New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-19
PLYMOUTH CHURCH COUNCIL,
A DAY FULL. OF INTEREST


angels and God Himself. This declaration created
n grea. sensation resolution framed after pro-
tracted discussion was adopted Inviting Drs. r
| s. Storrs and Burlington before the Coun-
! ell Drs Bacon, Porter, and Stur tevant con-
| veyed the invitation and returned with .
| respectful declinaton from those gentlemen.
| Henry c. Bowen was invited to appear
and answer questions about his denial that he was
asked 10 60 before the Plymouth Investigating Com
mttee He was confronted by John Winslow s. v.
White, and H. b. Clafin. members OF that
| Committee and asserted that Mr. Clafn
asked him if he would give ordinary
/ business construction to the woodstock
! letter and at another time said he thought Slr.
Bowen would not be called to testify. The meaning
of the first assertion was differently construed by
Mr. Clain, and the latter he did not remember to
| be true.
THE EXCITING QUESTIONS DISCUSSED
SHARP DEBATE PROVOKED BY TIE sUGGEsIIoN TO
INVITE MR.. BOwEN-CONsIDHRiNG THE PRO-
PRIErY OF ASKING Des sToRRs AND BUDING-
TON TO MAKE STAfEMENTs-MR. BEECHER
THRILLS Ills HEAREgs-wHAT MR. BOWEN SAID
TO THE COUNCIL
Tie proceedings Of the Council in the
ing. afternoon. and evening watched
Yesterday by the largest audiences that
plymouth Church could contain, and in the evening
hundreds unable to gain admittance. Tho
question Of inviting Drs. Storrs and Burlington was
raised early in the morning session. Dir. Ca
pen said he thought this ought tn be done.
because Mr.. Bcecher and Plymouth Church wanted
il to be done. Mr Bowens letter to the Council was
raod, and much discussion followed. MI Shear-
mans statement that the Investigating Committee
would confront Mr.. Bowen called ou much applause.
\ long discussion to the propriety of inyit
ing Mr. Bowen to appear. DR.. ii. NJ. Storrs said he
wanted Mr. Bowen and the Investigating Committee
t. be present " face TO face to hear their several
statements and know which was which, and his
views. embodied in a resolution were adopted.
The church was densey crowded before the after
noon session opened. The question OF inviting
Dr.. Storrs and Burlington to meet the Council was
taken up. Dr. Bacon said he liked the idea of il
vting Drs. Sorrs and Burlington. but said
Let us not invite them here to scene
of Cancellation to which their feelings, perhaps.
have not prepared them let invite them, they
may freely decline if they wish" After the rosolu-
ton was passed, great appreciation was shown
among the delegates that Drs. Bacon, Porter and
Stdrteyant elected To convey the RESOLUTION
great rustic and stir was created by the announce
rncnt that Mr. Bowen would be present at the even
Ing session.
NJ, Shcarman read the letter received from the
AnIover Church, inviting mutual council. 1t was
referred 10 Il special committee 10 report III AndoHer
Church had a Congregational right to demand such
a trial of pastor of another church Dir. Beeohef
made another impressive speech on this subject.
Near the close of the afternoon session the commit
Tee sent to invite DIS and Burlington reported
that they declined the invitation.
Henry c. Bowen appeared before the Council in
the evening and his presence attracted - large
crowd that great numbers were unable TO gam adj
mittarce to the church. He was accompanied by
las two sors and Dr.. Ward of The Independent, and
soon after the Council opened took a seat
on the platform and questioned through
the Moderator and the ehairmen of committee lilo
affirmed that he had never been invited to go before
the plymouth Investigating Committee of 1874.
and read letter from Mr. Claim TO him,
which. as he understood it, implied desire
o. th. Committee's part for him to put IA business
consrlci ion upon the Woodstock letter. Mr. Bowen
spike slowly. bat nervously and his reported re-
marks concerning what he could say by
way Of reference TO past events created
much laughter among the spectators. Dr.
Ward was called 10 corroborate some OF Mr.. Bowens
statements, b. Mr. Bowen. Mr.. Claiin and Mr.
Winsow c)ntradiced some of Mr. Bowers s!ate-
mcnts and discredIted Others 10 the best OF tAeif
remembrance.
Mr.. BEECHER'S WPRES 'IyE SPEECHES.
Ia answer TO the question of Mr.. Fc,senden con-
corning the interview vita DR.. Storrs Mr. Beochcr
AZ the morning session Of the Council made
oae of the most emphatic and earnest
a,Idres ses lie has ever made in the walls
of Plymouth Church. At the beginning. he spoke
calmly and decidedly, with touch of sadness IN MS
voice He said he knew of no interview with Dr.
.,torrs of Importance to the Council. He remembered
a, one of tho brightest places in his life his former
inter. Curse with DR.. Storrs, and now he fet
lac a man scasick and "A stormy sea, think
ing of the island lie has just left, whers
everlasting Sumner reigned' lie spoke of tho
silver wedding" celebration in the church. saying:
plymouth Church WAS never illuminated with
sach brilliant display of cordial friendship aud un-
dcser sed euloy as from the lips of DR.. Storrs
on that OCCASION" After tho silver wedding" he
had received a note from DR. StOrrs which he did
not answer, owing TO tie silence he was advised
10 keep. lie went neither 10 Dr. StorrS nor 10
E" Gods best gift, his wife," to hs children.
On reaching the last half of the question, Mr..
Beecher was fully excited, and with the voice OF
giant and an 0utbugst of feeling supported by all
the powers of human utterance. such as plymouth
Church scarcely ever heard before, he Numbered,
" II there is any on earth that mas
ANYTHING TO say to my detriment, am
here and now challenge HIM to say IT, | go luther
than that II there DE any angel of God more
| PRESIDENT and omnscient, challenge him to say
ausht. | go beyond that. and IN the name Of cur
common Re.leemer and before Him who shall Judge
you aud me, | challenge the truth from Tod
himself"
The effect II this startling and powerful outbufst
was very great. The spectators and most oil ths
members OF the Council electrified AMI a"c.
and many, bchoding Mr. Becchers einot'onai
nature wrought to the highest pitch, could not to