The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-22
Plymouth Church Matters:

Plymouth Church Matters:
AT business meeting of Plymouth
church last night Deacon Vests letter
was placed on file, but not On the min.
utes. Prof. Raymond then read and bro.
posed for adoption letter dismissive of
Mrs. Moulton. The letter saws they re.
commend the calling of an advisory conn.
Gil of the churches for January 18th. to
consider whether Plymouth church. in
its rules Tor the maintenance of disci-
pline, &C., has gone beyond the rules of
the church of Christ and forfeited the
confidence Of the Congregational churches:
I'd, to consider rule 7, dropping members
without notice, as deemed just, bv two
thirds vote of the church on recommended.
ton of the examining committee or An.
plication of the members, or otherwise.
Sd, that member so dropped is not un.
der any implied censure, and whether
there is anything inconsistent with the
Word OF God or Christian justice in that
rule; 18th, whether it is contrary to the
law Of God to allow any mode of termi-
nation OF the connection Of member
with the church other than !
letter of dismission or excommu.
nlcatlon; 3th, ought church to
consent to call of other churches
to investigate the character of the pas
tor, when requested to do so by member
who never made charges against the pas.
tor. and when such request is made for
the first time more than year after an
investigation has been made Of the
charges against the pastor. and he was
sustained by an unanimous vote; sixth.
what course ought Christian Church to
adopt, concerning the following class Of
members: those who deliberately and
permanently absent themselves without
asking for letters of dismisslon, on the
ground that the church had not taken
certain steps it was not asked to- take
by those who absentee themselves on the
same ground, but who believe the pastor
guilty Of crime, though the church has
tried and acquitted the pastor withou, a
dissenting voice; members who absent
themselves for any or all reasons, SO stat.
ed, and members generally reported and
believed to have made charges of gross
immortality against other members, and
who being questioned, do not DENY or
affirm the truth or otherwise of their
charges
A motion being made to adopt the re-
port, clerk Shearman moved a slight
amendment. Mr.. Beecher inquired if
that would not open up the whole investi-
CATION of 1874. Mr.. Sherman replied,
"Yes,' ''Then," said Mr.. Beecher, II am
for it." [Applause.]
~
beecher said: seThcre never was a man
in America so tried as have been laugh
teri tried by the newspapers, and then
by committee of the church for two
months, availing itself Of every source Of
information, and was acquitted; then
for six months by as able counsel as ever
faced a judge. There is not on the
records of American jurisprudence such
a trial is that, and 9 out OF IL of the jury
believed I was innocent. Applause.l
Now l hear it said at times this church
is afraid Of trying me. Laughter.l They
want another trial. Laughter. This
church has more interest in knowing what
their pastor is than any other body. No
body needs so much absolute confidence
in pastor as church. Men say don't
want another trial. Find better tri-
bunal, and with more leisure than the
court, and stand AFFECT but when my
avowed enemies in warfare with this
church, want to lug in four large imperial
octavos, and want that
CONTINENTAL MASS OF 1NIQUITY
to be disposed of by ministers, who can
give about three days to it, must object.
Applause. am not afraid, but if any
man says the conduct of the church is
evasive, it is not so, as far as the pastor
is concerned. Applausc.] Under ap-
proved rules of equity am willing to
face inquiry, as I am that great tribunal
where my God is to be the Judge. Rap.
turous applause.] Nothing less will
suffice. l will not face it where the
wolves and foxes are to be my judges.
Enthusiastic applause. If such an ad.
visory council should say another inves-
tigation is necessary, would say, do it,
if they should say not, certainly should
not OBJECT Laughter.
Mr.. Thos. j. Tilney was elected clerk,
vice Sherman, resigned. Motions to
change the rules as to dropping members
were opposed and withdrawn.
Death OF the Fiend Of Bremerhafen.
William Kins Thompson, alias Thom-
assen, or Thomas, the constructor Of the
internal machine of Bremerhafen, died on
the 10th of selC-inAicted wounds. He