The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-03
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Rev. Leonard BacOn's Lecture i'm
Yale College.
Beecher as Viewed by the Moderator
Of the Late Council

This evening Marquand chapel, at Yale Theologi-
cal Seminary was well filed with students who
had gathered to listen to q written address de-
livered by Rev. Leonard Bacon, d. D., Moderator
OF the recent Congregational Council held In
Brooklyn. After some general and Introductory
words the Professor said -
GENTLEMEN-Let us see what councils are and
what their uses and objects.
i. congregational council Is not permanent
organization like presbytery IL makes minutes.
certhes them and then leaves them with church
calling the council.
2: A congregational council is not governing
body. Its junction Is not that OF governmental
can inn!ct no censure on anybody-it can remove
none. Its Judgment can only be made efectual by
tne churcnes represented In the council. The
power VI council Is the power OF the churches
represented.
B. The junction OF a council is to consult, to give
light II 1t can, TO form and express opinion or to
ascertain by testimony concerning facts. Its
Junction IS to ADVISE, to express tue thoughts OF
churches represented.
WHY WAS THE COUNCIL cALLED2
IN the second place. what was the occasion and
by what right was TINS Council caliedS a. 1t was
connection with Plymouth church; other churches
n ea IN m IT, me a%o hGrcs
had better have adopted the scripture
method as stated IN Matthew. (s.) proposal for
rather tnan denied by Plymouth cnurch--at least
Plymouth church was not eager to accept. a.
The two churches needed advice. II was proper
Tor them to call a council. The powers OF the
Council were not those of a mutual council. That
always means witnesses aud statements on two
sides. lt was not an er pGrte council, tor 1t had
not the power conceded by long usage to er parte
councils. The Plymouth church could not be ar
Plymouth cnurch. HIS integrity was assumed
Of the Council was vind,cauo moi Of hun nm i'Su''
TWO points were Deore the Council:-n)
Plymouth church threw away an opportunity OF
vlndicatlng ITS pastoral person SAID he mad re-
leased himself from the church, and so the church
dropped his name from its catalogle (2) what
advice should the Council give respecting the con-
tlnuance oil fellowship with Plymouth churchs The
Council acted on puollshed and official documents,
not on rumor.
RESULT OF THE COUNCIL.
The result OF the Council shows that az the
complaining churches had a right to call council
gregatlona churches; (3) their first letter Plym
outn chnrca was not careful enough; ~ Piym-
outn church , should have been more frank at
hrst; (5) Plymouth church should have been
pressed either to refusal OF council or an
evasion equivalent to refusal; (6) Plymouth
church was unsound In Its views OF church MEM
bershlp. A church was not street car, having
man getting in at this corner. another getting out
at the next 81 the IDEA of church membership
means covenant between church and members.
It may be broken by the members by trangression.
II not repentant he may be cut on. resident
church member cannot by voluntary absence re-
solve church connection. That person Tilton)
should not have been let of because he stayed
in him. 49, Fellowship with Plymouth church IS
recommended in hope tnat 1t will maintain those
CnurCn prlnclpeSlt nad Deen supposed TO dlSaVOW.
MR. BEECHEI'S INFIRMITY
DR.. Bacon disclalmed any suspicion OF Mr..
Beecher. He started from his innocence. Two
Infamous women could not even cause a man to
KICK dog by their testimony.
Mr.. Beecher's intrmity is that he allows sinners
too near approach -liaDle to be accounted par
taker In other mems sins. His magnanimity Is
immense. His character Is the possession OF the
Countrywide age He has no right to sacrifice 1t
to any fantastic notions OF magma unity no right
to put sucn q strain upon the confidence OF his
friends.
DOGBERRY COMPARISON.
one writer has said the method resorted to was
q Dogberry method OF getting rid OF q scandal.
Notlce Dogberrys charge to the watch:-
"You shall ali vagrant men-you shall bid any
man stand" ''What, and he Will not stand 20
''Take no note of him." let him CO. Call the
rest OF the watch together and thank God you are
rid Of a knave.n
Says Lance Or his dog, III have sat in the stocks
for The buildings he hath stolen; otherwise he
would have been executed"
think he had better have let his dog be executed
l think Mr.. Beecher would have done better II ne
had permitted the formal method to have been fol-
lowed in the case OF that man. But to his own
master he standeth or lalleJh. hope to see his
usefulness enlarged. The last course OF lectures
he has just delivered in this chapel to you, gentle
men, has been the best. 1t seems to me Impossible
for any man to give In such spiritual and uncOn-
scious way such lectures anu not be true.
mo vindicaton OF Mr. Beecher by or before the
Council could have been nobler than DR.. Storrs'
eulOgium upon him. Said one to me, as we passed
out OF the church where the Council was held.
That should be the eulogy pronounced at Mr..
Beecher's funeral, so noble was It,"