The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28

Mr.. Titon sent letter to the Council yesterday,
which might be read equally in favor or against
either party. IL was read and talked over a little,
but was thrown out OF the Court.
The cheerfulness OF the members at the ad-
journment last night indicates that they are near.
ing the Of their deliberations. and this morn
ing they will probably decide. The answer, it is
said when agreed upon in secret session, will be
announced with open doors.
The possibility OF nel1 issue Of tnconuertible
paper regard nth dmdzensent and anxiety, and
IN my judgment, such issue acoatld be detri
Vaent and a sllaDie.-CHARLEs SUMNER.
The Proceeding: Yesterday.
The Council evidently had close contest yester-
day over the answer which is to be given to the
seven queries put to 1t by the two churches which
have called it together. 1t finds itself in "a place
where two seas meet as DR.. Storrs so repeatedly
remarked in his addresses on Wednesday and
Thursday. The sessions were long and interesting
and the delegates very wisely Kept their own
secrets. Except in a general way their answers
to the queries OF the reporters and OF their
friends might, according TO the known status OF
the delegates, be interpreted as favorable to one
side or the other. A brief time was spent in
prayer yesterday, and at the usual hour the bust
ness session opened. AT one O'Clock a recess was
taken till three p NJ, at which time the Council re-
assembled and continued in session till fpasr six
p. M, when it adjourned meet at nine P. NJ.
Many Of the delegates awaited themselves OF the
interval to attend the
PRAYER MEETINGS IN THE NEIGHBoRNG CHURCHES,
and many who were not delegates, but who had
come to attend the regular prayer meeting IN Clin
ton avenue church, or expecting an open session
OF the Council, went away also disappointed, 10
attend meetings elsewhere.
Resolutions to fix the status OF the Council kept
the body lively for time; for upon this point IN
great measure depend the character
and weight or the answer that is to
be gwen on the points proposed. A
of the delegates, are OF opinion that Drs. Storrs
and Burlington lid not approach Plymouth
church IN the proper spirit ana according to the
Scriptura precept. Yet another few believe in
the purity OF the motives OF The plalntlns IN the
case. The two doctors have been too long in the
cause OF Christ and Coneregationali5m to be
charged now - WITH Jealousy OF ,,, s,a Sis
ing this investigation merely for the pur-
pose OF unearthng social scandal Since
Thursday morning. reaction has set in in the
minds OF many OF the delegates. The spirit OF that
document IS deemed 10 De 100 DEFIANT TO nave any
great weight with the Council. It's manifest prepa-
ration so long beforehand also Is looked upon by
some OF the delegates as
A DIscoURTEsY
II not studied and designed insult to the Council.
Again, considering the numbers ana reputed
wealth Of Plymouth church, delegates say it has
not been as faithful to Congregatonalist nsti-
tutions as either OF the two accusing churches.
This is shown by the statistics OF the different
boards, some oil whose officers are In the Council.
For instance, between 1901 and 1874 tue
Church OF the Pilgrims contributed to
denomination s17s,3s5 while Plymouth church
contributed but s94, 351-a little more than half.
The clinton avenue church contributed in the same
period S4,s99-Only few thousands less than
Plymouth. Though these matters do not properly
come before the Council for decision, they have
been brought in side issues, both in the estate
mentn Of the by Or. Storrs and in the protest
OF Plymouth church, and have therefore had some
influence on members minds IN the ensuing dis
cusslOn.
THE COMMITTEE OF SEVEN
which on Thursday were appointed to frame an
swers TO the several queries propouDded by the
inviting churches, having failed IN their work
that evening talked the matter over again yester-
day morning ana presented their report. 1t
not satisfactory 10 the friends OF Mr.. Beecher and
Plymouth church. and, after some brief debate, 1t
was referred back again TO the same committee.
Inc points were taken up sertdttn1:-
FsIs it in accordance with the order and usage Of
Uongregau;onallsm mat member may terminate his
services and communion Or corporate and
termination OF membership
The reply to this question was understood to be
nOn-committal Certain circumstances were cited
wherein membership mig It terminate in this way
without the corporate consent of the church. The
reply was not, however what Drs. Burlington
and storrs and their friends IN the Council wan
They demanded Is square answer, "Yes' or mo =,
''lt ISL or at isn't" Hence the committees work
was unsatisfactory, and this was referred hack
again TO them.
.Second-During the voluntary absence Of member
the ordinances il specific charges OF grossly IN.
christian conduct presented against him by brother
the church, which charges he declines to answer
in accordance with the order and usage Of Conre-
gaonasm that the church sn ali withhold inquiry
the alleged wickcdness. and In face OF such pubic
sertion OF his offences shall treat him rs II still unac
cused dropping his name from It's roll without rehcc
ton upon himf"
The answer to this question was understood K
the negative. but. accordance with tnt
sentiments expressed by delegates on the hrs
query, and in accordance with the alleged~rule II
the
MANUAL OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH,
under which the members name was dropped anC
which existed there when he united with the
church, tins was deemed by brethren an excep
tional case. The committee was not able or want
OF lignt which Plymouth churcn might give were II
represented 10 come 10 lull and complete under
standing on this point. Their answer was there
lore IN sense nOn-committa
Third-When such member is charged with havine
circulated and promoted scandals derOgatory to the
Christian integrity OF the pastor and in uri0us to the
reputation OF the church. ii he publicly released, by
the and without censure, IRON all further responsi
hly has the rule OF Christ in the eghteen chap
ter OF Matthew, concerning the treatment Of the tres
passing brother. us commonly admin sc-ed IN Con2re
RATIONAL churches, been maintained. is ii distinctly
iisrcgarGed, in case which called for its careful oh
HrNancef
On this point the committee were about equally
1Nlueu as TO the acton OF Plymouth church TO-
ward its erring member and OF the two accusing
shuIcnes toward Plymouth church. While 1t was
Ihought by some members OF the committee and
d tne Council that Plymouth church had In a sense
concerned to
In its treatment OF Theodore 1ton they did not
hgree that UIe. BuuILRtOn and Storrs had CON-