Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-01
Letter From Brooklyn.
Tue GREAT COUNCIL
BaooKLYN, y. Y, March

BRooEtYN, ~ Y, March "a
Mesvs Editors The Council terminated
its sessions in this city last evening. 1t as.
sembled ON tuesday, the eth inst, consumed
two whole days in organizing and discussing
technical questions, and hearing the case Of the
party calling it, On Wednesday afternoon
and Thursday morning, Dr. Storrs and Dr.
Buddington addressed the Council in explana
ton and defence Of their course. They asked
the Council to release them from the Oblga-
ton Of fellowship to Mr.. Beecher's church, on
the ground that Plymouth church had refused
to investigate the truth Of the charges against
Beecher, and lad released the member prefer
ring them, without any discipline and also on
the ground that Plymouth church formally dis
owned any responsibility for its discipline to
other churches. Mr. Storrs' argument, or
rather appeal, to the Council, was an unusu.
ally splendid specimen Of rhetorical pyrotech-
mics lie referred to and quoted the papers
which had published the statements against
Beecher, lie represented the yindication which
Beecher had received, paltry and insufficient,
The slanderer had not been dealt with, and the
ISLANDERS still hung over the head Of his beloved
friend The speech was two hours and half
in length, full Of oratory yet not convincing to
the judgment. 1t seemed, as one Of the mem
bers said, like the funeral Grafton Of Congrega-
tionalism in Brooklyn. The peroration was
contrast between Beecher and Congregational
ism, and an announcement Of his purpose to
nd ltf tba La e.. r. l. =.
herted Polty, rather than by the side Of it,
detained orator.
Dr. Budington's address was far less elabor-
ate and splendid, but more satisfactory and
convincing. After these addresses and these
statements, the Council went into private ses.
sion, with policemen guarding its locked doors
The debates Of the private session were alto
gether the most interesting and able. The ready
orators OF the public meetings subsidized and
many Of the able men Of the body took earnes,
and mastery hold Of the subjects under discus
sion. These debates were not recorded and will
never see the light. They would be the most
readable and important Of the whole session
After three days of frank and manful strug-
gle with the difficulties which boset them, the
Council CROPPED its way into the light and came
to, nearly, if not quite, an unanimous result.
1t was the best result that they could reach
but far from the best that might have been at.
tanned. 1t was a compromise document The
churches that called the Council obtained a de.
cision in their favor on all the minor question.
they submitted to it, but lost the main and es
sental question. twas refused to advise them
to disiellowship Plymouth church on the rea.
sons alleged. 1iar as the Council determines
the offending church retains its place in the
order Of the churches Nominally, this is tri-
uuph to that church. Really, it is a defeat tc
all the parties.
The whole thing, in its inception and in it,
progress, has been blot upon the fair fame Of
the churches of Brooklyn. Let us hope the re
suit will unite them and restore the prestige Of
the denomination. D.