The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-06
MR.. BEECHER'S BRETHREN.
FIXING FORANOTHER INQUIRY INTO
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
How the Con9reqational Preacher. Want IL
Conducted, nnd How PIymouth's Pastor
Differs from them-A Warm Debate.


How the Congreqationni Preacher. Want IL
Conducted, aud How PIymOuth's Pastor
Differs from them-A Warm Debate.
The semi-annual meeting Of the New
York and BROOKLYN Association OF Conerega-
tlonal Ministers was yesterday held In Puritan
Church, Brooklyn. There were not over Hfty
persons present. The session organized by tho
election OF the Rev. Mr.. whipple as Moderator.
The special committee on Mr. Beecher's case
was called on to report. DR.. Burlington, the
Chairman Of tho committee, banded the report
to the scribe, and he was about to read II when
the Moderator said that the association must
decide whether the public and the reporters
should be allowed at the meeting. After some
discussion DIR. Henry NJ. storrs moved that none
but members OF tho association be allowed to
remain. Dr. Burlington spoke in favor Of max
ing the results public, II not the processes, and
when the resolution was amended so as to read
In this way, was adopted-lo to L. Mr.. Beecher
voted III the negative.
In secret session tho Rev. Samuel H. verjen,
the scribe OF the Beecher Investigating Com
mittee, reported as follows
The following resolution vas adopted by the Com
mi,tse o. New YORK and 9rooklyn Assoeatlon. to
bic and resolutions presented BY the Rev. H. H. McFa
land as report Of progress
due regard 70 s OF The Interests both ndlydua and
eSss s sTe Ro ss c sseesr Rsi haS
be made but inasmuch as various plans Of investga.
Ss commee are Of opaDn ha Il he aeon %
association should In the meanwhile be postponed.
The report OF the committee was accepted.
resolution providing for committee OF ive
members Of the association who were to call for
all OF the existing evidence against MIR. Beecher,
and to present II to the scandal committee au-
thorized by the Advisory Council. As this
promised to commit the association to the Ad-
visory Councils n.IdlnRs. IL was not well o
ceved. Dr. Budington offered as substitute
ChurcS's proposltion Tor mutual council "a an
proved, and that the committee await the issue
ofthe Andoyer Chufch's application The Doc
tor SPOKE at length IN favor of the resolution,
saying that the question was an ecclesiBstica
rather than personal one.
MIR. Beecher replied In a very moderate tone,
saying that tho whole question was whether he
was worthy TO be member OF the association.
He reviewed the Investigations and their results
Now that the end seemed near and way had
been provided by which the light OF day could
be let In on every action OF his life. he wanted
this trial to be the last one. He alone OF all
men knew the truth, and he knew that he was
innocent. He had nothing to dread from the
closest scrutiny He wanted the evidence
against him pressed so strongly that Brothers
Budington and Storrs, and the multitude Of
the members Of the association to help to take
up every shred OF evidence against him. He
stood on his own Innocence, aud they ought to
come TO his help and demonstrate to the world
his innocence or his guilt. He believed there
was no danger to the church polityi and he said
that however the members Of the late Advisory
Council might be undervalued, the churches
they represented could not be ignored. In con-
clusion, Mr. Beecher appealed for the prayers Of
his brethren.
BY request, DR.. Burlington withdrew his reso-
lutiOns for a motion to amend DIR. Storrs's reso-
lutlon, SO as to provide for the appointment OF a
committee of hve to at once investigate the
scandal, inde pendent Of the scandal commits
sion. The whole afternoon wss spent In the
discussion Of this resolution. Mr. Besoher was
the only one Of about dozen members who
spoke who directly opposed an immediate in
vestigation. lie spoke twice on the subject, ar
Rulng that new luon must interfere
with the scandal commission TO which he " as
| would delay action until after the appointed
| sixty days In which the scandal com mission
| could be organized, he would help them ali that
| he could.
Dr. Burlington. DIR. Tay or. and enough others
spoke to Indicate that the prevailing sentiment
| In the association was in favor of some sort Of
an Immediate investigation. The discussion Is
| TO be resum ed this morning.