River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-12-23

N,
son, O'Brien, Williams of North Carolina,
Hardenburg, Kelly, Blaine, Lawrence, Baker
of New York and Rainey.
Immediately alter announcement OF the COM
mittees, the House Adjourned TO Wednesday,
Jan. 5th
Plymouth Church Matters.
At a 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 pro-
posed for adoption a letter dismissiye Of
Mrs. Mouton. The letter says they re-
commend the calling Of an advisory coun-
Gil Of the churches for January 1lth, to
consider whether Plymouth church, in
its rules for the maintenance of disci-
pline, &C., has gone beyond the rules OF
the church of Christ and forfeited the
confidence Of the Congregational churches;
ID, to consider iuls 7, dropping members
without notice, as deemed just, by two
thirds vote of the church ON recommenda.
ton Of the examining committee or ap.
plcaton 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; 4th, whether it is contrary to the
law Of God to allow any mode Of termi-
nation Of the connection of a member
with the church other than a
letter Of dismisslon or excommu-
nication; 5th, ought a church to
consent to call Of other churches
to investigate the character Of the pas
tor, when requested to do so by a 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 I;
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 without 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 Sherman 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.
After the motion was carried, Mr..
| Beecher said: "There 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 judge. There is not on the
records ofAmerican jurisprudence such
trial is that, and out of II Of the jury
believed | was innocent. Applause
| Now | hear it said at times this church
is afraid Of trying me. Laughter. 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
I in q pastor as a church. Men say don't
want another trial. Find better tri.
bunal, and with more leisure than the
court, and stand abject but when my
avowed enemies in warfare with this
church, want to lug in four large imperial
octavos, and want that
| CONTINENTAL MASS or INIQUITY
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. LApplause.] Under ap.
proved rules of equity am willing to
face inquiry, as am that great tribunal
where my God is to be the judge. Rap.
/ turOug apniausa I Notbino, loo. u;ll