The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-16


fathers way" And as good minister, acqui-
esced and while in speeches now aud then my own pc
cuilar and personal sentiments, which do NOS repro
sent NE church, have made remarks for which the
church has not been responsible 1t Ia proper that you
should understand that Il their wish and that the
church not Responsible for any opinions have ever
church Is Congregational and IL overrues me, and am
so Congregational thai know when am overuled,
and submit
The business Committee through Rev. Lyman Alb
bott, submitted these resolutions
Resolved That six committees be appointed with
each commttee that the six questions submitted
IN the letter msve be referred Of such commit
the Council that each the Council be requested
sSsssstoas sSieh Srs made for cons
ssoo"-Ihst sneh committees be nominated by the Mod
sosiecs TO the approval Of the Council
tees Council proceed 20 hear from the pastor
ehSsn rs they may wish 20 lay before y
outside Of the body be presented only through the Business
Fv-Tat the sessions Of the Council shan be nom
ps;. aS TO sSPss twelve 10 the morning from two 20 yS
hsfpAst nine and that from hafpast nine in the morning
sr1 That member shall speak more than twice the
same subject and no. than btteen minutes the first
time nor more than i've minutes the second
The first two resolutions adopted and the Coun-
Gil adjourned till halfpast seven r. NJ.
THE EVENING SESSION
At the evening session the business OF the Council
did not commence TIL eight O'Clock AT that hour about
900 delegates seated in the church The galleries
were filled by ladies' and their escorts most OF them
being members OF Plymouth church. Among those
present Mrs. ii. W. Beechor and the members Of
her family. The second gallery but partly hllcd.
The Moderator, DR.. Leonard Bacon, occupied
would be addressed by Rev Dr. Edward Beecher
on behalf of the church delegate objected the
ground that the committees should be appointed first
The Moderator explained that the committees wouG
probably be arranged while DR.. Beecher speaking
Dr. &. BERcHER then said that he proposed TO speak
to the first questions submitted TO the Council
to what should be the standard OF appeal in the dlsci
pne OF Congregational churches following by an ex-
PLANTATION Of tho church covenant in its power
the source OF discipline there being no discipline
that docs not come from the covenant.
recent criticism which appeared in the leading Congre
gational newspaper IN New England believed to have
been written by ts responsible editor as his initial
affixed.
DELEGATE rose and said that he had the authority
Dr. Cushng's signature that DR.. Gushing did not
write the article referred to.
DIR. BKEcHER thanked the brother for the information,
but the article was written, and somebody had written
IT, slight sensaton) The speaker continued his argu
ment on Congregational usage and the powers OF
Congregational council stating It his view that the
atmosphere OF God should control In spirit and in real
ity the action OF council We have SO drawn our
letter mssive because iet that there need 10
keep up to the standard OF tho word of God On the
point Of the power OF the church covenant he
asked whether there was any way out ofa church
except by letter, by death or by accommodation.
He insanced the of the late N p Willis with the
Park street church, Boston, who during revival at
Andover, while laboring under great excitement be-
the church After few months he came to the
speaker and told him that he had made mistake and
asked If he could not be let out OF the church. Tho
speaker told HIM that he would do what he could. He
laid the case before the church. but found that thoy
were held strictly by the usage-letter, death or ex
communication-and the speaker told him that If he
wanted TO leave the church he would have
TO do something SO bad that he would have
TO be put out SO the poet went TO the theatre and
that then considered bad enough to excommuni-
cate hun, and Mr.. Willis got his release But there
are other covenants Amy church has right to lay
dnun lie ant DIT hac ~
lay down any covenant for church US the only
enant, or 10 dsfelowship church unless show
that the covenant adopted by that church Is at
variance with the Word Of God. There should be
liberty OF conscience in the matter OF covenant
There have been great mistakes made in churches
the question OF discipline Many OF them have been
ruined by discipline. The Church should elevate,
purify and ennobIe man, but when 1t is found that
discipline must DO enacted and enforced by tribunals
the easiest OF the Church is the best but IL the
man is determined TO remain in the Church Il may
come necessary 10 enforce It's discipline even 70
communication
The MODERATOR announced the committee Of seven
on each OF the six questions before the Council Tho
first two questions have been left to committee Of
twelve. II the Council wants second report on the
first two questions 1t have them by dividing the
delegates selected from points separated widely
possible.
Il was moved and adopted that the nom nations of
the committees be approved
MR.. RAyMoED's ADDRESS
Mr.. Rossiter W. Raymond made the closing address
of the evening for the church. and this morning Mr.
Sherman win conclude the presentation OF the
Mr. Raymo said that for years the church had been
suffering silently under charges against the
of Its pastor and OF willing connivance with a
crime; that we had betrayed Lord With
swelling hearts we heard them This church has not
on,y been accused Of knowledge OF crime committed
by pastor. but OF being guilty OF committing such
crimes ourselves Some Of you come from distant
parts of the land has been easy for honest and
scienuous men to be misled, and you that
have not subordnaied our OF duty to any
temptation however strong. Nobody has ever come
TO this church right In spirit OF antagonism until
cried aloud TO you 10 hear We welcome you In all
Christian spirit and hold up hands before you
and pledge ourselves 70 you that clean If t Is
a sin TO love our pastor then have sinned. We do
not hold him innocent because love him; we fol-
lowed this inquiry a moi her inquiries into the
that can be known OF her child brother would
qure about his brother, or physician would inquire
of patient for fear that he should fail to nd the dis
ease; aud alter our investigation We tell you no Is
innocent, and we know il
DR.. Lyman Abbott read the resolutions 10 reference
the order OF business offered during the afternoon
sion, which were adopted.
After the calling OF the revised roll the session was
closed. The session will commence this morning at
halfpast nine During tho calling Of the roll consd-
cradle usement created by Of the delegates
insisting upon the tito OF 'sHonorablo" "GeDeraln
and Deacon" being prenxed 10 their APP
parently they dad not relish the prcponderance OF
'Revs, ;" I'D D. So and ILL D. IS" among their fel.
low connriuora