Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-01

late action OF the church toward MI
Bowen is said to be sustained with a
statement that it had been better to have
been more promptly taken. 1t 10 also stated
that the church Is exonerated from failure to
give Mrs. Moulton Mutual Council, and the
church's plan for Council of non-local
cnurches Is commended. minority report
was made from the committee to which was
referred the second question in the letters
missive, that relating to the dropping of men,
bers from the roll.
A letter was sent by Mr.. F. D. Moulton to
Dr. Bacon, as Moderator OF the Council
stating that the writer was prepared to prove
the guilt Of Mr.. Beecher, by evidence both
oral and documentary, and saying that g if
allowed an opportunity Of producing such
proof before the Council fail to make good
this assurance, then | am willing to be dis
credited and denounced by mankind as a
wretch devoid OF truth and honor and un-
worthy of human association"
Henry G. Bowen also addressed letter to
DR.. Bacon denouncing as false certain state
ments made by Mr.. Beecher to the Council on
the 10Th, and saying that he (Bowen) has
never been afraid to look Mr.. Beecher in the
face and intimate moral impurity to him; on
the contrary, MIR. Beecher had never dared to
meet him in an interview on the subject.
The session on the 22d was mainly devoted
to the consideration Of the reports of the com
mittees, all of which were adopted with the
exception of the one relating to the sixth
question, which question is as follows; " Has
Plymouth Church, in the principles and rules
which it has provided for the maintenance of
order and the administration of discipline, or
in any known cases of its administration under
those principles and rules, gone beyond its
rights as church Of Christ, so as justly to
forfeit its claim to the confidence and fellow
ship of the ngregational Churches"' The
committee expresses itself satisfied that there
is no absolute necessity for reopening the
(scandaD case, but inasmuch as there are so
many suspicious claims and runous allega
tons it recommends that the Council appoint
q committee Of three to advise Plymouth
Church that 1t would be well to select COM
mittee of five from list Of eminent persons
which they submit, whose duty it shall be to
hear every scrap of evidence that can be col
lected, and adjudcatc finally upon the case.
The discussion on this question was a some
what heated one, and had not ended up to
the time Of adjournment.
At the morning session, on the 23d, re-
port was made from the specia! committee TO
which was referred the letter from Andover
Seminary Church calling for council to try
the case OF Mr.. Beecher; in which the com
mittee say Plymouth Church should not &C.
cept the invitation. Report adopted at the
evening session.
After discussion the Council decided that
the Church investigation held in 1874 was
adequate, and that Plymouth Church had
done its whole duty in the matter.
Announcement was made that the commit
tee of nine to whom all matters for final con-
sideration of the Council were to be brought
comprised President Porter, Chairman; Dr..
Fairchild, Or. Sater, DR.. Strong. DR., Sturte-
want, DR.. Bacon, Bradford r. Wood, Judge
Whitney and ex.Gov. Dingley.
At the afternoon session, the resolution as
to whether or not there should be another
investigation of the charges against Mr..
Beecher was discussed at great length. and
finally decided sffirmatively, about two dozen
delegates voting no.
At the evening session 1t was decided that
a committee of three should he appointed to
select five names from the list presented by
the committee, who shall constitute an In
vestigating Committee, to hear all possible
evidence that can be CLEANED in regard to
the scandal, and sit as final judges on the
matter.
The Council concluded their labors on the
oath. An adverse report was made and
adopted on the resolution offered by the Rev.
DIR. Bell, TO the effect that the Council de.
clare Mr.. Beecher innocent of the charges
preferred against him.
The report Of the Council sustaips Plym-
outh Church in its dealings with the mem-
bers whose names have been stricken from
its rolls, and in its general discipline in this
respect. 1t also endorses the action of the
church in relation to the proposed Mutual
Council, and expresses regret that Mrs.
Moultons representative did not substitute
two other churches for those objected to, and
thus crafty the expressed desire of Mrs.
Moulton for such council
The report says the Council finds no reason
tocali in question the method by which the
committee was constituted which vestigated
No. hut
the dissatisfaction which more or less pre-
walls with the previous investigation, it is
recommended, in view of Mr.. Beecher's de-
mand to be brought face TO face with his ac-
eusers, etc, and for the peace of the churches
and the protection OF Plymouth, that a new
| investigation be had. The provisions for
such an investigation are as follows:
Prof, Timothy Dwight, d. D., New Haven,
Conn, the Rev. j. w Wellmar, d. D.. Maiden,
Mass, and the Hon. Bradford K. Wood, AL
bany, y. T., are appointed by the Council as
the Committee OF Three who are empowered
TO designate a Commission of Five out of
twenty named parties, whose duty it "shall
be 10 receive and examine all charges against
the pastor which they may regard as not al
ready sufficiently tried. Any three Of this
committee shall be a quorum, and shall have
power in case OF failure to complete the
requisite number OF five by selectin 2
other brethren of known ability and in
| tSgrity. II is provided that the commission
shall not be constituted unless formal
charges against the pastor shall be brou ght
before the church or its committee
within sixty days after the dissolution of the
Council, by party making himself respons-
IDLE for the truth and proof Of the same, uu-
less within the same time il shall be adjui ged
| to be expedient by the Examining Commit
tee Of the church and the Committee OF
| Three that important testimony not pre-
yiously given, which might throw light upon
the charges which have hitherto been tried
should be heard by the committee The re-
suit OF the investigation by this Commission
shall be reported to the examining Commit
tee Of Plymouth Church, and be given by