The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-15
FIXING FOR THE COUNCIL.
INQUIRY TO BE BEGUN IN PLY
MOUTH CHURCH TODAY.

Some Of the CicrRvmen who are to Take Part
In the Deliberations - MIR. Bowen's De-
mnnds-More about the Andover Council.
The delegates to Mr.. Beecher's advisory
council began TO reach Brooklyn last night.
Tho council Is to be called to order In tho audi.
torium Of the church at o'clock this afternoon
About two hundred and seventy-nve members
Of the council are expected. Accomm cd ations
have been secured for two hundred and nfty In
tho private families OF Plymouth Church, and
arrangements are to be made at 'the hotels
for an extra number. The arriving delegates
report to MIR. Halliday, and get cards OF
Introduction to the family designated to
receive them. The delegates who arrived yes
terday were from Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa.
The deleeations are expected from six churches
n Maine, three from New Hampshire, four from
twenty-seyen from Connecticut, two from
Rhode Island, eleven from New York,
Pennsylvania, one from the District Of CoIum.
bia, eight from OHIO, four from Michigan, eight
from Illinois, four from Indiana, two from WIS
consinl nve from Iowa, two from Kansas, two
from Minnesota, and one from Missouri.
council to order and will occupy the chair until
the moderator Is elected. As soon as a perma-
nent oreanization is Effected, the church COM
mittee, Of which Mr. Beecher Is Chairman, will
present tho case Of Plymouth Church as outlined
Ia the letter missise and the accompanying
sion will begin-the youthful delegates taking
adyantaee OF the opportunity to learn Congre-
gatiOndltsm
Last evening Mr.. Halliday had heard from l29
Churches which had accepted the invitation.
This left fourteen churches yet 20 be heard from,
the other twenty eight churches having de-
clined. or the twenty ministers al large he bad
definite answers from Drs. Bacon, Dwight, Jas.
Joshua NJ. Chamberlain, and Lyman Abbott.
He had heard that Others were coming but hav-
ing no oncial notice OF them, he declined to
make their names known. DIR. Porter of Yale
was among those who were thus expected.
The Plymouth Church leaders expect that the
council will cost them not less than 5000, and
IL Is already question whether this sum can he
voted out OF the church fund unless, as in the
case OF the expenses Of the erin con. trial. Ii
may be fixed by increasing the pastors salary
a conspicuous lawyer last night suggested that
II churches are governed as courts are, the
SUIT OF the advisory council could be easily set
aside, because OF the influences used to convoke
tho delegates. Each pastor and delegate has all
OF his expenses paid to aud from Brooklyn and
Is 10 be fed ana sheltered by tue church while
he is there IL was predicted last MINT that DR..
bacon would be moderator Of the council.
Prof Meade, OF the Andoyer The 9lnsical Semi
nary. on Monday served on NJ. ;; B. Halliday,
pastoral helper 9f Plymouth Church, the Invita-
tion Of the And0ycr Congregational Churcn TO
ilvmouth' asking OF mutual council to lnves-
tigate the charges against Nr. Rcecher. When
hr. Halliday was asked last night about the
pagers, no deci red that he had not seen tho
committee, and that continued TO be his reply
TO all questions aimed at the documents
Mr.. Shearman was too busy with himself to
say anything Aoout the papers. BY his shnrp
trick n ad djourning the business meeting of the
church on Friday night until the chair should
choose to call 1t. he provides against the
chufch's being called on To meet the most pow-
eIful aggre. .sive movement yet begun. Prof.
Meade held long conference with Dr. Storrs
DIR. Budington said yesterday that he had no
Information relative to the Andoyer council.
although such amovement was not unexDectod.
He thought that II must result in flnal settle
ment of the subject according to the churchs
polity. The Andoyer Church WIS representative
IN ConGregatio nalism. Its advisers were men
who mad his greatest oonhdonce, aud he was
very willing to be ignorant of their proceedings
since they were so controlled.
Mr.. Henry q. Bowen yesterday sent to the
clerk Of the Plymouth Church Examining Com
mittee a letter demanding Of the committee the
written charges and specifications on which
they Intend to arraicn him on the I'D Of March,
with the list OF witnesses that are to be called.
He says that he asks for no more time, but he
demands at once 70 know explicitly what the
church Ia trying him for. aud he means to hold
the committee to the document they furnish.
lie began with them on the basis of MIR. Whites
grievances, and soon they shifted their ground
assuming prosecuting capacity He mad no
assurance OF their intention to adhere to the
present position, therefore he wished to know
definitely what to meet. Then he was ready TO
meett.
Mr.. Bowen was asked whether be anticipated
any aggression In the form Of suit for slander
with Mr.. Beecher as tue plaintiff. He answered
that be didn't care whether suit was brought
or not II brought II must be tried, and The facts
must consequently be brought out In court
thi ouRh Witnesses lilo thought, however, that
MT: Beecler would not sus him
Frank M"nitcsl returned from Narragansett
Yesterday. and last night held a long interview
VITA Y Bowen.
ASorIfR FRIENDLY MEMBER OF THE CoUScu.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. The
action Of the Montclair N. j. Congregational
Church in the Advisory Council may be forsoen
from the fact that during tho scandal" trial
ITS pastor. Mr. Bradford, frequently offered up
spec i prayers from the pulpit for Mr. Ieecher's
welfare; and that groups of enthusiastic ad-
nrers were always formed around Mrs Ttlton
whenever that lady chose to honor the church
with her presence. IL.