. r. 8.
| StorrsO, and was ON the special committee calling
the late Congregational Council.
s. v. White, the church treasurer, is promi.
nently active in all the Plymouth church and Sab
| bath school work. He is o we'll known banker and
broker In New York, man Of high reputation for