The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-01
Plymouth Church Troubles.
New York TELEGRAM. 26th.l

Alter somewhat sparsely attended
prayer meeting at Plymouth Church to-
night, business meeting was held, at
which report from the examining COM
mittee was read granting the request of
Mrs. Fam, West to be dropped from the
rolls of the church. A letter from the
lady was read, however. asking delay.
and On motion of MIR. Beechcr the report
was recommitted. Discussion folio - ed
in the case Of Deacon West, some mem
bers expressing the sentiment that the
action Of the church therein was hasty.
and letter was read from that gentle
man explaining his reasons for absence
from the church, and says: .
! The policy of silence regard as inconss-
| tent with the purityo1 the ministry, OF the
honor Of he church. and [ cannot conscien-
tiously consent to attend the services and &C.
ranents OF the church until a searching amt
impartial investigation OF the charges against
the character VI the pastor shall he made by
properly constituted council. Meanwhile
protest against the dropping of my name fl om
the roll without my consent | hoped that
| after the receipt OF my card you would at once
| call special meeting OF the church, and en-
the injary which you had done ME; but as
some three weeks have now elapsed,
| and have received no communication what
ever from you, not even a notification of the
dropplng OF my name, now request you to
unite with me in calling mutual council to
decide whe her the dropping o: my name
under thu circumstances was just and in &C.
| cordance with the policy vi Congregational
| churches. hope You will unite with me in
! calling mutual Council, but in case do not
hear from YOU soon in answer to this request, ,
I A. T.
parte council in accordance with the usagrs OF
the denomination, to vindicate my rights as
member Of the church Of Christ.
Yours respectfully. ,,,,,a
After the reading Of the letter the
question Of reconsideration Of the action
OF the church in dropping Mr.. Vests
name from the rolls was put to vote, and
carried. On moti,n the letter of Deacon
West was referred to the committee.
REPLY TO MRS. MoULToN.
Mr.. Beecher then stood up and said he
had reply to Mrs. Emma z. Moulton
letter Of Nov. lltK, which, although it
might be somewhat indicate for him t.
d. so, he had determined to read Lie
then read the following reply in a loud.
clear voice, slowly at first, but soon so
| rapidly that the stenographers were
almost unable to write it. The lette,
says:
Mrs. Moulton's request for the calling of
mutual council, to auvise upon matters 1T issue
between he,.elfa and the church, has been duly
considered 1t then sums up the case against
her, namely. that in her own admission Si-
has no partaken of the Lords Supper in any
church since 1870; not atteried Plymouth
Church since June, 1874; and never any other
The church, it saw, would regard her assigned
reason, the belief that the pastor IS guilty OF
crime, an abundant Justification tor !. cuarye
n.adt; IN the usual way against him, and de-
! manding investigation, or for asking tor
| letter OF dsmissson, hut the church
shout not have regarded it justitira-
ton for total absence from religious wor-
dinances. Mrs. Moulfon did not ask delay or
a trial or a letter of dislnission The letter
continues: "You complain that you were not
ar aiyns for any unjust accusations against
| the pastor In this We ,upp" you ret~r to
| those contained III the statement made iii
| church was and still is of the opinion tlla
your accusations against the pastor, even II
| true, would have con tituted no deirnse l''r
| your past conduct. 1t Certainly believed them
| to t,e unjust and untrue, bu,,t could not M
te'rupt the orderly course ot pr cetdinggs u'-
ar which your p.st conduct was the e"f'ee
| finv stig,tion in order t. put y.u on tr.:'. Tr
offences committed ii. the very midst OF this
| Investigation. If such a course was pursued,
| trial would never end. But j. y0d complain
because you were not arr.,gned because OF
your previous public testimony '"aceru
ing the pastor Of the church, tile answer Is
simple. So tar either the church or the c1m-
mitiee knew you had never mate any STATE
ment, impnguing the putty Of our pastor,
except while You were tes liying NJ q wines
in court OF justice, and as We wrrt bound to
assume, under COM uIsory process. the colli-
mit,ee did not think they Won d te justifi II
in calling you to account before the church for
tue unlruihs OF your language in court, aud
in a case which might again come to trial,
With yen a. al" az pe"rin9 as witus:t !. For
made thu church felt, and still ferl-, hound to
leave you t. answer to other tribunals. Any