New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-22
THE PLYMOUTH INQUIRY.
Contained from First PAGE.

r.,,,,ued from First PAGE.
a. Cnrch 10 state for the benentSf sucn on 'e ooa
az were attracted by tbs expectation Oh near
a.. ,no report OF the subCommhsee OF the examining
',,,,se-" the Committee O. Investigation" they ess
a. saia he-that that Comm'eeee AaS pot DEC" a'''
comp,ete its labors, aud wiz not present It's report
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
Ana, ~, pavmoud roured, Thomas g. shearman
.anoa for a nominaueu for Moderator. X W. FSsos
as nominated and oleceed, but IS he was not p0os'
1ohn T. Howard vas substituted. An open'"A ''
vas made by Rossiees r. Raymond. .
Mr. shearmar--I desire to state that tne n'eo's 60,
called upon .he suggestion OF inc s~a snnCon-
90. witn the expectation that tue s~-
$3.50 lid Ia ready TO report. and' 'nere'"o
.~'..s. rxamin,ng Committee would be reauy ~.
-. rraey have notyet received any 'op0i' - -.
=, r, mmitsee endtherefore have no foi'of' W 49,
-. .nurch this evening. Therefore unless eon 1u.,y
s.s. has some suggestion TO MAKE s'sn P''
NIKE motion to adjourn.
Dr. H. B. white-I would make motion that when
that report is presented the church, that the churc
o.ova 4, and consider IL priyately think there are
rood reasons yhy we should receive that report anu
wbv we should consider 1t among ourselves
There are many timid ones among US VIM
Womb like TO characterize persons VINO nave pee"
engaged in this trouble which has been prougn' upon
ma IN terms they would like to have published ana
I
any report Of that kind should be considered ID church
meeting by ITSELF 1t become disgrace almost that
Plymouth Church cannot have meeting cannot nave
a prayermeeting, cannot have any KIND OF iainNy
meeting, but what reporters come H. put "hae
the outside world comes In, and every WORD is
spread upon the sheets in the morning. Ineretore
move that when that report Is made be made to the
church 10 private.
This motion Of Dr. White was very family IL at ALL
seconded Before the question could be put G. d.
Gilbert promptly said: 1T seems to me that this mo-
ton is premature II will be ample time to consider
that when receive the report" lApplauseI III.
White answered that it only intended to give notice
OF the manner in which they wished to receive the
report.
Rossiter r. Raymond-I sympathize very decidedly
the spirit of Brother Whites remarks and motion.
II disgrace and very great Inconvenience that
Plymouth Church cannot discuss the most sacred sub
lects without its being reported by the press and
having il spread abroad s through the lana
with the glaring light Of publicity. u But the
alternative TO which Brother White will relegate us is
great 1t is question, not whether we can
have private meeting but since all the meetings are
TO public. whether will have full and true
reports or garbled and false reports II could by
voting for such resolution as has been proposed, &C.
that privacy for the transactions OF the cburcn
which we are entitled to preserve, would indeed be
very glad do But we have found by experience
and other churches have found by experience in trans
actions connected with own. that all attempts to
lock doors lock windows TO preserve privacy, only
led 10 garbed reports from the members of the church
themselves who not being given professionally to the
business Of reporting, may sometimes, innocently per
haps misrepresent events that took place in the meet
iug II we should choose between spreading trans
actions before the world and letting them leak out,
should choose the former as the least OF two evils
lLong appiause.]
Upon the motion OF Mr.. Gilbert DR.. Whites motion
was laid upon the table. Ii then resolved that
when the meeting adjourn, it be until Friday next at
D. H. unless called for earlier day from the pulpit.
THE PRAYER-MEETING.
L. had been expected that the adjournment Of the
business meeting would break up the multitude of peo-
pie smaller and perhaps more strictly devotional
gathering. the result was disappointing. for no one
moved and Mr.. Halliday mounting the platform in his
capacity assistant pastor gave out the 49Sth hymn
NOV let souls wings sublime, which sung,
and followed by fervent prayer by Brother Hill. who
invoked the Divine protection upon the pastor in his
absence, and besouGht that he might have the
love OF God manifested TO him that
he might GENE back TO his people at the
point time richer full OF the spirit of the Master
the past that all his trials might work TO-
getber for good only him. but to all whom
his duty to instruct aud influence.
Another hymn, Rise, Ny Soul Pursue the PATH"
sung more warmly than the fret, succeeded, and Mr.
beloved pastor OF his thoughts and his words all
through were an exhaaton OF for and trust in Mr.
Beeeher
Mr. Halliday then addressed the congregation in
substance as follows; meant TO have proposed
continuation of the subject tonight which we had at
meeting, two weeks this evening. but find
ny thoughts running in another direction. do MT
know Jus, why it Is but could not fix them there.
have been thinking for the first time this evening
how much reason had for thankfuness
for the degree of union existing among US
that has been existing among us during the years
which have gone. have felt good many times that
in any trial had pass through that feeling of
unity has cent ned together. / afraid the
church might overlook this and did not prize it as
we ought to. feel thankful, not for what 1t Sc
cures for the peace, comfort hope and 10y but be-
cause We may feel that it is testimony to the
world beyond all price. Now in thinking OF this
have asked how it might be partly
accounted for that we had tins spirit
of union, tbis love existing among think
1t is very much due to teaching and instruction
have enjoyed. speak not so much from my own ex-
Derience as from the testimony others whom have
been meeting curing the years in which I have been
neonIe VISITING Them from day to day dont wonder
Ssi time ike this we are so nearly one
when have learned 50 much as have done IN these
showing the love and affection which people bear
TO great Christian household and TO our dear pastor
state that heard Mr.. Beecher for the first time
seventeen years ago. I had heard him lecture and had
known him personally. but had not heard him preach
just about that there very unpleasant story
about his profanity. had heard great deal in the
newspapers. Iexpected TO have all my sense OF pro-
priety outraged. l came IN during the Introductory
prayer. The tones Of the man attracted me immedi-
atey. The reading OF the Scriptures touched me.
He happened 10 read the hymn that morning.
and the manner in which he read 1t touched
speca the Introduction Which he addressed
10 the Deity. II went Just where God was, and while
there was all the familiarity of the child there
was that veneration and awe which was thoroughly
beautiful " Then the relation OF the souls OF
peOpe presenting their various wants ana while speak
ing OF the goodness Of God he hesitated did not
know AT first what the matter. 1t seemed If he
did not know what say>Out the tnext words he ut
,uaro. "a cd nm md w V w q