Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-12-31

TIE TWO COMING COUNCILS
There is, it seems, t. be i mutual 4, well
u an advisory council Of minister, and
churches to consider the cas- Jt MIR Moul-
ton and Plymouth Church's method vi drop
ping members This new move was brought
about at business meeting OF the church
on Monday by fresh letter from Mrs Moul-
ton, in which she withdrew several Of her
former propositions, and proposed that
mutual council be convened with 10 ques
tons before 1t, except the two general ones
as 10 the sufhcieHey ot the church reasons
for dropping her as it dill, and the >uifcien-
cy Of her reasons Tor absenting herself from
the services aud sacraments The report Of
the Examining Committee Jn this cammu-
nication was then read. and resolution
that the church unite with MR. Moultun in
calling mutual council was unani mously
adopted Applause followed the action
Mr. Beecler then offered q resolution that
the committee be empowered to call the ad-
visory council. before voted. together. at a
time not earlier than one week after the
mutual council which was carried
Mr.. Beecher called attention 10 the TACT
that the action VI the church iu respect to
the advisory council bad been wholly mis-
construed The advisory council was not
intended to iorestall the mutual council il
was merely to secure such advice from SIS
ter churches of influence as would prevent
the absorption Of the time OF the church In
aceediDg to mutual councils from the four
or tive, or more, persons, who, impelled by
outside influences. were determined ~ har-
ra>> and il possible embarras- the church |
The church had always attempted to act as
household. 1t had not acted ~ legsla-
tive or executive body. When affection eau |
do no moIe, the church must do what it can |
toward properly disciplining its members,
and for this reason the name Of Mrs Emma
c. Mouton had been dropped from the rolls,
her rights having been looked upon a. being
Just as sacred rs those Of any other person
They knew that power by which she was
impelled Wi, concealed behind her la re
gard to the advisory council, he desired tu
state that the church called it because the
time had come when il intended To tdke its
own matters into its own hands Mr. Beech
er referred at some length 10 former coun-
ellis, and said that they had been taught by
experience that every opportunity to injure
the church would be taken and zealously
followed up, aud that they had decided to
clear it Vi the many imputations hea ped
upon it. They would turn their books in
side out, and would answer any and all
questions that might be put to them by nor
tai man. ALI the church wanted was libeI.
ty to pursue its own business, and nothing
more. Mr.. Beecher then called attention 10
an article published in the Congregarionaiisf
Of the issue of December 90, and also to an
editorial in the same paper, which he read
bitterly upon it. He wanted u /,
mutual council on these questions OF Mrs
Moultons and was not afraid to meet her
in relation to them. This advisory council
jailed by Plymouth Church was not intended I,
to be mere handful. They were going to
have one that would make an impression on
he minds Of the public, but it could not .
control the mutual councils. /.
The Chair appointed DR.. Edward Beech- !.
II. r. W. Raymond, B. F. Blair and Thorn
IS }. Tilney a committee to confer with Mrs
Aoulton or her representative in respect to
'on' ening the mutual council, and the meet '
ng adjourned. Entire harmony prevailed i
nd the utmost satisfaction 1t the determin-
tion 70 meet Mrs. Moulton on the questions q
be proposed Was manifested II Is expect d
q that the council viii be called early in b
January. c,