New-York tribune., 1875-12-11
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
ACTION CONCERNING THE COUNCIL De
IAYED

ACTION CONCERNING THE COUNCIL DE-
LAYED.
MI. BEECImR's FRIDAY EVENING TALK-rHE CASES
OF MRS. MoULToS AND Mr.. WEST To BE RE-
PORTED UPON NEXT THURsDAY-ANNuAL RE-
PORTS OF THE CHURCH-THoaAs G. sHEARMAN
REFLECTED CLERK
AT the Friday evening service at plymouth
Church last evening the congregation was very large
including many strangers The majority of those present
ladies' On the platform we're the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher and the Rev. Edward Beecher After the
usual services OF singing and prayer, Mr. Beecher began
his talk substantially as follows;
There many phrases constantly employed in speak
ing OF religious truth which mslead from the fact
that in the course their lteraness has passed
away. One OF these expressions Is Come to jesus.
There time when this had literal meaning and
it still has great hgurative but the rst feeling at
hearing the expression Of ply steal TACT The same
true OF the phrase "tO be followers OF Christ"
In the schools OF ancient times the disciples walked with
Master through by the seaside drinking
in the wisdom OF their perepstec instructor To be
follower OF Christ to go to school to Him. but in that
it is impossible. Still, though He can not be
followed in His outward life We must accept HIS inward
teachings. To Christ ia 10 come % knowledge
OF His principles. and follow Him by opening our
hearts to His truths and by practicing them
There general tendencies in the religious Thought
OF the world-the Christian and the Roman. might add
the Greek or purely Intellectual The Roman notion Of
relgion-whout any reference to Roman Catholicism
in the predominance OF courage, caution, CO.
orcioD and force, with alternate Of sweetness gentle
ness, and love. The Christian notion, which
greatly in the minority places love first and the stener
attributes below it, In attempting to follow Christ we
are constantly stumbling on Roman principles organiz
ing Christianity the basis OF stern duty. Christ dd
not it but said His kingdom was one of love
Try TO follow Christ by being ChrstlikenOt throwing
out force, but giving love full sway.
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
Immediately after pronouncing the benediction Mr.
Beecher announced that business meeting would De
held and nominated Deacon Hutchinson for Chairman
Mr.. Hutchinson declined, and Mr. Edgerton was made
Chairman. After opening prayer by Dr. White ana
the reading OF the minutes Mr.. Beecher moved that
when the meeting adjourned it should be until Thurs
day evening next, then TO hear reports from the
Examining Committee on the cases Of discipline now III
their hands This carried. and many persons seeing
that the OF Mrs MoutOn and OF Dir West were NOT
coming up, Withdrew.
Mr. shearman's annual report as clerk OF the churci
was then read. II contained the following statistics ana
statements among others Number of mempers lasl
year. $3.50 number admitted this year. lfOi huihDer
2.49O; female members. on the roll Dec. TO- l'o32
male members, 30; deaths uullh9 'nc yeaai' -
number Of members OF PSnouth sGh9o,, 90
OF Bethel Mission 1910; Of Mayhowsr Mission, % H.
church collections during the year FJJSo- Us eoec
tiOns for the poor. Sl.2S9 81 total collections OF
plymouth school aud Bethel and Mayfow.r Missions,
S2sOs pew rents, S7lOOV Inc rep9It c,oIeg ,gii ~
stating that notwithstanding the unparalleled dilSui.
which the Church nau Is,eu
year, IL. internal prosperity ana i-ei lless @ na W.,
no diminuton. The membership, benevolent cohrpui,
s0s s9cs III The b"' treasures rcport by : V White,
showed tue balance ON hand last year Tor DcneVoemt
- $50 disbursements. Sj.i2J; balance ON hand rl3)9
The report OF the Music Committee was read Dy HoEo
or M Mr. Zundel received ~ 800 and the rest was dis-
t-buted by Mr.. Camp. The report asked the cnurch
be given TO the volunteer members OF the
choir Dec 81 # was announced taat me me organ
ha -
Mr Beecher said that the choir OF Plymouth Church,
composed OF paid and volunteer members, hau sn1"g
itself worthy great praise. IL was school Olt ni
which many other churches chose thtr leauln- hnsr
members had shown an affection FOR ne church sIu M
had been bIOdght under religious lnnhrhtts' hir'
Beocher moved that Rule H. concerning yothe, De
amended 30 as 70 be banI rms was earrie H. then
moved that the last clause of Rule -, proNldhg tn%I
members of the Examining Committee shall be ineligible
r one wear at tie expiration of their terms " Oce De
SRI ken This laid over un the next mtctihg'
me election officers then took place. The nrst eiec-
ti,n was for clerk In place Thomas O.. Shearman
some one nominated b. +. Blair Mr Beecher linmr,
d.ately nominated Mr.. shearman MI. Sheaiinah Seu
that he had cxressed hts desire To ger rd Of tAe oct
and should not be- able 10 serve through the yeaa
Thought 1t essential 10 the prosperity oi
tie church keep Mr. -hearnan ia Ms present posin'
time would 1t ne more so thih dulhe lne com %
ing six Or months. No one had any lded OF tne
work which had been done ny Mr snsarlan ~ li hS tS
church. e" / should feel" sad Dir beecher, as thoush
an armor-bearer would De gone from my side II te pres
Gt emergency the di possession Of Nr shrarnan
WIN wiue experience dnohs ueh' .nS Ie''t & oHI
man VINO would work more IhiIIuiy th"h ne
nf tbe history of the church and or
every ease in il than do, any other two men IN the
church Under continual assaults on MN, ne mas never
aIucled from duty. / have been conVersaht WIN hh
personally and have learned to love ana trust MN Is
much a. any living nan. anG proud 10 say that ne
Il NV personal friend and that love ana h0nor MIN
ond applause broke out as sr Beecher sat down. Ite
yo. WAS taken by ballot. Mr.. SAear1ndn received $50
votes NJ Blair - and werescaternS some one ihoNcu
that the election OF MI shearman DE- ihade unanimous
nut Abrabam Hin objected, and the motion was not pun
tn vote The election OF dcacOns was thrn laatn up
,yee eI-crei Edward j. OyIngtOn resigned ~ DEACON
aud A. b. Davenport elected m his place Mrs. Ed
vard Brecuer resigned as deacOucss. and Mrs. :. H.
Halliday was elected her place Mrs Joseph IAhey
and Mrs. B " Abbott were also elected deacOhesSes'
When the election of members of the Examining Com
niiftee was reached, motion OF Mr. Beecher IL was
posf poned and the meeting adjourned.
Vl SnrTIlan sfa eG lst evening that the Examining
Committee had received communication from MI west,
mn he refused what Its contents Ielteu 10: IL
A. understood 10 be IN reference Mr. Vests dismissal
Tam tne church, meeting OF the Examining Commit
Tee wa. held Mr.. Halliday house y6stefly dllruoO
bu e members o. the Committee declined To state what
done