New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-27

" L
happy to come when read the report OF inc
I, home To- nv wife and said to her. we have made
mistake we go out OF CongregationaIism as soon
tous tourue cannot be cnrbed. No reputation be
sure OF vndication" That was the feeling; nor ms
Why was not the letter read Because II was letter to
the Plymouth Church Because II was not ietler 70
conuve IT, 10 keep It private between that ehufch ana
Gclesate dnterrupting)- letter not read IN
Ths ROW Dr. storrs-r Moderator il these brethren
will allow me TO 20 on now, and ask me aiterW1rd,
will but the sudden interruption breaks the
was saying thai that letter was intended to DO private
THEREFOR and therefore only 1t was not read In church
meeting For II it had been read in church meeting,
ussntsneously these nimble fingers (glaLcng toward
the reporters would have got IT, ana yondeT q
probably in broken and Incomplete FORM IN when
might have been entirely misunderstood entirely mis-,
represented Ii It had been puohshed oy ns IN us iuI
text would not have been in any sense letter to the
eral public in tne newspapers. II was a pr
vate communication between churches. In order
In order to prevent the necessity OF publishing 10 our
selves It was not read IN open church meeting com
with the Plymouth Church. concerning this matter
We believe in the Church OF the Pilgrims III the ancient
authority, any Congregational church may delegate
dulles 1t does 30 to ITS deacons who are to take care OF
the poor aud at the Communion. II does 80 to
those whom it sends councils like this 1t does 80 to
those whom II appoints, as II does with w., slpern-
tendents OF mission schools. We delegate duties hue we
never vest authority IN any body Of When tho
duty done authority is terminated and that -
the distinction between the democratic and the arstO
cratic church. In our judgment. Not that all business
@ri t That IL not necessary No objection to It,
bat that all the business oe done Dy ,1 wIos n
gated representatives, instructed to perform SPECIAL
duty aud then report That was ali OF 1t TO keep IL
private that 1t might not be offensive to the Plymouth
Church ia tho mode OF ats presentation, Inen
unanimously approved, unanimously signed, ard
sent it upon its way. We did not know
They might have taken that letter and presented IL TO
the Examining Committee, II they had chosen and SAID
for the present postponed" They had IL three weeks
almost before they read H. we wan cntet INTO CON
be some adjustment OF this matter without puoicIt1
They might have done that without lmpglhS UPON tG
dignity the church. We did not know what they would
THE LETTER TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH DEFENDED.
The letter Is said to have been strong one We meant
It should strong. but meant it should be Kind III
we made any mista6e most certainly apoogzed for
that In the letter which next sent In which we ex-
pressy idscaimed any spirit or purpose OF unkndness
We meant it be strong because our convictions and
feelings were strong with regard to the nature of the
action they had taken ana Tue uaugeOus consequences
of that ACTON. ,
But the letter Ia overshadowcd, as the sod beneath
coronal Of foliage, by such words as these, inc p9cy
i, here as We understand it distinctly ayowcd Is
noanerd We did not Soy affirmed by you. 1t seems
to us to offer opportunity aud positive lhducemeni.
timaiy." I've are Impressed with the conviction that
credit eaanot properly ne given remain St SSgt
do i, l.. absolute kindness OF spirit but under tho deep
est convictions OF duty believing that you, however
unconsclously, importing the name" In one IN
stance where It might have been adi,i, ,t nf
paragraph did not mean 10 say that this IL an error
which as been adopted ~ the Ply mouth church We
say believing that you" III the preceding paragraph
And then speak Of the error itself objected to as
vital and vast understanding ourselves thit tAe pre-
cedng word "believng' qualities everything that fol-
lows. But there might have been added the same eA
preston which occurs seven or eight times more way
did not send notef Brethren, Plymouth Church Is
n powerful church, proud chdrch with reason; coz
lent III its strength, with reason. It seemed to u-t
qniry sent to that Church would have been like
lost Autumn leaves dropping on the currents OF
toward the Of the action which seemed to
Quences 1t must be done by q letter ionS ehough,
enough to bring the attention which We desired
think that any would have brought about
consequences more desirable, whom you are placed Ia
the circumstances You can try the other course,
ana then we can compare results we ana the pest we
could in the fear OF God IN the love OF tnaI onurch
OF the burden Whlon seemed snTow h. .ge p a
sronsbility, with conference beforehand, with tho
approval OF the wiso and most experienced men we
cohi get. privately that might not challenge them
before the pubc We sent letter, long and earnest
letter .rning which one OF tue wlsest and ntost
OF men, long minister OF grace. within the circle OF iny
acquainran said, whom he heard it read: Brother
am glad You have remembered one thing whlcn always
say In OF this kind, fOrDcar threatening That was
verdict IL; tnaJ Win cAtlIe
ment under which We were, Win all the viva impress
siOns NC had and knowing the consequences Oh TINS
action, that It seresrained and d not threaten
That was our impression Ins letter was SENT as nave
said without knowing what would be done wlth u,
what disposition would De made OF IT, H. msht Do
treated AS matter not necessary az once 10 20 sPoau
the whole brotherhood or he referred e. some
committee only TO be made pubic at the end OF
might have been content with it, we
three weeks had passed was read and the to il
was adopted That had kept 1t private until a iorl-
ffta han
was hell In tho interval it had been read to an as.
sembly Of many persons members OF the chiren many
many OF tnem at the house OF the pastor OF the Ply
It ad Seen made to not u.s. And then after aa
feeling that the application OF privacy was no longer
as before, at which, the case OF my own church.
more members were present and II was unanimously
there was any trick iu getting it prepared By the Com
mttee, and not approved at tho beginning 1y tue
made that impression upon you, you may just as wei
take impression and carry it home with you that
black man. We did not want to heat the ALREADY
warm feeling Of our churches on the subject We did
want rivalry and antagonism to get 10 any sooner
than wo could help, but to promote deoera'ion and
privacy.
SO far have answered these questions, what we did
and why did 1t. Let call your attention, before
finally relieve your patience, to two matters
which think should consider carefully all OF
you in your responsibility. and we in ours Let me
word however, before come to that in answer to
inc question: dshtu ny IIoi' ouJ eaiu uistiucuy
yesterday afternoon as understand It, as meant to
it, believe did say IT, that the card which
published by Mr. Beecher would be accepted by sympa
thetic minds final vindicatOn OF himself
from the imputation which had been cast upon him,
truthful and complete denial OF the scandaous state
ment which had been circulated. 1t would be accepted
such by sympathetic minds and they would feel that
as he had gone he had done enough That Is the
argument given for not prosecuting tho matter In the
church when IL up for investigation indirectly
Therefore touch It, and for other reas0p 10 say for
my satisfaction and for yours whether that vim
dcaton, to other minds hostile TO him. might not
have been Increased, supplemented, emphasized