The New York herald., 1875-12-28
What Was Done at the Business
4 Meeting Last Night.
Mr.. BEECHER QUITE AGGRESSIVE.
Declaration that the Church Intends to
Take Care Of Itself.
COUNCILS AND ADVISORY COUNCILS.
Characteristic Speech by the
Plymouth Pastor.

The business meeting OF Plymouth Church last night
was an important and interesting one. A new letter
nom mrs Moulton read. It presented two ques-
uons for consideration by the mutual council already
agreed upon The report OF the Examining Committee
was also presented and the mutual council and the
vsory council agreed to. Mr. Beecher then
planned the attitude of Plymouth Church, and said
that hereafter she would take her business into
her handsn
Mr. Beecher announced in a single laconic sentence,
jammed in among the dozen announcements made
before his Sunday morning, that there would
be adjourned business meeting Of the church held
last nigh Perhaps not half Of the congregation
understood rapidly uttered words and this is the
more probable, as Immediately afterward he read the
announcement OF annual meeting Of Plymouth
Church Society TO be held January g. when three
trustees be elected Indeed several members or
the church, who present Sunday, did not know
there would be meeting until informed ol it by
HERALD reporter. In view Of this fact and also that
few outside OF the church knew OF tho meeting the
attendance not very large Mrs. Beecher entered
shortly before eight O'Clock upon the arm of
her son. Colonel Henry Beecher, and followed
by the wife of the latter, with Dr. Edward Beecher
little in the Punctuay at eight o'clock, the
hour appointed for the opening of the meeting, Mr..
Beecher entered in company with Rev. DR.. George
Bacon, Of Dr. Leonard Bacon, Moderator Of the
former Congregational Council Scarcely had the pas
tor entered when he was approached by Brother
Mckay, who is known as one of Mr. Bcecher's
Btaunchest friends and whose vehemence in the defence
nj the has secured for him the sobrquet of the
"Fghting Brother" After short and whispered con-
versation with Mr. Beecher the brother retired to his
seat to make way for Brother Rosster w. Raymond,
who also held brief interview with the pastor, who
stood warming his feet on one OF the registers in
the floor. This conversation was somewhat longer
than the other but was still brief When Mr.
Raymond retired his place Immediately filed by
Moderator Edgerton, with whom Mr.. Beecher held
long and conversation after which the preacher
assembled the platform. Mr. Edgerton took the chair
and prayer offered by Brother r. W. Raymond.
AS Mr. Shearman not on hand some proposed
10 sing hymn to pass the time TIL he arrived. While
Ihe matter under discussion Mr. Shearman entered
and ascending the platform, read the minutes of the
previous meeting which were approved He then said,
al have letter from Mrs. Moulton, which she sent TO
Mr. Tilney, clerk OF the church. not knowing prob
ably, that his term commences the Sd OF January"
Mr. Shearman then read the following
DEAR sRI have been very reluctant write further
refused reading before them, the o Beecher
after the clerk had told them publicly that IN his
was published But have wished very much and sti wish
10 have proposal incIosed dunn
considered 6y church or the committee and to know
they will agree win you therefore, have the kindness
70 pcsentit for me- and TO inform me Of their answer
mEAoRArDua.
know very well and haye * known from S the beginning
absence by showing fully
o DO IN my r letter 70 the church in when asked for
should should the
for mine and which should judge impartfay OF
The church appeared this proposal but at the
meeting without the slightest conference with me,
and which struck strange it adopted mo
questions which would insist on having 70 such
aerstand then they give me no chance a all % show why
,ould well been framed carefully prevent
BON doing this Ye this n Is the mos, thing in my
asked that others be added TO them under which could
pelf ifmy reasons found sufficient
v snS e he n @
shurch, accordingly refused y with deal Of vehe
smng the questions which submitted for myself
that know what my rights in such matter this
really oppressive and wholly sided 1
tell the council what is which want to have
is CPniGn s Ss:r, sow.v.r noss0o II stat. and to
have the church case such body by
both parties and large in number and respectable in
As then the questions arranged by the church are not
for my ana as the questions proposed by me
pre- acceptable the church that the council
these which both contained my first letter
The action church in dropping from member.
chip ddre It's for This valid and sufficient
,acraments Of the church while did wish Withdraw
sufficient
the other these questions might be
considered first by the council should deem best But
should wish both be considered and such recommends
lions 10 he made by the council TO either party should
'esht ,,
meet this ground, before such council shall be
glad lit y not. suppose must seek other means for
nrs nns s c d ysi Se q when IN the 'n '' as
think ought that made on me
IN the letter church declaring been as ir-
regular and uncareiu church attendance before 1871
mony which have given. II seems me to have been
aerhought the previous letter Of the church made
they have f shah be perfectly ready have It
desire 10 add also that my statement that had long
be Mr. BeecSer crime WAS adultery and hs Both he and
Mrs 1iton had confessed Il strictly and has
ireierSed '''' '"'" '"'e " EMMA " MouIToS i %
REPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE
The Examining Committee hereby respectfully re-
portThat in pursuance of the of the church
Me last session of its annual meeting a memorandum
made by Mrs Emma G. Moulton and received by the
clerk OF the church late hour on Christmas Day
has been laid before the In this memoran
aum Mrs. Moulton complains that the questions ex.
sracted by the church from her first letter OF Novcm
Der IL are unsatisfactory her. that they
give her no chance all show why was so long
absent from tho church The church. its part
having declined accept the four questions framed by
Mrs. Moulton in her later letter she proposes
that all the questions heretofore suggested be with
arawn and that two questions only be submitted 10
lhe council, which are III substance as iollows:-
First whether the reasons Of the church for drop
ping her sufficient and, second, whether her
IONS for abandoning the services Of the church
sufficient The committee has from the first been
anxious secure the call OF mutual council upon
Mrs MouioR's case. For this purpose the church
adopted all the issues which could possibly be ex-
iTacted from Mrs Mouton's first letter, and fair
minded person OF ordinary intelligence and accustomed
60 Judge OF the meaning OF language fail TO that
the six questions which the church agreed
10 submit TO the mutual council covered all
and more than all the issues which Mrs. Mouton
has now selected for submission. The church, in pro-
posing the acceptance Of those questions. did with
full knowledge that they did, and with deliberate in
tenton that they should, put II In the power Of the
mutual council when called, TO open broad field Of
investigation as any one could possibly desire When
Mrs Moulton sought TO add to these questions four
others, this committee extremely desirous OF ac-
repng those also if possible and the delay advising
The church was caused by earnest desire 70 reconcile
the acceptance OF Mrs Moulton's questions with tho
dnnlfr