The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-14
From tie New York World 1th.I
he E3e0chcr Controversy.
THE PLYMOUTH PASTOR ASKS FOR AN INyEsTl

aa
CATION.
On the Ttb of July Mr.. Beecher addressed
q note to the Examining Committee OF Ply
mouth church, stating that be had requested
certain gentlemen, members OF the church
and Of the society, to make thorough and
detailed examination into the "rumors, IN
situations, or charges made respecting bis
conduct" and asked them, If they approved
of the selection, to add their official appoint
ment to bis personal request. The letter
asking the gentlemen 10 serve was as ioi.
lows:
"BRooKLYN, June q, 1874.
/" Gentlemen In the present state of the
public feeling l owe 1t TO my friends aud to
the church and society over which am
pastor to have some proper investigation
made of the rumors, insinuations, or charges
made respecting my conduct as compro-
missed by the late publication made by Mr.
Tlton. have thought that both the church
and society should he represented, and
take the liberty of asking the following gen.
tlemen to serve in this inquiry and to do
that which truth and justice may require.
beg that each of the gentlemen named VIII
consider this letter as if 1t had been sepa-
rately and personally sent to him-namely !:
From the church, Henry W. Sage, Augustus
Storrs, Henry NJ. Cleveland; from the socc-
ty, Horace 3. Clnfiin, John WinSlow, 5. v.
White / desire you, when you have salts
fed yourselves by an impartial and thorough
examination of all sources of evidence, to
communicate to the Examining Committee,
or to the church, such action rs may then
seem to you right and wise.
"HENRY WARD BEE CHER"
The examining committee, recognizing
the representative character of the men thus
appointed unanimously adopted the action
Of the pastor, and formally authorized the
gentlemen named to act 8 committee on
its behalf and report the result of their in
quiry for its information and further action.
The Congregationalist lately suggested that
the charges against Mr.. Beecher should be
referred for examination to several diStin.
guished men m different parts Of the coun-
try. But Dir. Beccher seems 10 have thought
that the matter might more appropriately
be referred to members OF his own church
and society, whose interest in the purity OF
it's ministry would make them do their
work thoroughly and impartially and
who, having been chosen to official trusts by
their fellow.members, would especially COM
mand their confidence. This, moreover, is
in accordance with the principles and the
genius of CoDgregationalisGI, which impose
upon every church the duty OF settling its
own difficulties without needIessly troubling
others. MIR. Tilton's publication, it will be
remembered, was made on Thursday, June
%. Mr.. Beecher, coming TO town Friday,
conducted his usual prayer-meeting, and Oh
Saturday the 27th wrote the above letter,
asking his church TO Investigate the matter.
The committee has commenced lis work,
and will prosecute it to the earliest possible
completion.
THE COMMITTEE.
Henry w. Slge is deacon of the church
and q trustee of the society. He is an eX-
teasive dealer in lumber. His liberality is
attested by his gift of $4,000 to found tue
"Lyman Beecher Lectureship on Preaching"
in Yale College: $500, 900 TO found the "Sage
College for Women" in Cornell University;
$40, 900 towards the building OF church in
Ithaca, n. Y.
Augustus Storrs is of the commission
house of Storrs Brothers. He is Il member
of the Plymouth Board of Trustees and
treasurer Of the society.
Henry NJ. Cleveland was originally from
Connecticut, and people OF that State will
remember bis services a few years since on
the State Board o; Education. He has been
member of Plymouth church some four
teen years. and is member Of the EXlmi-
ming Committee. In business he is Il me,n-
Der of the large paper house OF ii. {. Hull
bert & Co.
Horace B. Chfln, one of the trustees of
the society, (and with the exception of IFS
president, james Frceland, the oldest MEN,
Der of that Board in service. not in years..
has always been known as one OF the fore
most men in the aHlirs of the society, and as
a business man needs no reference.
John WinSlow is the Distrct-Attorney Of
Kings county, appointed by Governor Dix,
and is member OF the lazy iirm Of Van
Cot, Wiuslow i Van Colt. Lis partner.
Judge Van Colt. is a leading member OF the
Church OF the Pilgrims DR. r. S. Storrsl,
and was on the Special Committee calling
The late Congregational Council.
S. V. White, the church treasurer, is
prominent in all the Plymouth church and
Sabbath. school work. He is well-known
banker and broker in New York.