, 1876-02-13

TIE COMING CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL.
The event in the ecclesiastical world to
which the public looks forward with special
interest, Just at this time, is the meeting OF
the Council of Congregational Churches, on
Tuesday next, at Plymouth Church, Brook
lyn, N. Y. In size it exceeds all other Advi-
sory Councils ever called in that denomina-
ton; Us 172 churches have been invited to
take part, besides twenty ministers without
charge. Should all attend (as each church
may send its pastor and delegate) there
would be 364 members,-a number equal to
that OF one Of the Triennial National Coun-
cils of the Congregahonalists. But as part
of the churches have voted not to attend, and
pastors and delegates from others will in
some cases be detained at home by necessary
cares, there will ba an assembly Of about
three hundred persons. Yet this will
be an imposing body, whose deliberations
Will be awaited With great interest. 1t can
hardly be regarded, however, as fully repre-
sentatiye of the denomination in weight Of
character. The churches invited are by no
means, on an average, those of prominence
and influence. Indeed, in some cities, those
weakest and least known have been selected,
while others, among the largest and ablest Of
the whole fraternity, have been passed by.
Much amusing inquiry has been made why
sone was taken and the other left," in the
exercise Of IN elective sovereignty; and it
has been suggested that the selection must
have been made from the ministers who sub
scribed for the Christian Union. At all
events, tho knowing ones claim that they can
produce personal reason, showing sup
poscd BEEcHEn bias in the case Of nearly
every minister invited Of course, in proper
ton as the public shall believe the Council to
hive been carefully packed, will the moralint1u-
ence of its proceedings be weakened, should
these favor A1r. DEEcuEn. Mere numbers, or
the extent of territory from which they are
drawn, cannot compensate for preindiced
Of young and unknown men for those in re-
pute for wisdom and experience.
And yet it must not be supposed that the
Council will lack the presence Of men Of
standing and influence. Though the Theo-
logical Department of Yale, before which Mr..
BEEcuER has 1ectured with such eclat, might
he thought by some to be mortgaged to his
interest, yet one need not fear the shrinking
Of such men es DR.. LEONARD BACON, Presi-
dent PORTER, and D1s. DWIGHT and FISHER,
when they are called directly to face plain
duty. The same may be said Of Drs.
PoND, Wo1corT, FARcH1LD, CHApr', STuRTE-
vAxr, and others, and of not few of the
-..4z.o :xv;+oJ NF~ 1J,vr hnr en,1
fit, according to the account Of
the reporter, to criticise DR.. BACON
(who has protested against anybody's
declining to attend) as if be were tricky and
disingenuous character. But A1r. Mou1ToN's
acquaintance with ministers has not been
large or encouraging, and he is probably
smarting under some Of DR.. BAcoN's char
acterizations Of lis peculiar guidance Of Alr.
BEEcnEn's affairs. DR.. BACON is not believed
to be tricky BY any who know him well !;
but be is often disappointing to those who
expect him to represent certain side of q
case. He has penchant for being on both
sides; or, as he would claim, On neither side,
he carries free lance. and does good deal
of fighting OF his own book. After pouring
broadsides into the enemy, he is seldom
content till he has discharged heavy shot
or two among his friends. Hence it
will not do to rely too conf
IDENTIFY upon his assistance in any
given controversy. And so it has proved
in this case. Ho has been, hitherto, q thorn
in the side Of BEEcHER, and equally in that of
Triton and Mou1ToS. The friends Of truth
and justice may be glad that he is to be on
the coming Council. He was the Moderator,
and largely the ruling spirit, of the famous
Brooklyn Council Of two years since, called
by the churches of Drs. SToRRs and BuD1sG-
TON. He will assuredly be heard from in the
coming Council It WAS not without mean
ing that he published in the New York 11i5-