Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-03-03
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

At the morning session, on the 23d, areport was
made from the special committee to which was
referred the letter from Andover Seminary
Church calling for a council to try the case OF
Mr.. Beecher; in which the committee say Plym-
outh Church should not accept the invitation.
Report adopted at the evening session.
After discussion the Council decided that the
Church investigation held in 1874 was adequate,
and that Plymouth Church had done its whole
duty in the matter.
Announcement was made that the committee
of nine to whom all matters for final consldera-
ton of the Council were to be brought COM
prised President Porter, Chairman; DR.. Fairchild,
DIR. Salter, DR.. Strong, DIR. Sturtevant, DR.. Ba-
con, Bradford r. Wood, Judge Whitney and ex-
Gov. Dingey.
At the afternoon session, the resolution as to
whether or not there should be another iGyesti-
CATION of the charges against Mr.. Beecher was
discussed at great length, and finally decided
affirmatively, about two dozen delegates yot-
ing no.
committee of three should be appointed to select
five names from the list presented by the commit
tee, who shall constitute ali Investigating Com
mittee, to hear all possible evidence that can be
CLEANED In regard to the scandal, and sit as final
jud es ON the matter.
The Council concluded their laborss on the
Gath Ansadverse report was made and adopted
on the resolution offered by the Rev. DR.. Bell to
the effect that the Council declare Mr.. Beecher
innocent of the charges preferred against him.
The report of the Council s1stainS Plymouth
Church in It's dealings with the members whose
names have been stricken from Its rolls,
and in it's general discipline in this re-
spect. 1t also endorses the action of the
Council and expresses regret that Mrs. Moul-
toms representative did not substitute two other
the expressed desire of Mrs Moulton for such
council.
The report says the Council finds no reason to
call in question the method by which the commit
Of the dissatisfaction which more or less
prevails with the previous inveBstigation' 1t
mand to be brought face to face with his &C
cusers, ETC., and for the peace of the churches
and the protection of Plymouth, that new in
vestigation be had The provisions for such an
investigation are as follows:
Prof. Timothy Dwight, d. D.. New Haven
Conn.,; the Rev. j. w. Wellmar D. d., Maiden
Mass, and the Hon. Bradford r. Wood, Al
the i committee of Three who are empowered
to designate Commission Of Five out Of
twenty named parties, whose duty 1T :" shall
be to receive and examine all charges against the
pastor which they may regard as not already sui
fciently tried. Any three this committee shall
be quorum, end shall have power in case of fail
selecting other brethren Of known ability and
integrity. 1t is provided that the commission
shall not be constituted unless formal
charges against the pastor shall Pc brought
in sixty days after the dissolution OF the
Council. by party making himself responsible
for the truth and proof of the same unless with
in the same time it shall be adjudged to be eX-
pedent by the Examining Committee of the
church and the Committee of Three that impor-
tant testimony not previously given, which might
throw light upon the charges which have hither-
to been tried, should be heard by the committee
The result of the investigation by this Commits
sion shall be reported to the Examining Com
mittee of Plymouth Church, and be given by
them to the public.
The Commission of Five is to be selected from
among the following: Theodore O. Woolsey, New
Haven, Conn. Mark Hopkins, Wiliamstown,
Mass; Julius Il; seeley, Amherst, Mass N
Shipman, Hartford, Conn; L. S. Foster, Nor
wich Conn; J. W. Andrews, Marietta Ohio; j.
W. Angel, Ann Arbor, Mich; w B. Washburne'
Greenfield, Mass: A. G: Barstow, Providence, r.
L.; j. l.. Chamberlain, Brunswick Me-; G.
J. Walker, Detroit, Mich; Jacob Brinkerhof,
Mansfield, Ohio; A. Hardy, Boston, Mass; A.
Finch, Milwaukee, Wis. S. B. Gookins, Terre
Haute, Ind. ; E. W. Blatchford Chicago; William
B. Edwards New York; Jonathan E. Sargent,
New Hampshire; j. G. Knapp, Keosauqua, Iowa;
Henry P. Haven, New London, Conn.
Previous to the dissolution OF the Council Mr..
Beecher addressed the assemblage at considera-
BILE length.