Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-27

/ bui d. hlu uOb, IL - 10 Lllc Vi
the Christian Church that the matter at
variance is settled in a Christian spirit.
| We shall first have TO get the facts and
then determine them by applying Christian
reasons to them. We do not wish it to 90
before the Christian public that we are try
| ing church without giving it an opportu-
nifty to be heard, and that we virtually are
trying that church while ostensibly ad-
viSing the other. He wished to act for the
| purpose of securing Christian peace and
harmony among the churches and men he
| loved. He was in hopes that Plymouth
| Church would have accepted the offer TO
| come into this council. This is a great law
court to be sure, but we are not to try
great church without faRts. As Plymouth
Church has expressly [deniedl all the state
ments made against her, he thought the de-
ciSion Of the council would not carry the
weight they would wish if Plymouth
Church was not properly heard. He was
not ready TO adopt this resolution in full.
Yesterdays Session.
The third session of the Congregational
Council opened this morning half an hour
earlier than usual. As a consequence there
was but a small attendance. The MOdera-
tor gave out a hymn which was sung by all
and Rev. Mr.. Webb led the meeting in
prayer during which he asked the blessing
and grace of God on the questions to be
determined by the council, to some of the
parties concerned. He afterwards read Sc
lectiOns from the Scriptures. Another pray
er was offered by President Chaplin, follow
ed by hymn. Brief prayers were also
made by other members Of the. council.
The minutes Of yesterdays meeting were
read and approved.
DIR. BuddingtOn.
Rev. DR.. Buddincton said that during
the nineteen years of his ministry in their
church, there had never been anything sp-
prOachiEg to the case Of Plymouth Church.
He had asked its member to meet him fair
| " and honestly. The council had asked
them for the facts, and had received as lit
| tie in reply as he did. They had presented
their case to the council and asked them to
take action and give deliverance. Give us
your sense of the action which has led 10
the calling of this council. All we wanted
to know is, were the principles on which
we acted the same as you would have ae-
eepted.
Rev. DR.. Buddington also spoke of the
action of Plymouth Church as being notable
for pickering of words. 1 beg of you, he
said, whatever you think of the protest,
give us your decision on the question that
arose before the letter miSsive was made
Act as candidly toward the inciting churches
as they have to you. Give decision which
Plymouth Church can understand without
| difficulty.
DIR. StOrrs.
Rev. DR.. StOrrs then rose to speak, but
was interrupted by a numbCr who wished
to put some questions. Discussion took
place as to whether it would be better TO
hear DR.. StOrrs first or allow him 10 answer
the questions. DR.. Storrs suggested that
all questions which members of the COun-
| Gil desired to ask should be given to him
before opening his remarks, IS he might be
able to cover them in that case. Rev. DIR.
Storrs then began his remarks. Touching
personal conference with Beecher, he
said he had none with him concerning this
| subject.
A member here hoped DR.. Storrs would
not enter into this subject any further. Ac-
cording to Scripture, DR.. StOrrs should have
| gone to his brother and told him that he
erred.
| The Moderator ruled that they were not
here to investigate the personal relations of
DR.. Stons and Mr.. Beecher, but merely the
correspondence which passed between the
| invited churches.
DR.. Storrs then resumed. He said that
| Beecher was Bishop in his own church.
| The Council might observe, yesterday he
| addressed the pastors Of the churches as
| Reverend and Dear Fathers in God. Now,
he said, this was used only among the
Bishops of the Episcopal church. The
| speaker described the manner of calling the
meetings of his church. They were called
after prayer-meetings, but the meetings of
| Plymouth church were held at prayer-meet-
ing, when they would appoint delegates to
| any council. When we sent the letter to
Plymouth church, why it was not read? Be
cause il was not made gHgRlbIs hp' was not
read in the church-meetings. If it had
been published by us in its full text, it
would not have been letter to Plymouth
church, but a challenge to it before the
whole world. This letter was approved
and signed by committees from the church
and sent on its mission.
The authorities of Plymouth Church had
the letter three weeks or more before they
readi it. If we had made any mistake we
corrected it i'm letter we sent afterit. Why
did not we send a note? Brethren, Ply
mouth Church was powerful church and
note would seem as an autumn leaf drop
ped in the brook. 1t should be letter long
enough to bring about the desired result. We
did the best we could in the fear of God
and IN the hope that our churches should
nave the burden removed from them with
the council of the -9isest men we could get.
ms letter was Kept Dythem for three weeks
ana was the1.I read and an answer adopted.
IL was then read in our church meeting and
uhan. .mously approved. A church may err
u, appointing DeacOneSses, but when 1t
/ attempts to touch upon the doctrines Of
faith, We had a right to interpOse. 1t was
not light matter they had to consider.
Here was diSOrganizing power let loose in
the church. 1t was for this council to sub
| due it.
1t was the corporate principle in Ply
mouth church which was dangerous if new.
We wished that church every success, but
with the doctrines of the church we could
not hold nor be in fellowship with it. If
our neighbor insists in keeping bombs and
granades in his house, and persists in firing
one off now and then, we insist that he
| must strengthen the walls between us.
Draw the line, brethren, and tell us where
the rule of fellowship begins. We were IN
| the place when two seas met, but give us
practical advice. We turn to you. Here
are two churches that could not be matched
with Plymouth church for standing and
wealth, but nevertheless as old, and doing
the same good work. They have done no
dishonor to the fathers name. They have
taken their lot in this city, given of their
time, money and power that they might
bless and build up this city, but do not
tSink You can cover the cases Of these
churches by abstract propositions.
Questions
y. nrIInrnt OI,nrnir, Of Ralnif aelrai iNUn