The Grange advance., 1876-03-01

method by which the committee was con-
'stituted which investigated the CHARGES
against the pastor, but they cannot over
look therelations of Plymouth church to
its pastor, and to the churches of their
common faith. nor the dissatisfaction
which more or less prevails with the pre-
vious investigation. 4
ANOTHER INVESTIGATION OF SCANDAL.
While finding nothing to condemn in
the adherence Of the church to its pastor.
after Investigation and trial, and while
recognizing its right to decline any farth-
er investigation; still, in view of the pas
tor s demand 70 be brought face to face
With his accuscrs, &C., they recommend.
for the peace Of the churches and the pro.
lection of Plymouth and this church, to
empower committee of five, to be crea.
ted by committee Of three, hereinafter
specified, out of the twenty hereinafter
named, the duty of which shall be to re.
ceive and examine all charges against the
pastor which they may regard as not NJ.
ready sufficiently tried; any three of this
committee shall be quorum, ant1-sha}l
have power. in case Of failure, to complete
the requisite number of five by collecting
other brethIen Of known stilityr and in.
tegrity. tits provided that the commit
tee shall not be constituted unless formal
charges against the pastor shall be
brought before the church, or its
committee, within sixty days after the
dissolution of the counsel, by party
making himself responsible for the truth
and proof of the same, unless within the
same time it shall be adiudged to be ex-
Pedient, by the examining committee of
the church and the committee of three.
that important testimony not previously
given. which might throw light upon the
charges which have hitherto been tried.
should be heard oy the committee. The
result of the investigation by this com.
mittee shall be reported to the examining
committee Of Plymouth church, and be
given by them to the public.
Pref. Timothy Dwight. D. D., New
Haven, c.; Rev. j. W. Wellman. D. D.,
Maiden. Mass; Hon. Bradford r. W.
Wood, Albany, N. Y, are hereby ap-
pointed, by this council, as the committee
of three, who shall create this committee
from among the following brethren:
Theodore 0. Woo!scy, New Haven. Ct.;
Mark Hopkins, Williamstown, Mass;
James H. Seeleye, Amherst, Mass; N.
Shipman, Hartford, c.; L. S. Foster,
Norwich, Ct; j. W. Andrews, Marietta,
Ohio; }. W. Angel, Ann Arbor, Mich;
W. 3. Washburne, Greenfield, Mass; A.
G. Barstowe, Providence, r. l.; J. l..
Chamberlain, Brinsac, Me-; q. j. Walker,
Detroit, Mich; Jacob Brinkero8; Mans
field. Ohio; Alpheus Hardy, Boston, Mass;
Ashae} French, Milwaukee,; Wis.,; S. B.
Godkind, Terre Haute; E W Blatchford,
Chicago; VIM. B Edwards, New York;
Jonathan E Sargent, New Hampshire;
} G Knapp, Kisangua, Iowa; Henry P.
Hoxen, New London, Connecticut.
The committee to whom the subject of
the Andover church letter was referred,
reported adversely upon the proposition
of that church for mutual council.
After reading the report, remarks
were made by Dr.. Porter, DR.. Sturte-
want and DR.. Bacon. l'Jesus lover of my
soup' was then sung by the choir and the
congregation. Then Mr.. Beecher ascend
ed the platform.
He spoke at great length of the suffer-
ings to which he had been subjected, and
said it was impossible for man to go
through all that and not feel l.; and yet,
il it pleased God TO have him go on, he
was ready and willing to go for another
five years. For His sake he can do all
things, Christ strengthening him. At
some time he would probably be able to
defend himself. He was the child of an
able father and of noble mother. He
was brought up in the midst of morality,
and in a household with unblemished
love, which to him was greater than any,
thing else. He adored the memory of his
mother as did Catholic the Virgin
Mary. He had inherited these qualities
of his father and mother, and when they
rebuked the vine for throwing out its
tendrils, they could rebuke him for
loving where he ought not. His
love was built upon = household where
the name of woman was only next to that
Of a saint. During this portion of his
address Mr.. Beecher was very much
affected. His associations had been with
women whom he could not help loving,
and all that he had suffered at the hands
Of those Of another school had not in any
way blurred the sacredness, dignity, and
purity of womanhood. 1t was only prop
er to maintain within its seclusion that
which, when it bursts out will destroy
everything around it. He thought
he might say without fear
that he was enjoying
the blessing of God and was very near to
Him; and he would that there was not a
creature in the world for whom he would
not suffer, if he could save him from
greater suffering. If there was any word
which he had said to hurt the brothers of
near churches he was anxious to with
draw it. At some hour of every day he
felt as If he were nearer the New Jerusa-