The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-03-02

Resolutions introduced on the second day
Of the session d the Council, BY the Rev.
DR.. Bell; of Mansfield, Ohio, declsping 1t to
be the arm belief OF such Council that the
Rev. b. W. Beecher is innocent of the sins
and crimes laid r. his charge, and applaud
half by the members of Plymouth Church,
were declared cut of order by the Moderator,
and the decision was sustained on appeal,
DR.: Bell alone voting in the negative.
Mr.. Sherman made an exhaustive state
me Mt of the case Of Plymouth Church, after
which a lengthy examination Of different
members OF the Committee was gone through
with in relation to the questions contained in
the letters missive.
Rossiter w. Raymond read lengthy state
ment against Theodore Triton, and general
discussion ensued as to questions relating to
the Investigating Committee, Mr.. Beecher
joining In tie remarks.
On the nth, resolution was adopted invit
ing Judge Van Colt, Mrs. Moulton's counsel,
to appear and state his views of facts which
led to the failure of the Mutual Council. In
response to this, Mr.. Van Colt attended at
the evening session, aud made length ad-
dress in which he claimed that the blame for
the failure Of the proposed Mutual Council
rested with Plymouth Church. He said he
believed, on his honor as a gentleman, that
Mrs. Moulton desired such council to be held,
and he desired It also. 80
A communication was received from dr.
Bowen; it's reading was objected to, and it
was referred to the Business Committee. The
communication stated that he (Bowen) was
the Plymouth Church Investigating Com
mittee, nor given any intimation that he was
wanted. He says in conclusion: II propose
to give next week to the Examining Com
mittee of Plymouth Church my reasons for
believing Henry Ward Beecher guilty"
On the 18th, resolutions we're adopted invit-
ing Drs. Storrs aDd Buddington to present
themselves and aid the Council with any facts
which might be within their knowledge IS
touching the questions before this body, and
inviting Mi. Bowen to appear in the evening
MIR. Beecher, in an imprisoned speech, chal-
lenged any man on earth or angel in Heaven
who had anything to say to his (Beecher's)
detriment to say it; and he added: IL 20
beyond that, and, in the name of our com
mon Redeemer, and before Him who shall
judge you and me, challenge the truth from
God Himself!' At the evening session Mr..
Bowen was questioned as to his course in
connection with the past troubles of Ply
mouth Church, especially regarding his
non-eppearance before the Investigating
Committee appointed to inquire into the
Beecher scandal; among other replies,
Mr.. Bowen stated that the reason he
did not appear before such committee was
because, although he was aware general in
vitation had been EXTENDED to all who knew
aught concerning the matter at issue, he did
not know that any time had been fixed. A
long examination was gone through with in
relation to the tripartite agreement. An
nouncement was made at the afternoon ses-
sion that Messrs. Stor:s and Buddington had
been waited upon, and both had said they
had nothing to communicate to the council.
On the 10th, Mr.. Sage, of the Plymouth
Church Investigating Committee, stated that
it was considered unnecessary to call Mr..
Bowen before that committee, as he was not
supposed to know anything Mr.. Sage said
such investigation WAS as thorough as it was
possible to make it.
Mr.. Bcecher made some denunciatory re-
marks in reply to an account by Deacon
Howard of q former interview with MIR.
Bowen, during which the latter had declared
that if he communicated the knowledge in his
possession it would drive Mr.. Beecher from
Brooklyn In twenty. four hours. In the coul Sc
of some subsequent remarks Mr.. Beecher
challenged Anybody in Heaven, and any
body in hell, that has any document that l
have ever written, or any information that
touches me in any manner" to produce it.
A secret session, lasting about three. quar-
ters of an hour, was held.
secret session of three hours duration
was held on the 2lst. Committee reports
were made, which, the Brooklyn Eagle 81 tes,
sustain the general principle of Plymouth
Church in dropping members from the rolls,
and, without going into the Tilton and Mrs.
Moulton cases, declare that the rule in these
practices in Plymouth Church is not in
consistent with the Word of God or
the principles of Christian justice. The
late action of the church toward Mr..
Bowen is said to be sustained, with a
statement that it had been better to have be. n
more promptly taken. 1t is also stated III It
the church is exonerated from failure to give
Mrs. Moulton a Mutual Council, and the
church's plan for q council OF non-local
churches is commended. A minority report
was made from the committee to which was
referred the second question in the lett rs
missive, that relating to the dropping Of
members from the roll.
letter was sent by Mr.. F. D. Moultou to
DR.. Bacon, as Moderator of the Council, stat
ing that the writer was prepared to prove the
guilt of MIR. Beecher, by evidence both oral
and documentary, and saying that If allowed
| an opportunity Of producing such proof be.
fore the Council fail to make good this as
| surance, then am willing to be discredited
and denounced by mankind as a wretch Dc.
void of truth and honor and unworthy of hu.
| man association"
Henry c. Bowen also addressed letter to
DR.. Bacon denouncing as false certain state.
| ments made by MIR. Beecher to the Council
on the 10th, and saying that he (Bowen) has
never been afraid 10 look Mr.. Beecher in the
face and intimate moral impurity to him
on the contrary, Mr.. Beecher had never dared
to meet him in an interview on the subject