The New York herald., 1875-12-18
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mr.. BEECHER ON THE AGGRESSIVE
81 VIII Not Sit Before a Jury Of
Foxes and Wolves"
BROTHER SHEARMAN RESIGNS.
The Letter MisSive Calling q
Council OF Churches.

There WIS full attendance at the usual Friday night
meeting IA the lecture OF Plymouth church last
evening A majority Of those prcseEt were ladies'.
Mrs BeeSher entered.aene and took her seat In the
audience Mr. Bcecher wrapped in his familiar cloak,
made hts appearance after ard briskly stepped
upon the platform. He was looking ruddy ana cheer'
full and ready for any business on hand
After taking hrs seat next a table on which stooo
bouquet Of flowers he gave out The hymn, "Rock OF
Ages This was followed by prayer from Brother
Morton then another hymn, 'Come, All Ye Weary
souls Oppressed then prayer by Brother Davidson
followed by the hymn pilgrim, Burdened with Thy
SIN sung with spirit by the whole congregation
Amer this Mr. Beecber entered into familiar talk 10
his hearers the burden of which was that we make
too much fuss troubles he said there large
number Of and Christian people who sti believe
that Christ will again earth ana establish herea
physical kingdom. True spirituality viii then every
where reign He did how people we're to be so
very much blamed for thinking The apostles
themselves believed in H. and held the ex-
pectation that Christ would come in their own
generation Whether people believe with the adven-
lists that the Lord coming this earth again land
he did believe it, thing is certain, that there
is the expectation mighty principle that has an
influence on their future lives When you come to
look it phiosophically you will hnd for instance In
regard trouble that the most OF it arises from judg
thinks about
THE TINE RINGS
the morning for breakfast whether the stove is
lighted and the parlor warmed He knew of men so
engaged in business that they not Of what
they drank He knew man so absorbed in his
concerns that you might put lard before him and he
would not know but that It the sweetest butter
When a man ceases to be a man in vigor troubles
are troublesome, and life seems TO him hardly to
be worth while living for IL people could live with
high and overpowering conception Of God they could
Alont thn nf al yNh
How many days there are in life Kissing hot with fever
ish mpatience that could be rendered as cool and
pleasant as morning in May, u men would only rise
out Of smallness and selhshness and place their
affections higher up How many days are sordid
poor and wretched mems existence that might be
made and delightful by looking beyond the small
horizon or their daily concerns When man knows
magcian's wand had in the word Of
God to lift into condition OF eternal peace
Our troubles like dreams in the night When the
birds begin 70 sing the troubles pass away and so u
when God ilumines the soul the canker and grief
of our human journey disappear
BUSINESS MEETING
few Of the audience and departed after
she talk ended, and the business meeting n
nounced Mr.. Beecher retired from the platform and
took seat near the left hand entrance. Mr. F. NJ
Edgerton took the chair and The proceedings at once
Mr. Beccher with a determined air) came forward
and moved that the rules be suspended, and that the
subject Of the letter -missive be gone on with.
Brother shearman objected, and said the meeting
must be opened with prayer Moderator Bdgeron sus-
tanned Brother shearman and MI Beecher retired dis
comated while Brother shearman smiled blandly and
the pastor exclaimed, II have objection at all to
prayer Brother Halliday then offered up prayer in
his happies ven Brother Shearman read the
minutes OF the last meeting This over Brother Tai
madge moved that neither the letters OF Mr. West nor
Mrs Moulton be inserted the records of the church
The motion was seconded by Rev K. X Beecher and
carried unanimously Rev T. K Beecher on behalf
Of the committee appointed the previous evening to
reported that they were not entirely ready, but the
letter prepared and would be read by
Professor Robert w Raymond. Thereupon the gentle
ma nn nd fha fnlla
ing circular 10 the churches
THE LETTER hIssIvE.
DEARLY BELoyEDPymouh church after an existence Of
nearly thirty years q great usefulness finds is good name
adopted many years ago regulation internal
% 9r the e & more aea % os de0Hg ss osv 70 The hs
character q ts rules and its proceedings under
%e
are 19S PLACED We nse yoS so meet ns n advisory council
aay q January consider and advise Us a. follows
Shes ha provided cr the maintenance Of order and the
,hose rules aud principles has gone beyond It's rights as
church Of Christ Justly forfeit s claim 70 the
H. Rule No q this church i in the following words
roll Of the church with without notice TO them
the reeo%m Of Tie Examining Committee either
upon their application IN they have abandoned
otherwise. npon the application of any other person
pas csn ss oanS and . ord him Ss @ hearing Ss
lore the church desired would be afforded formal
Members dropped under this rule subjected
f necessarily arises out Of the facts Of each
Under this rule the usually proceed upon
written charges or BY formal s sueh as Is had In cases
Der whose under consideration Is there anything
N this rule Or IN these practices which Inconsistent with
the Word q God Or the principle, q Christian justice
...a.,r a,ia ~ y .a ~ 80 - = aehas % - ,h s r,e =.
church other than DEATH letter Of dsmission formal
IV-ought church consent to the call Of mutual or
s character ofis pastor where eqaessed to DO o Sy
member Of the church who has any charges
h time more than one year after an Investigation has been
vWhas course ought Christian church adopt con.
cerning the following classes Of members;-
Members who deliosMTseiy M , purposey and psmsnenty
church without asking for letters Of dsmission the
ground that the church has not taken cea steps mot
affecting them personally which these member profess 70
= Members who absent themselves N IKE manner upon
church such steps and that the church has with
Members Who absent themselves IN like manner. upon
oe soe ro9Sa ~ na aasy rp & church hss
all the investigation into the iacis which = was asked q
4 Members Who absent themselves in like for
all Of the reasons before stated.
Members who generally reported and believed 70
have made eharses or nsnuations of gross mmoraity
ns Other herr eser o. es ensrsh % ana se ~ s Dss % % aS
"su'" 'spo''' " " HENRY WARD BEEcHER. Pastor
nson Augustus stOrrs, William Mckay, !. Y White,
n,ttee
Tnis, said Mr. shearman, is signed BY an the mem
bcrs Of the committee.
Mr. BeecAcr called Question" and the mssve
unanimously adopted.
Mr. shearman then offered an amendment to one or
Tho sections Of the He said ~ declare that
do this distinctly upon The ground that II every
ber Of the church willing, this council shall
vesugate merely rules, but acts and mol only
acts bot the 81 every ior whom we have
made ourselves responsible I"
This received with loud applause, but some Of
those present did TO clearly understand the
nouon and brother asked 70 have 1t made more
clear In reply Mr. Shcarman said lit proposed to
make Il read III this way Whether Plymouth church,
an the rules and principles which 1t has provided for
fhe maintenance of order and the administration OF
discipline and its administration Of those rules and
principles has gone beyond the rights Of the Church
Df Christ 70 forfeit the confidence and fellowship
Of congregational churches"
Mr. Beecher-That might open up any question