New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-20
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

THE FOUR COCSCUs KNOWN TO THE CcsGREGA-
TIoNAL oHuRCH-SO SRw-YoEx OR BROOKLYN
CHURCHES TO Ne INVITED BY PLYMOUTH
CHURUH-cAsEs FOB TIfR COUNCIL To CONSIDER.
The Advisory Council, such as that which
Plymouth Church has decided to call 10 consider whether
the church has violated the usages of the Congregational
denomination In ITS discipline and to ayise what course
shall be pursued IN certain is one Of four councils
known to Congregationallsm. Tie most common of the
Il the Ecccsastical Council which Is always called
when church is to lie organized. minster TO be iu-
stalled dismissed. other occasions OF similar I'M
porance There Is also the Mutual Council. called by
two parties who have differences which they cannot
themselves ADJUST, the council being arbitrator be-
the two and its decision being virtually binding
upon both parties. When, for any reason. these two
parties fall to agree upon mutual coun
ell, either call pare council to consider and
decide upon the questions at Issue An advisory council
has for ts object the consideration OF question OF
church government, policy. discipline concerning
which the church may be IN doubt. II Is usually com
posed Of persons friendly 60 the body seeking advice
thls body makes its own selection Of tho churches
which ara to compose tho council. II also prepares
leter-missive and sends it to each Of the churches
selected and the pastor Of each church and lay NOM
Der appointed delegates - the council When the
council meets The leermisive IA read and becomes the
organic law OF the council, determining what shall come
before IT, and the business oceods with investigation
by OF questions asked the officers and reprcs
tyes Of the church which called the council and Others
who may be Interested The church promises To listen to
the advice which the council may give but It il 'ad that
II would he uncougre gatona to promise to abide by IT,
The council called in March. 1874. consider the
" Theodore TlOn whose name Ind been dropped from
the Plymouth roll in the manner Mrs. MOult0n's
name recently dropped advisory. That coun-
eli not called by Plymouth Church. bui by tie Gin
ton Avenue Church and the Church OF the Pilgrims. An
invitation to attend and give ts yiows extended TO
pvmoufh Church. declined n letter, in
which contained the following protest " In the
name OF our Congregational poiy, IN the name OF our
feebler brethren, in the OF Justice. almns
tered BY those who know not Godbut above al. IN the
OF that God whose throne seated in justice and
Judgment, We protest against any action what
ever by this council, upon issue relating TO
Plymouth Church." Following this. the letter gave
seven why it declined, among them, that the
unil In its nature part, that 1t was sum
moned to advise, precisely we were originally sum
m0ned 10 take advice, under distinct and moral
coercion that tae was most dangerous nnova
on which, II sanctioned BY the chlrches. will do more
t. dsorglnze COngre poty than all the alleged
errors OF Plymouth Church could do, II ten times re-
peated." Tho council continued in session four days
ana reached SATURDAY. at midnight the decision that
the action OF Plymouth Church contrary to Congre
sationa usage Following is IN extract from the de-
cisiOn:
The idea OF membership in Congregational church il
the idea Of covenant between the individual member
member. He may o1cnd, and. when duly Administered,
nay give no satisfactory evidence Or repentance In
thIt ease he Is cut OF from communion; the church,
having given its testimony, Is no longer responsible i0r
him. aud he restored only by the removal OF the
censuIe Voluntary absence OF resident member rom
tie communion OF the church. and FROM its pi0lc Wor
ship, does not dissolve the covenant but - reasonable
ground Of admOntOD. and. IL persisted in OF maj cen
sure.
4 few days after that decision. in conversation with
TRIBUNE reporter. the Rev. d. St0rrs said Il yind
cafes and rcaflrms. positively, powerfully and with the
ftarnd IN any
IN THIS city before, tie principles wAicl we nave
ali meG from tie beginning" The Rev. Dr.. Budnst.n
sat the re-ut in every way satisfactory 20 nn Mr.
BcCLrr stated thai ne lad eNl ecurd the council WOMB
make serious criticisms upon the processes ana results OF
Plymouth Church. God-tBade their action great dear
than thcy had any intention II shOdld be- -
council hds been called Ia meet on Jan II
Plymouth Church. Probably not less tl.H 30 rnurches
viii bc invited send teSaes. IL Ii believed that the
sessions will continue moro than week. The
committee oi named by Plymouth thuEeh-the
Rev. DR.. Edward Beceher Henry W. sage K. K Ray
mOuc, j. b. iut'hlnsoD, Augustus bLorfs, nlilah
Mckay. ana :. Y. WI!ic-wu name the churches 20 De
invited, al OF which VIII be prominent In The denomna-
ton, aud Will be- chosen frou different pars OF tle e9uh
try. II is stated good authority that none OF the New
York aud brook!ra churches vii DO invited. Inc req
son given Is that lleie Is TOO mlch local iscng 70 A
Plymouth Church say they have many friends IN thls
Inc drst class Of members mentioned IN the letter
mi-sivc rniug whom Plymouth church desires al
wee are members VINO drllDeiale!' ~ anu pei
manenly absent themselves from all the services ana
meetings Of the church. without as"lnE Tor e.es OF Gus
mission upon the sole ground that Tie church has not
certain steps (not an ciins them e'onaly) which
to taken, but which -y never ask/ Il 10 take
This is believed Ia refer 10 psuis whose roGons 10 Tie
church during The past nave beeu uAe those OF
George 4 Boil dr. Bell. however, Withdrew from the
church Fri lay evening lud Up 70 that time no actor
lad taken his i!C sent private ana
iIendly letter Mr. Bcecher extracts from which Mr
3eecher much Nj rl.s surprise and resre read at
that ting. Tie statement published IN several papers
,lat Tie lett. tssed sympathy WIN the cnucb,
SIR Bel says, entirely Incorrect He states thar NJ
eecLer b. recent pOldfnce mat ne Wa, ana
lad been for 5esiB 0unplotely Jut Oh sympathy
with the church aud That tnis ws one reason iYr us
withdrawal Bethel ia October last AMI Wac
re lis the cause of his leaving the church. .
Fine second class OF members iucntloneI IN inc
eilsr-msslye members VINO absent Them
elves in Ike upon the same ground
with tbs difference that tlcY nave asked t1e
with substantial unluity, declined To do 50" This Is
believed 20 refer 10 Dir. West. The ifd Glass mem
Der, Who absent Themselves ia Hike manner upon the sole
r1und they believe tne pastor OF br church 10 d"
guilty OF crime. notwithstanding the church has nsde
investigation the facts which 10 vas ever
tor without "a dissenting vote # GERS 10 Mrs. h0dtnn
and &. &. Duncan. The last Is o. members VINO are
generally reported and believed 20 nave made charges r
n,nua0ns VI gross immortality against other members
the church. and WnO being questioned ~ ileH Oretn-
rem. declined ailm TIE truth OF sucn reports
OF such charges IL - said tls refers 10 iF bowen
Mr. shrarinan said Saturday thst The object OF call
ns this council that church might advise ITSELF
10 the course should pursue Ile church
did Wi5 Interfere "itl the mutual council IL was
willing 10 60 ON with IT, provided II ba. II upon
Mrs Ioulious original letter the church More than
sons that the mutual council Will never be hei aud it ~
q question whether not Mrs. Moulton VIII call al
pdTfs council.