The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-28
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.


In the Congregational church last even
ing, after the usual exercises preliminary TO
the discourse, Rev. j. G. johnson sad that
In accordance with the announcement made
at the morning service, Instead ot "A sermon
this evening the delegates to the advisory
council just closed would make a report
respecting the lsbors of that council.
Though such matters were usually laid
before the church ut the Thursday evening
meeting, on account OF tho great interest
felt In the subject lie deemed il best TO
bling IT before thtm now. You chose Mr.
Pettengill, he said, as your lay delegate,
aud be vi therefore address you on the
subject.
Mr.. S. i. Petiingill sald The recent ad-
vsory council WAS one Of the largest ever
held in the world made up of pastors and
members from Maine TO Kansas, and given
by the largest church perhaps in tho worlI.
| Plymouth church has q membership of
9 500. With its bethel aud mission it fur
nishes religious Instruction tor about Is 600
people The church had been in existence
about 30 years and bad been regarded rs a
bright exponent OF the christian religion.
For eeveral years It hsd ben subject 10
great annoyance, labor and CT ormUue ex-
pense. The scandal was perhaps the b, o.
known scandal in The wool 1. and previous
TO the calling Of the council the denOmina-
zion had generally been growing more hos
tile TO il. Many like President S urdeveuI
of Illinois, hostile 10 hir Betcher. had &C.
copied the invitation to the 'uncil, he
lieypg that something could DE done t.
have The scandal investigated. DR. Ell
ward Beecher had urged the cou C | to RI
wise the work of the coui Gil of 1874 Ia
this council refused aud sustained tie de-
cisions OF the council Of 1874. the de-
liberatops Of the council had been
thorough.
Mr. johnson said his desire was 10 an
swer such questions as his hearers would lie
likely TO ask. These counsels by their de-
cisions, establish the laws of the Congrega.
tional society The one jnst ended had
settled some mporian. points not hereto
,, fore decided. lie had supposed that mutua
council WAS court OF arbitration IN whicl
, each party could chose, say ten churches
} and who should meet aud decide the ques
,, ton at issue. This advisory council decided
that Congregational usage required that in
stead Of ten each, twenty should he mutual
ly chosen, TO none of which Sither part,
obje cted, aud sustained Plymouth church
in refusing Mrs. Moultons list of churches
In the Andover call for n mutual council
the advisory council decided thai no churci
, had right 10 call "A council 10 Investigate
the affairs II another church, and the An
diver requeet one it had TO RICH, {,
! make. IL WAS against the fundamental
. principles of Congregationali,m The rca
eon the advisory cnunCil did not deem
beet to 90 into tho investigation of ih
! charges against Mr.. B echrr wasl tha
= $50 men were no, q proper bod,
S to take NJ a delicate question, nor Was i
i the time or place. President Porter, MIR
Dwight and others, a mai nifty of III
.. council, thought it hest 10 declare to To
world that the church investigation an'
the lengthy trisl had been sufficient, All,
|, hr. B,echer should be considered an inno
>. cent man and receive the right hard
j, fellowship. Your delegates, he said, bay,
\ acted with the minority that by their per
y. sistent energy and great ability had force
4, | luS iHhllTtlN ~ INDttut an lbNthilSdiliii
. into the charges against the pastor OF Ply
. mouth church. He explained the con
: sti.ution of the standing commit
!, tee, their duties, their exccllen
: character rs man. He was deeply i'm
!, pressed with the remarks of Piesidcn
- Porter NJ the conclusion of the council, re
specting the tendenty TO accept the mos
sDadOwy evidence to tne destruction Of tbs
J. greatest characters. In such state Il
affairs who is there that can save hims,
, from ruin. One of the committee of theI,
= had told the speaker that he believed lha
:. the beginning OF the end had now C, me
1t behoves and becomes us as just men
q be as silent as possible and to say until
y man is found guilty he shall be held as in
> nOcent.
c After prayer and singing the III hymn
}, the congregation received the benedlctior
:, and dispersed.