Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-25
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL.
Seventy One Out Of Seventy Nine Church.
es Represented Organization
OF the COuncil-Etc.

NEW YORK, March 24.-Of the seven
ty-nine churches invited to the Congre-
gatiOnal council, seventy-one had last
evening informed the committee of
their decision to send delegates. Five
churches had not been heard from. Rev.
DR.. Theodore D. Woolsey, of New
Haven, Rev. DIR. Bushnell, of Hartford,
and Rev. DR.. Tillman. have written let
tiers expressing regret that on account of
sick ness they were unable to be present.
Rev. DIR. Vermillie is in Florida, and
Hon. Henry z. Haven, of Connecticut,
on account Of pressing business at
home, cannot come. No more has
been received from Rev. DIR. George T.
Morgan, Of Iowa, and he is not expect
ed. These are ali representatives Of
the Congregationslists. The council
will organize this evening, but it cannot
be foreseen how it will organize or who
will be elected presiding officer. To-
! nights programme includes only organ
ization, but it is probable that PROPOSE
tiOn will be made to change the council
/ from an &c pGTte to mutual one, and
join it. MIR. Beecher says his church
has at no time refused to take part
in the council il the questions to
be decided by it could be salts
factorily arranged. Messrs. Storrs
and Buddington say they have
been unable to bring plymouth to the
point of either acceptance or refusal. 1t
is believed that some of the delegates
will withdraw if Plymouth is not ex-
plicitly invited to take part, and the
initial controversy will be had over that
point. Storrs and Buddington favor the
invitation. 1t is intended that the
council shall close on Friday next.
Many of the invited churches will be
represented only by their pastors,
and so the number Of participants in the
celebrations viii be reduced below one
hundred. The seating capacity of Clin-
ton Avenue church, Brooklyn, is four
teen hundred. Admission will only be
given to holders of tickets, most of
which have already been distributed
among elergymeB and the congregations
Of DR.. Storrs and DR.. Buddington.
LATER.
The advisory council called by the
Clinton avenue Congregational church
and Church of the Pilgrims, BROOKLYN,
to settle the point Of Issue in the recent
controversy with Plymouth chmch,
held its first session this evening in DIR,
BuddiDgtOn's church. OF seventy-nine
churches that have been asked to Join
the conference. seventy-four have ac-
ceptsd, and sixty-eight of these have
each sent their pastor and one other del
egate. Six churches will be represented
only by their pastors. The council will
also include several professors and doe
tors of divinity, who will not represent
any particular church, and there will be
in all about one hundred and sixty
members. The meeting this evening
was only for organization and confer
ence but viii be practically opened to-
morrow morning. 1t is reported that
Plymouth church is to be admitted on
condition that the investigation be so
enlarged as to comprehend the entire
scandal. Plymouth is evidently pre-
pairing to stand stubborn siege. Pri-
vate meetings of the church officers
were held last evening and this morning
in Mr.. Beecher's parlors, but the doors
were closed to the press.