New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
DIR. STORRS'S OPINION.

TILE CONCLUSIONS or THE COUNCIL A CAUSE Oh
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE TO GOD.
During the services at the Church OF the Pll-
erims, In Brooklyn yesterday morning Dr. 5orrs made
the following announcement:
For the past week minds have been occupied with
the deliberations OF the Council which has been held IN
this city at the Invitation OF this church and OF the
Clinton Avenue Church united with US In this invitation
sessions are closed and the body has dissolved. feel
my dear friends, that we have reason Tor great
spirit whereby these churches have been led TO the
result which has now been reached. We have great
for gratitude and honor TO the eminent and wise
pastors ana laymen who have come on our INVITATION
deputcd by their various churches, from the East
and from the West TO con tlder the matter when we
had TO lay before them. one OF these, the Rev Dr.
Buckin am has already led 70 the throne OF grace
Another o. these IRON we Wes s R Ry w m PS
of 81 Louis will read to us this morning the WORD OF
truth.
DESIRE the desire OF these churches. that
might have the wses the most deliberate, affectioned
sonaiy with the church whose had led to in
OF principle or PRACTICE with that church. quite as much
perhaps as We ourselves we didnt know. but we In,
wisdom ana their advice Their deliberations have been
long. careful, prayerful, and marked as am told by
the presence and power OF the Divine spirit Aud Is
the testimony of all whose testimony have heard that
never discussions involving such large interests
conducted with perfect mutual courtesy, kindness
aud respect than were those deliberations. inc
result when you read, wnen II Is communicated
TO you will at once. give you fresh reason
tor gratitude to them, aud for gratitude to God
accepted by them IL vndlcates and reafirins posi-
tivel powerfully and with the weight OF such C0un'
fore the principles which have affirmed from the be-
ginning. 1t recognizes tho gravity OF the occasion
neighboring churches It accepts the invitation, amply
aud sincerely given by u.s. 10 give us admonition tha
should be- found IN anything. ana puts Oh
properly the feeling Of some Of the Council iot
accepted by Council Itself In corporate act That
..l,a laff. rtyay yyaro nar
records the conclusion that III our correspondence
with Plymouth Church we ought to have pursued the
correspondence until had secured either the accept
OF our proposition for mutuai c0uhcl, OF
decided refusal or an entirely nnquestolaDe evasion
guage for taking upon ur'cyes painful o1ce-not on
behalf OF ourselves alone put OF an CongroSatona
churches the future-of demonstrating when DJth
principle Of discipline In the church ana principle
mpered and npon the ground that the latest declara
ton Of Plymouth Church. communicated 10 the Counc
and by church ITSELF after our Letter Mis-
siye had been out has materially changed the rela
tions in which that church appeared 10 De standing
when the letters FORTH that new nterpreta
ton OF this rule In apparent opposition TO the previous
Interpretation, had since been adopted ana commuhl
Sa'ea he 70 p proSeedngs snu OF e coanc Il
o tho Soip0 bdDo a we ss
satisfied that these principles are the ones whon ~ ae
cepts and which II viii hereafter apply The result
eaipently klud, dgnited. ana Influential. 1t Will DO
accepted am sure by the chnsches OF the country
should be accepted by US with deyout ana profound
gratitude HIS wisdom manifested In the dlrec
ton which He has given to all this intricate and painful
matter and with profound gratitude to Hin for the con-
cIusIon to which 1t has Ipray you In your house
hold devotions render this Thanksgiving and praise
to the Father Of Light from whom cometh every good
aud perfect gift Aud pray you unite brethren in
prayer TO Hm that tho OF this matter may 10 Tor
Ills glory the church with which have been In cor
respondence that he will bestOw upon nat church as
upon ours His spirit OF wisdom, OF grace. OF love, OF
peace and OF heavenly hope and expectation that out
of this discussion may not only the yncaton or
the principles which have been dear II US always, but
may come great impulse to the work OF Christ great
of
cated with our Congregational churches In this oity
aud In the land, unto Him shall DO tue praise