The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
RESPONSES TO THE INVITATIONS TO ATTEND
AND WHAT THEY SAY.

RESPONSES TO THE INVITATIONS TO ATTEND
AND WHAT THEY SAY.
In order to ascertain the prospective number of
attendants at the Advisory Council called by Plymouth
church. to meet in that church on the 18th inst, q
reporter OF the HERALD called on the Rev. S B. Hal-
day last evening for the statistics and other facts in
connection Herewith Mr.. Halliday, though fully en-
gagged in his usual Sunday duties went for his record
of the latest returns and gave TO the reporter the fol-
lowing
Answers have been received from Isl churches
leaving twenty-one still to be heard rom or the
number Of answers received 125 accept invitation
and promise to be present Twenty-sx churches have
declined about e-haf of them giving as reason for
doing the prevalence Of special religious awaken
ing among the people in their churches, making it, in
their Judgment nexpedent for the pastors TO be alb
sent Some four or FIVE decline, being un-
favorable to the council, and the remaining
six or eight assign no reason whatever for de-
clining. Every one of the New England States is
to be represented the Connecticut and Massachusetts,
delegations being very large The Western and South
western states represented will be Ohio Michigan In.
diana Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas Missouri and
Minnesota In addition TO the above there will be tho
anticipated representatives from New York. New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania and the District Of Columbia
The Plymouth congregation has made ample pro-
vision for tho members of the Council and the Junc
ton on the many who have voluntarily opened their
houses to them is that they shall endcavor in any
way TO bias the minds OF the councillors leaving them
perfectly fee form their judgments such matters
may be laid before them the facts presented in
official regular The Council 1t is said will be
the largest held in such FORM and those who have
been most active in securing the Council
satisfied with the prospect the statistics afford of
general representation Of the Congregational de-
nomination.
HoN.sYMpArHErIc COMMENTATORS
Among the Congregational churches other than
Plymouth, the members OF which, with one ex-
oepton, are presumably not In full &C
cord with Plymouth church. the feeling has
not changed greatly from what they expressed,
through the reporter in the HERALD OF Monday last.
They say-and particularly the Clinton avenue church
members those OF the Church of the Pilgrims and OF
the Park Congregational chuTch-that they are in no
opposed to the gathering of the Advisory Coun-
Gil, Plymouth church has chosen to call H. What
they generally do object to is that the Council
as called, shall be looked upon other
than gathering of Mr.. Beechers friends or friends OF
Plymouth church, whose action is not binding upon
even Plymouth church ITSELF upon any Of the
churches of the denomination other than Plymouth,
whether represented in the council or not In con-
versation with Rev. Matthew Hale Smith, pastor of the
Park Congregational church, the reporter learned that
of the past expressions of desire for National
Council there declared to be strong probability
that such council would grow out of the meeting Of
the Advisory Council Not however, as at all in
tagonism with the Advisory Council, but simply be.
of the seeming necessity for an authorized
declaration concerning the government OF and discf.
pne IN the churches which shall stand hereafter
Congregational law in relation thereto.