The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-05
REoPEvrNG THEsctyDtL.
MIR. Dccchcr's Actions 90 be Invc-tignted by
the Congregational Church.

The New York and Brooklyn Associa-
ton Of Congregational Ministers has taken ac-
tion which will certainly revive the Bcccher
scandal, aud probably lead tu thorough inves-
tieattun OF the facts In the case. A committee
of its members hls been appointed, and in-
structed 60 report, after careful examination
Of tho charges. whether tho a-s,ci ,tlon ought
20 retain Mr.. Bcccher in membership
The Cpnsregaii pnal clergymen Of New York
and Bfooklvn have not Il any time been inap-
prcciativc II the mscOnstruction that might be
put upon their silence with regard to tho
scandal. TIE policy Of COneresationalism ex
enpts its churches from any higher or dis
cplinary authority, and is councils, called to
act upon suecihc cases. like the body which
dealt wltn ~ mouth Church two year, ng1, h we
tue right to ADVISE, not to dictate. Inc Ncw
York and Bro klyn Association OF Conercga-
uonal Ministers Is. therefore, body without
any authority over the churches to wnom ia
influence ana fOrceful IN It's action. because
everE t1neiega' ional clcrs'm III New York
ana u Ooklyu belongs to 10, aud Its deliberations
tnus have the importance which pertains to
more formally constituted bodies In other de-
nuuitnati tiIns.
In November, 1874. at a regular meeting Of this
ass citation, the eXpediencY Of q con. n.uiittee 70
in' ssicat te the char-c- against Nj. Bcechcr was
discussed. res ,luii"n VS. offered ordering
the appointment ci committee To make such
an icS--..=s I'm. and T. fcnurt advising tho as
sbcihtirn WI at action to tlkc. In behalf OF MIR.
lieeclcr IL was urged that nothing prcclptate
should be done, tha a tri,I ~ Mr.. Tito 5 SUIT
was soon to begin. and that. IN the cNrlte1 stute
OF the public mind upon tho subject, 1t wouli
he uni ir 20 help on the agitation OF the scan
da Inat view preponderdted. and the iesoiu-
tiun WAS LAID on the tabie.
In Ann, 1875. the ts-ociatlon met In tho Rev.
Dr. ; .uedcr,s church In lirlohbn Mr.. Beech
er's iricnds h. d. ty misluterpretng the silence
Of Conrrerational cler'ymen uuon the topic OF
the scandal, convinced themselves that the idoa
Of action ha1 been abandoned hey therefore
had plinhrd 10 = IN sort or endorsement Of
hun 10y means of vote cxpuuging tho offer Of
tne resolution from the minutes VI the previous
meeting.
The. aitompt was made at thi, gathering In the
Rev. DR. Scudders church. A resolution vas
offered 20 e1punge all record Of any action or
proposal for action In Mr.. H. ccher's case This
ruused strong sentiment Il Indignation, and II
vetv heated discussion lasted IN hour and "A
that the resolution was techncply out OF ordcr
ana Icrcnei Partisan, shrewdlY taking adV.n-
ta-e II ,hC moment Oi cOniuSiun, moved an adj
journ ncnt and II was carried. 1ho records
were thus left unal cred.
ON Wednesday last the next meeting Of the
association was held IN the New England Con-
rroeatiunM Church, BROOKLYN. T.. D., of which
the Rev. john ii. LOckw 1Od Is pastor. The at
tendance waS uncOmmonly large. There are
nfty-iOur mcnbcrs, and, although several are in
Europe, and many others away from home.
tnifty were there. Among the attendants were
tho kev. Drs. Scudder, li diuGtCn, III NJ. StUrrs,
hepwor.h; EEgle.tun, Cullen and Taylor, and
the Rev. Mcssrs. Everest. AiacF irlaud and n IL
lday, the assistant pastor Of Plymouth Cnulch.
M Becchcr Mas not there.
The important topic was introduced in the
FORM Of unfinished business. the resolution TO
appoint . committee being taken from the table.
At once the oil cusslOn was animated. Tho
maj rty urg ID IN 1 the ,iuty Of the assOiiatlD
was IL deal fearless ~ with the qu,silOn whether
Ar. Beechcr va. III 10 be retained In member
ship. No proposition was made to cutici-e
Plymouth tnurch, mat being considered with
out ne province cf the body. IL WAS only pro-
pphcd to settle tie point OF MT. lcccher's
woithne-s 10 continue ia association with
Christian ministers.
Ihe defenders OF Mr.. Beecher contcnded that
any dcu ~ would Uc an assault upon him. Tue
ui-cuH Ion lasted four hours, ana brought out
acFei al powerful sprcches. Tho pTepunderance
Cutnhl Tee, tut tho Bverhcr men fought hard
10 save him from that dreaded fate. They could
uhl} llNui tCtlati, however, not IueIcut IL. Iue
b.-ptiatiuu voted To lave d committees
Ihch ihe mlnOllti tnucIYurod To secure tho
hppulhtn cnl 81 Wch known To be Ialti-du- If
Mf' Brtchcr, 80 that WhiteWa-hins report
M mt bc cNpectei; out they failed, too, in Iuat
llye - Nrrsputa .ige clcrGymcn were lpiDiutrd
on the committee, Two of them being ms ruI.
hfhl a. any lu iuhgItElllunallsm. Iney are. by
lic resolution, directed ttluYe.tiIute the hcdn-
dAl thorouehlN. rcVirWl the evidence admit
ted ana rrJcc ed IN the judicial tiial ana sccur-
lhg all lue other .Cls thut thcy may be ahlo 10
grt ana 10 report their verdict 10 tue ass Cid-
non, Mtih t0Yire as to NHrlhrr Mr. Beccher
.rht u ho retained N meu bcrsIp OrcXlcncd.
Ihtl arc not llMlied IN time, ana II Is not tx
ItC.td iudl tAe Nil De able - DO their work,
IN the thorough nanne- expected oi tnem, witn-
IA less thau several months.
Nj. II l.liiIdi carried the nows to Mr. poochcr
without cl4ii iut no authoritative intiuhtiunUf
gained Yesterday.
u was -ud last evening, however, that Mr.
liccchci would Withdraw from the nS,OCiutlOu
thlheI lhhn submit 90 nn tnNartlgatIOn.