The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28

church, and the fact that this Is as IN &C
cordance with its customary policy, what Is me auS
meat ii the er IN q
tnuing in their fellowship with its
This is less equivocal question than some
others, and the committee, IL was una , 600
10 the others. They would dislellowship Plymouth
church II they had had more light on certain
Was deemed Of little or no consequence to Ply
mouth church neither the. committee nor the
Council were prepared to make themselves
RIDICULOUS IN THE EYES THE COMMUNITY
by passing censure in this way. The question OF
fellowship was. therefore, lett IN allegiance.
in Gy
terpreted publicly and with authority AS relieving al
order and discipline Of this church. and this church from
the Sy mi :nfs eSHreh Oh he
should they take to release themselves rom The mutually
responsible connection with IT. IN which they nave stood
BY some members OF the committee and OF the
Council this action OF Plymouth cnurch was looked
upon as disiellowsnipping OF all other Congrega-
tional churches, and though irregular in It's
method, yet for the sake OF peace and harmony IN
the denomination had better not be answered ad-
versely TO either party IN this controversy.
Sere,,th-Have the churches calling this Council
acted in its Judgment in substantial accordance with
authorized platforms Of polly in the remonstrances
and requests addressed by them the plymouth church!
church and departed from nese principles in the rep
The general sentiment OF the Council on this
point, Tar as IL could be gathered, was mildly
against the churches calling the Council. These
queries the committee and the Council spent about
nine hours and hall yesterday discussing without
coming to any satisfactory result. Last night they
remained In session about an hour and half bat
as IL was apparent that they could not agree upon
a series OF answers that would give general salts
faction they adjourned at hali-past ten +. M. till
AN INTENDED SENSATION SPOILED.
During the earlier sessions yesterday Messrs.
Theodore Tilton and Frank MoultOn drove up TO
the Council ROOM but did not enter. Mr.. luton
intended to create sensation and sent IN letter
which affirmed nothing and denied nothing Of the
matters IN dispute, except that ne nad
properly and legally, according to the discipline
that church. This OF course, Is one OF the points
ON which the two churches calling the Council diff
Ter with Plymouth church and Mr. TitOn and on
The following is Mr. Tilton letter, which had no
perceptlble effect whatever on the committee or
the COuncil:-
To THE CoSGREG ArIoSAL COUNCIL
body are discussing case in which made appear
principal actor, you will accord to me the courtesy OF
OF my own positon-a privilege Which ask because my
nnry This misrepresenato touches two vital
pontshrst, my attitude, toward Plymouth church;
Twill make plain statement of the facts bearing on
First-In 1870 became member of Plymouth church.
In ss my CONNECTION with tina that Church
My retiremC nj from the church was executed by in
s.t m @ a M Since rS See a and
ratified the unanimous vote OF the church, airming
and reatfrmng the principle on which that act was
That principle as hold it, Is the free right OF free
man to n a n chrcbm pS
/ church in which this is not a rule.
has op be nG 9a @ THIS
Re ha n y his w sole him
was this right thus held and nov Snampionsd by
years ago .,
stood snd' an and
arising this shall result in stamping this prn
e snail have
loyalty which n bear my father and
GRarea uSerV Roger Williams
shs%R That s 's f
aeCa Of out Of
could have been in consonance with my ira
rde nan has this sha have
vSs act With the moral majesty Of public
for the further basement OF the human mind
Bus whether You disagree with this view
doubts your honorable body may cast upon this method
Of voluntary retirement or whatever sueh doubts may
and exercised this right four years ago. yet this
several Signal occasions and is now put forth by Ply
mouth church cherished principle OF its ecclesiastical
se5naFeur years after had thus terminated my con-
Der OF that body with having circulated and promoted
scandals derogatory TO the Christian integrty OF the
widespread impression overshadowed good mems
]
could be doubt that had slandered the pastor OF
thereby declare that had not then, have SINCE
nor at any time IN all my lie have ever uttered sian
The mputation that have slandered Mr.. Beecher
Will now annihiate with the following facts beginning
against me- quote from the Brooklyn Eagie OF June
1873 the following card conspcuously puoshel over his
80 The EDITOR OF BROOKLYN EAcLF:
the ISLANDERS which have Tor time past followed
"Iwould not speak now but lor the sake oil relieving
another OF an unjust imputauon. -
'lne document which was recently published bearing
ZION either with me or with Mr.. Tton, with any
III that document should lead the public to regard Mr.
Tton the author OF the caumnies to which 1t audes
Il am unwilling that he should even seem to be re-
rived wholly through Others xpv w.po prrcupp,
on Friday morning October 81 s75 sent to the tx.
aiming Committee OF Plymouth church letter IN which
II wrote few days ago to your committee stating
that had pot 0 n he s any eTars aSnT
with propriety act the part OF member IN any pro-
But since writing that note learn from the public
apf oo as am y @
sufficiently at least TO be indicted by one OF the mem
- hint also i thrown Out that am thus refusing to
cape the responsibility OF my sanderous words.
~ as have 9eys, sPoken nag against
mittee shall request me to waive my mem Der ship
So ions enough to appear this evening at the meeting
TO answer before the assembled the follow
namely
- Have you, Theodore Tilton spoken against
Henry Yard Beecher falselyri
II request you to this letter Mr.. Beecher be-
fore the action OF the committee o-night
Let me add that my explicitness IN this matter Is
s1spcon or rejection IN future t6a, lave ever sought
evade any just responsibility of mine to Plymouth
| church.n
ON FRIDAY evening. October 81 1873 appeared in per-
Plymouth church-for the frs time in four
and made the assembled congrega statement,
from which transcribe the following passage:-
~ have come here night not from any Obligation OF
membership. since am not member and not sum
mOned by any committee, for committee has sum-
moned me, but OF my tree will prompted by sell
Respect and as matter vital TO lie and honor. to
say in Mr. Beecher' presence, surrounded here by his
friends, that have slandered him ready TO
swer for II to the whom have slandered. IT, there
lore the minister of this church has anything whereof
70 accuse me let him now speak and snail answer, as
Coo my iudgen
After had made the above uerance in Mr. Beecher's