The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-02
ANOTHER COUNCIL DEMANDED.
Deacon West Proposing that Mr.. Beccher's
Guilt or Innocence bc Estn nblisbcd.

There was n secret meeting OF the Exam
lining Committee OF Plymouth Church yesterday
morning, at which ex Deacon william +. West
was asked to explain his PROLONGED absence
f,om the church. In tho afternoon Mr.. West
addressed the following letter to Thomas G..
Shearman, clerk of Plymouth Society;
NEW YORK. Dec. I, 1875.
TO THE MEMBERs or PLYMOUTH CuuHCH,
BRooKLYN, N. Y.-I)edr brethren thank you
for your ptomptitude and unanimity In recon
dropped from the roll of the church
At the request of the Examining Committee,
1 appeared before them TINS morning, and
stated the reasons for my absence from the
church. While they gave me no advice In the
,,ecnh'eM sense OF that word, ! understood
duty either to Withdraw from tho church
or in the future to attend its services.
do not soc that ! can honestly and con-
scentlousy take either course; and "a said to
the committee that SHOULD make any further
communication directly to tie church. | will
expressed by the committee. and propose pl m
by which think all difiiculties that exist be-
In the frat place, believe that am right In
the req lest which have made for complete
and regular nvestilaton OF the scand II which
has so long troubled the peace Of our church
aud believe, moreover, that II - etill my duty
as member of tho church 70 Obtain such an
Investigation, N 1t be possible, by any fair and
honorable means. Therefore | cannot consent
To voluntar ly sever my connection with the
church while way IA still oIen for tho pcrfor-
nance OF this duty. As regards INV attendance
at the services aud sacraments q; the church,
can only repeat what stated in my former let
ter To you-that cannot cOnscientlOu-ly attend
them until a regular and Impartial inv stigation
OF tho cbar4es against the character Of the
p'stor shall DO made by properly constituted
council.
Such an investication at the present time Is
especially imperative, because our church Is not
unanimous In It's belief In the innocence OF our
pastor. and this feeling Of doubt and apprehen-
sion Is shared by thousands Of Christian men
and women throughout the land.
Therefore, inasmuch as charges OF adultery
and perjury have been made against our pastor,
and as In my opinion, regular investigation IL
necessary for the vindlcation OF the innocent
and for the preservation Of the peace ana purity
OF the church, hereby request YOU to unto
with me in calling a mutual council, to which
shall be submitted the following questions
Frst-ls the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher guilty
OF adultery
Second Is the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
guilty Of PERJURY
make this proposition with tho hope that II
may be the means OF Vindic ting the char scter
OF our pastor; and should this be the result, no
one will rejoice thereat more heartily than /.
hope that the church viii meet me frankly and
anectiOnatcly IN the spirit which ] Hppro !ch
them, and viii unite with mo I'm a reference Of
this whole subject to a council which VIII he
ahlo TO compose the differences that now un-
happily exist among us.
"A this matter l. Of such great importance,
solicit. immedi1te action on the part Of the
church aud that no time m y be lost. besides
sending this letter to the clerk. shall cause u
COPY OF II to bepublisnod In the morning paDers,
In order that II may the sooner reach the mem
Oeis OF the church. Yours fraternally.
VIM. Z. WEST.
A business meeting OF the church Is to be held
to morrow evening". and IL IL expected that Mr.
Vests letter Will then be considered.