St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-24
Plymouth Church.
MIR. BEECHER WILLING FACET

At the adjourned business meeting q
Plymouth church Friday evening Nh
Vests letter was placed on file, an,
Mr.. Raymond read and proposed TO
adoption letter missive for Mrs. Moul
ton. which recommends calling an ad
visolv council of churches for Januar,
IL to consider:
|. Whether Plymouth church in it
rules for the maintenance of discipline
etc.. has gone beyond the rules of TIN
church of Christ and forfeited the con
fidence of Congregational churches.
>. To consider rule seven, droppin.
members with or without notice II
deemed Just 10y IL two thirds vote of tin
church, on recommendation of the ex
aiming committee, Oh application o
the members, or otherwise.
3. That ii member so dropped is no
under any implied censure, and wheth
er there is anything inconsistent will
the word of God or Christian Justice il
that rule.
|. Whether it is contrary to the law
of God to allow any mode of terminal
ing the connection of IL member Will
the church other than the letter of dis
mission OF accommodation.
>. Ought Il church to consent to cal
other churches to investigate the char
actcr of ihc pastor. when requested t,
/ do 81 by Il member who never made
charges against the pastor, and wheI
such request is made for the first tim,
more than IL wear after an investigation
has been made against the pastor amo
he was sustained by il unanimous vote
1.
church to adopt concerning the follow
ing classes of members: First, thost
who deliberately and permanently ali
sent themselves without asking for let
tiers at diSmiSSion on the ground thai
the church has not taken certain steps
! it WAS no! asked to take; second. those
who absented themselves on the same
ground. but have asked for such steps
and the church declined third. those
who absented themselves ON the same
ground, but believe the pastor guilty of
crime. though the church has tried and
acquitted the pastor without Il dissent
ing voice fourth, members who absent
themselves for any OF all of the REASONS
50 stated, and fifth. members generally
reported and believed to have made
charges of gross immortality against 9th
81 members. and who, being questioned.
do not deny or affirm the truth OF 9th
crwiSc of these charges.
Motion being made to adopt the re-
port. Clerk sherman moved IL slight
amendment. when Mr. Becchcr inquired
if tina; would not open up the whole in
vc>tigali"n of 1874. and Mr.. sherman
reply ing that il would. continued. '.Then
| an for it," Applause. After the
motion wis carried. Nh. Bcccher said ::
"Ihcrc never WAS Il man in America So
tried H. have been laughter. tried
10y the newspapers, and then 10y Il com
nilttcr OF the church for two months
awaiting itself of every source oi in
formation and Was acquitted and
then for sin months by a> able counsel
a. ever faced Il Judge. There is not in
the record of American Jurisprudence
such Il trial is that. and nine ont of
twelve of the .juIN believed WIS limo
cent. Applause. Now hear ii said
all the time that this church is afraid of
trying me. Applause. They want
another thai laughter: nothing done
after eight months of investigations
Tins church has more interest in
knowing what thcil pastor i than amy
other body. and 81 far from the truth
OF the imtimation in untiiendlN news
papers. would II man hide deadly dis
ease from 4 ply stefan Noh"dl needs
- much an absolute confidence in :;
pastor rs the church. Men SAY don.
want another trial. Find a better hi
hunal with more leisure than the court.
and | >han't object. but when my avow-
IL a.