The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-08
Henry Ward Beecher.

Henry Ward Beecher.
New YORK, April7.-The meeting Of
the New York and Brooklyn Association
OF Congregational Ministers, met yester-
day in the Church OF the Puritans. The
resolution Of Prof. Martin, which pro-
vided for the investigation Of Mr.. Beech
er's acts by the committee Of five from
the Association was lost. Mr.. Geo.
Whipple, read q letter from Rev. R. s.
Storrs, which was in substance that DR..
Storrs had heard that his name had been
mentioned in connection with the COM
mittee to investigate the scandal, and
that he wished to decline to serve.
The resolutions offered by DR.. Henry
Storrs were read:
Resolred, That the Committee OF Five
be now appointed and requested to pub
licly invite any parties believed or pro-
Tossing to have evidence or any knowledge
OF evidence not already investigated be-
fore the civil court 10 present the same
before the committee, and the said COM
mittee be requested to give to them or any
parties bringing definite charges against
Mr.. Beecher, whatever assistance may
seem called for to these parties, and pro-
per to the committee, in order TO make
such presentment OF the same before that
committee as shall be likely to. secure the
earliest possible determination Of salts
factory issue.
Resolved, That in the name OF our &c.
cused brother in the interest Of truth and
common christianity, the Association de-
sire and invite all persons claiming to
have such evidence or bringing such
charges to avail themselves Of this means
il they desire such help for laying them
before that Committee OF Investigation.
Resoired, That il those who claim to
have evidence or to be able to substan.
tiate the charges Of immortality against
Mr.. Beecher shall knowingly fail or re-
fuse to make use OF this or other means
for bringing such charges or evidence be.
fore that Committee OF Investigation,
this Association, in the absence OF further
light, must hold itself henceforth amply
justified in utterly coudemning these
charges, allegations, insinuations and ru-
mora as false and slanderous, and in de-
tending Mr. Beecher as worthy, honor
able and beloved member OF this body.
ResoIed, That R. s. Storrs, WI. Bud
dington, L. Smith Hobart and n. W. Yer
gen be appointed as this committee and
earnestly requested to act for the Asso-
citation.
Dr.. Buddington argued against the
resolutions because they committed the
Association to the findings Of the Advise
ry Council, which findings he believed
were not at all congregational. He be-
lieved in dealing with the matter as pro-
posed by the Andover Church.
Mr.. Beecher said he yielded TO no one
on the question Of the feeling OF the
Congregational Churches, for be believed
that be understood what it was. The
policy was not in the least endangered by
the proposition before the association.
You might as we'll say that an appropria.
tion to clear the North River would
split the Allegheny mountains.
DR.. Buddington-No one is speaking Of
going out.
Mr. Beecher said his advices were that
the churches in the west and northwest
were unit and steadfa-t brotherhood.
He wished to say that the Congregational.
ism represented in the Advisory Council
was the real old puritan congregation,
and that that represented by Dr.. Bud.
dington, the Andover Church, and others,
was new congregation, something en-
tirely novel, unknown and untried in the
churches.
The discussion lasted throughout the
day and at o'clock the resolutions were
adopted, 10 to 0, when the following pro.
test was at once entered:
WHEREAS, The New York and Brook
lyn Association has appointed commit
tee TO cooperate with the Committee OF
the late Advisory Council, so called, for
investigation Of the charges against Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, and.
WHEREAS, 1t Is settled conviction Of
the undersigned that the calling Of that
Council by a church to consider its ad.
miuistration Of discipline in certain
cases without the agency or concurrence
OF the persons affected by that discipline,
is violation Of the congressional order
which regards it as the right OF the hum
blest individual to have a part in the
selection OF any Council by which he or
she is to be judged, and,
WHEREAS, Furthermore there is no
reason in our judgment to think that an
investigation originating thus Is justice,
and carried out by an agency hitherto
unknown to our churches cannot result
in anything more than the other Of those
superficial inquiries which have already
provoked SO much public dissatisfaction,
therefore, the undersigned members Of
this association do hereby enter their
earnest and solemn protest on the
grounds, both Of fconscience and judgment,
against the aforesaid action Of this body
as wrong in principle and likely only to
result in increased suspicion, and to em-
barrass the future action OF the body in
deciding, as we are solemnly bound to do,
on the guilt or innocence OF Mr.. Beecher.
R. S.SroRRs,
W. BuDDTN6ToH,
II. II. MCFARLAND,
BIN. MARTIN,
WIN. TAYLOR,
W. Fl. WARD.
Prof. Martin submitted resolution in
z II