New-York tribune., 1876-01-24
cent in notes at and IL months and 1t expected that
the remaining creditors will sign without further delay
TIE PLYMOUTH AGITAUON.

NO MOVEMENT FOR A CONVENTION.
DENIAE OF A REPORT THAT CONVENTION OF MN
listers AND IAYMIN WOULD INVESTIGATE rHH
BEECHER CAsE-DR. BARTLETr's SUGGESTIONS.
THE OPINION OF DIR. sTORRs--IIS VIEWS On
TIE FAILURE OF THE MUTUAL COUNCIL
Statements which had been published, that
a convention OF Congrcgationast clergymen and laynen
about called to investigate Nh Becchers case
formed ground of the inquiries that were made by
TRIBUNE reporter who called on the Rov Dr. Richard o.
evening 1t had been asserted that tins con-
vcnton would he summoned by the Rev. Dr.
Leonard Bacon OF w-Haven. the Rev. Dr. :. e. BART
lett OF Chicago aud the Rev. Dr. Henry NJ
Dexter of Boston, for the purpose of nquring into the
truth alsy Of the charges made against Mr. Beecher
After reading long newspaper article ON the subject
Dr. stors said he had heard nothing OF such d
Convention, though he thought there was
CROWN, feeling among CongrcgatOnaiss that
something would DO Done But. said he, this article
bears unmistakablo evidences Of Invention. IhlS SO
called letter Of Dr. Bartlets IL nothing more thah eA
tracts from an article of his In last weeks Boston Cone
gafional,St Moreover, never had any conversation
with a reporter the topic put into my mouth
In explanation OF tho feeling said by Dr. Storrs 10 pe
gaining in some COngregatonast circles, the following
extracts from DR. Bartetts article are given DIStorrs
expressed with the tone of these e1-
tracts Prof Bartlett says: "Whcn a church member OF
minister has been tired by civil court for some alleged
ofenso has failed bo convicted does tIat failure
same ofcuse or class OF ofanScs Not necessarily. IL
may leave matter in such unsatisfactory shape as
to call stlll impcratVely for the church or tle
council TO act" After making other suggestions Oh this
character lie says:
These apply with great force to tie situation Of the
pastor OF Plymouth Church Both tno wLo.e coinmu
nifty and the pastor himselfsf he be innocent wOulu
,S saS5 dnd be- more % nnsisfa@tory than The
present position Of that case" To Mr. Beecher u Is
s%r" Sypr it, In the first Stages OF that
scandal. while only the statements OF the woman Wood
sull and inSnlIaUus OF TiltOn before the pun
c the present writer made haste t. convey t. is as
inushcd subject the ASSURANCES Of his sympathy ana
The beliei that charges cominS ony rom s.ch s"o,
~ things passed. The charges became direct
definite. ana not tO be put aside
with reference tno result OF Mr. Tons suit against
Mr. Bcccher, DIR. Bartlett, remarks: "Whilo ono man Ill
every four jury pronounced him guilty 1t may be
doubted whether man In every four through the
community oonGdenAy pronounced him innocent" He
SAYS however, that In view Of the theory Of Innocence
existing and Mr. Becchcrs character and history I'VE
shall hold him not only proven guilty but innocent
IIo then adds:
still the whole community fee that we fayo not
reached the bottom Of the belief universally pre-
walk thai much more light can he had IhcIe IS 'Ioht
convection that clear and decisive result can be
rcac ned Certain individuals who were examined III
court are confidently Supposed Ia know decisive iiciS
which they were not permitted 10 disclose Several
possess information vitaly related to sihc ease; Ih
fortunately for MI Beecn,r, the common pcioi Il li
all this testimony would bear heavily against him. AL
these OF knowledge ought TO bc recy opened
70 ,'oW al alI - - " w. ,i, IN do,ht m We know Thai
there not weight 0f testimony yet concealed
The writer balprn- 10 knOn that one person whose
name has been mentioned witness knows nothing OF
ind ont. Let men be invited to tell all they kn0c
Finally DE- Bartlett suggests that the only way TO cor
rect what he calls mistakes OF the pas would be to
have an Investigation OF the whole matter by repre-
sentative body Of ministers and aynen aud lac thnkf
&" there is no time 10 DO lost"
With reference these suggestions Dr. sorrs said that
a convention consider the matter woud bc foreign u
Congregational usage, but he supposed there was Il
way In which tho church could tako the sub
Ject up. He had knowledge that anything
Of tho kind was contemplated. yet believed
that DR.. Bartlett lad expressed tho sentiments
Of great many ItoIal,ts In the West aud tina
these views growing. He said he had regretted b.
ing accused OF harbJrins ilwil against Mr.. Becchcr
rhe accusation was founded entirely upon suspicon.
Vow that Mr. Beechcr had broken out 50 violently
against him. his motives whatever they were would he
construed only Ia ono way by Plymouth Cnurch. The
unfortunate state of Affairs of that church existed lie
had been inclined 10 take part In the MI
tual Council. hoping that the knoity subject which
seriously affected COngegitonalism would be untangod
DR. BudinOn and he had been accused Of an attempt To
crush Mr. Beecher lie considered DR. Budnston 10 be-
OF anabo disposition, good man, ana an excellent
minister. and above any exhibition OF such personal
spite rs that a.crbcd to him lie had great respect for
Moulion who attended his church, ana wbcu -lt
had come him Information about the church aspect
of her affairs hc had given g. Sho would have done her
own ease injustice by not coming to him when
ignorant OF church usagcs and lie could not do
otherwise than inform her. IIo had never,
however passed uron merits Of Mrs. Moultons case
nor questioned the truth OF her testimony He
said he could not understand why Plymouth Church
should have objected himself and Dr. BudngtOn being
in tho Mutual Council. unless Mr.. BcccherS
supporters feared they might ask questions about
things which the other members OF the Council might
be ignorant Of. After they had been assiied
here was no other but 10 wi bdray and others
who had conditioned their acceptance Of the call upo
Dr. Orra and DR. Burlington taking part the mater
tnen did the same. Ihe Mutual Council fell through
Willingness 10 <, with H. with himself and Dr
Budlngon, but this sentiment Was not construed by
Mrs Moultons committee. First they refused some of
the oints submitted fOr consideration by Mrs. NoutO
then they added qucsl.O .Ons Of their own. lie dld no.
know ,iher to srrbc the failure Of the Mutual CUun
ci to the crdtiness OF Nr ShcarInan. PymouthS
desire o force a failure. One of Withdrawing from
an unpleasant controversy 10 De settled by mutual con
,utaIn tO in-ult the other party ana make Will
drawal the ltitcr's only alternative.
The reporter also showed the article h'hl"hru l"
Thor g. shcarman said the only truth IN II was he
following The investigation proposed and almost pcSun
m the Congregational Ministers Society OF NeW-1ork
aIIs Brooklyn will be abandoned.