Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-14

At the meeting Of the Brooklyn AssOcia-
ton Of Congregational Ministers on We'd
ne>daY, Rev. Ii. NJ Storrs presented resp
luton providing for the appointment by the
Association of committee of FIVE from
among its members, which should act a. It
complement to the commission instituted by
the Advisory Council. this committee to aid
in the prosecution of the charges against Mr
Beecher, and 90 thoroughly into the settle
ment Of the question Of his guilt or nnc-
cence.
Rev DIR. Burlington offered, as an amend
ment TO this proposition, resolution ap-
proving the action of the church in the theu-
logical seminary at AndOver, and instruct
ing the committee to wait the issue Of the
application made by the Andover church for
a mutual council, and take such action
thereafter as shall seem expedient.
A sharp debate ensued, in which Mr.
Beeeher took a prominent part. Among
other things, he said that the matter had
been discussed and slfted in civil court Tor
Fix months, in the church, and again in the
great Advisory Council, and now he wanted
this trial, whatever shape it might take, To
be the last. He hoped it would be satisiae
all the evidence that could possibly be gath
cred would be, so that, when he was found
TO he innocent of the crimes charged, they
would be among the first to do what they
could to vindicate his character. Plymouth
Church is asked to smite the Council in the
face, and to 90 back to the Andover propo
sition. All that he wished u say was. that
he hoped both Dr. Storrs and DR.. Buding-
ton would leave no stone unturned. hut
would 90 on with great and assiduous zeal to
investigate his character. On behalf Of Con
gregstionalism, Plymouth Church ami him
self he asked this.
No action was reached on "Wednesday.
On Thursday the discussion was resumed
The Association finally adopted the resOlu-
tons of Rev. Ii. NJ St0rrs, appointing
commission of FIVE, TO receive and present
charges before the commission, instructing
them to make the investigation thorough,
complete and final, and appointing as the
committee Rev. K. ). Storrs, d. D., Rev.
W. |. Budington. d. D., Rev. L. Smith
Hobart, Rev r. 5 Stone and Rev. ;. II
Virgin.
Doctors Storrs and Burlington, with DR.
W. NJ TAYLOR and three Others Of the
twenty-four clergymen present, then pre-
sented protest against the appointment
of the committee, as likely to result in only
a superficial inquiry, and TO embarras- the
Association. Subsequently Doctors Bud
ington, Storrs, Taylor and Mcfarland with
drew from the membership of the ASsOeia-
ton.
1t transpires that during the lsst week
Egbert {. Smith and Prot. Mead of AndOver
have been in Brooklyn busily engaged in en-
Geavoring To get at facts from the principal
parties, especially women whose testimony
l. likely to have conclusive weight in the
Plym,uth Church scandal. Mrs. Tilton.
Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Richards have been
questioned. and while they refused n make
explicit statements to Messrs. Smith and
Meade, two Of them at least. Mrs. Richards
and Mrs Bradshaw. have declared their
willingness to give their testimony.
The demurrer Of Mr. Beecher's aTye
in Frank Moultons suit against him for
damages in getting him indicted for libel,-
on the ground that the subsequent quashing
of the Indictment Was "a bar To- any farther
proceedings sustained By the judge Be
fore whom the case was argued, with leave
to the plaintiff to amend h;> complaint wiki
in twenty days or payment OF cOSt~.