Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-19
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Another Business Meeting-rhe DIS
InfssaI OF Mrs. MouIton Dis
cussed-Beecher ReIntes
His Trials,

NEW YORK, December 1s,-At q bus
iness meeting st Plymouth chureh to
night, Deacon VESTS letter was place,
on file, but not on the minut 8 Prot
Raymond then. read and propos ed 10
abortion { letter OF dismissal for Mrs
Moulton. The letter says:
They recommend the calling of 81
advisory council Of the churches fol
! January 1lth, to consider whether Ply
I modth church, in its rules for the main
tenance of discipline, has gone beyOnC
the rules Of a church Of Christ and for,
fsited the confidence of the CoDgrega.
tional church.
SecoDd-To consider rule seven, drop,
| ping members with or without notice,
| as deerned lust, by q two-thirds vote OF
| the church, on the recommendation OF
| the examining committee, or ON appli-
cation of members, Or otherwise.
Third-That a member so dropped 10
not under any implied censure, whether
there is anything inconsistent with the
word of God or christian justice il b At
rule.
FOurth-W neither it is contrary to the
law of God to allow any mode Of deter
mining the connections of a member
with the church other than by letter Of
dismission or communication.
Fiith-Ought church to consent to
call on other churches to investigate the
character Of pastor, when requested to
DO so by member VINO never made
charges against the pastor, and when
such request is made for the first time
more than year after an investigation
has been made of charges against the
pastor, and he was sustained by q unan-
imous vote?
sixth-Ought christian church to
adopt, concerning the5folIowing cIa.s of
members, thCs5 who delibeTateiy and
permanently absent thems elves without
asking for letters of dismission, on the
ground that the church has not taken
certain steps? 1t was not asked to take
those who absented themselves on the
same ground but have asked for such
steps, and the church declined those
who absent themselves on the same
ground, and believe the pastor guilty of
crime, though the church has tried and
acquitted the pastor without dissenting
voice. Members who absent thems elves
for any reason, or all of the reasons so
stated, and members generally reported
and believed to have made charges OF
gross immortality against other MEM
bers, and who, being Questioned. do not
deny or affirm the truth or otherwise
of their charges.
A motion being made TO adopt the
report, Clerk Shearman moved slight
amendment.
Mr.. Beecher inquired il that would not
open up the whole investigation OF 1874
Mr.. Shesrmsn replied Yes.n
TheD," said Mr.. Beecher, 81 am for
it." [Applsuse.
After the motion was carried, Mr..
Beecher said; "There never was a man
in America so tried as / have been.
Tried by the newspapers and then by s
ofthe church for two months,
availing itself OF every source OF infor-
nation, and [ was acquitted; and then
for Elk months by as able counsel as ever
faced judge. There is not in the
record OF American Jurisprudence such
a trial as that-and nine out OfitTelve
OF the jury believed was innocent.
Applause Now l hear it said all the |
time that this church is afraid of trying
me. Laughter. They want another |
trial. Laughter Nothing was done |
after eight months of investigation, and |
this church has more interest in know |
iuS HHdt luSlE p6dlOI HAS UOne IlHD ADy
other body. Nc body needs so much an |
absolute confidence in a pastor as
don't want another trial
Find better tribunal, and with more |
eisure than the court, and [ shall not |
object; but when my svowed enemies,
IN warfare with this church, w.Gt to |
try me on four large imperisl |
1ctavos, and want that continental mass |
1f iniquity disposed Of by the ministers
who can give about three days to it, / |
must object. [Applsuse.1 L am not
afraid, but if any man says the conduct
If this church is evasive, it is not so, as
ar as the pastor is concerned. APP
1lsuse, Under approved rules of equity
am a. willing to face the inquiry as 1
I'm that the greater tribunal where my
Iod is to be the judge. [RaptuTous ap
Ilause Nothing less will face. /
will not face where the wolves and foxes
ire to he my judges. Enthusiastic sp-
,Iause If sucn an advisory council
hOuld say another investigation is ne
essary, 1 would say do it, do it, II
hey should say not, certainly should
lot Object.": Laughter.
Mr.. Thos. }. 1ilney was elected clerk,
rice Shearman resigned. The motions
o change the rules as to the dropping OF
members were opposed and withdrawn.
Adjourned.