New-York tribune., 1876-03-02
SCANDAL COUNCIL ECHOES
MODERATOR DINGLEYs REPORT.

MODERATOR DINGLEYS REPORT.
PRINCIPLES SETTLED DY THE cOUScIL-CHURcH
MEMBERSHIP DEPISED-THE FAILURE TO CALI
MUTUAL CoUSCIL-TBE ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THE COMMISSION TO HEAR NEW EVIDENCE IN
Mr.. DEECHER's CASE.
Ex-Goy. Dingley of Maine, who was one OF
the Moderators OF the Plymouth Advisory Council has
made report of Its action In q communication TO Ih'
Fpening Journal OF Lewiston. Maine, OF which he Is be
editor. A summary OF the action OF the Council As
well as an expression Of opinion to its Importance and
the result Of its findings his report especially por
tart and The concluding passages
Of the report are as follows Abiding TO tho report otpe
Committee OF Nine, of which 1t will be remembered Dr.
Noah Porter DIR. Leonard Bacon and President Fair
child were the leading members. he says:
The report of this Committee was unanimously adopted
s The result OF the Council and It's answer 10 the several
questions proposed by Plymouth Church The severii
principles thus settled may be summed up as iolowS
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. 80,
L person In becoming a member Of the church OF
Christ thereby makes covenant with Cnrls nlnseIi
man; and in becoming member of local church enters
into covenant with that church winch can De
can be done Ivy the church Q) by separating member
from fellowship with censre, after trial ana the use &
of ali reasonable means TO bring him 10 repentance V,
this NAV be done without formal In cases where
the has abandoned the fellowship OF the cDr,h
avoid a greater scandal. in ease where member IL
charged with abandonment Of the communion and also
its fellowship the minor Ofense. While the rule OF
Plymouth Church for dropping members VINO nave
is held to accordance with these principles yet TO
avoid misapprehenson that church advisrd to modify
responsibility and fellowship The Council refers 10 tie
Ton settled by the Council OF 1874 and leaves
IL where that Council left It, IL Will be seen therefore
that Council expressly reairns the prnc pies set
tied by the Council OF 1874 aud in no point antagonzs
papers to the contrary il without foundation
q The Council ahlrms that member OF church, who
IN hru Ghu 4.
dOnng its communion because he believes his ftsio or
gaiy OF AN ofese, or because he does not hink the
church has properly investigated IT, The member must
how to the decision Of majority OF the church, lboring
II he pleascs 10 convert them to his Views, and dscarg
ing his duties member or else take letter of dis
mission MISSION "a q d @ ~ All ,r, ,t - So eenar,ted after
notice and church Crns applies to the ease
OF slrs. MOultOn among OtheIsD The Counci tufther
or Insinuaiions against moral character It's PASTOR
becomes his duty Ia present proof OF the charges, ana
If negiocts or refuses to do, he snould aief tu
and conycuon he communicated, unless he cOnesses
his wrong. (r Is applies 10 Bowen)
Toe Council say tnat the church Is the trpuna al
pointed by Christ 10 nyesgate the Oienses of Its mei
bcrs, including It's pastor. mtnber VINO takes eNcep
Ons Ia Wha The church has done, hut Is not ready 90
mako charges himself, has claim FOR mutual or er
porte council lhis applies to bacon West Neitner
can anO,her olurch interfere III the matter except ny
way adnontiOn. and then only 10 ask mutual conn
ell Tor tine trial OF tne cnrch for neglect OF duty his
applies TO tine Andoyer chrch)
A. mutual council iscOnp posed OF churches nominated
half by parry aud half the other, bat appointed by
agreement 10Th parties TIe idea Is repu1Ited tDlt
one u le may absolutely appoint Ouehai ani the other
size other hall destructive Ia tne very idea Oi IN
impair ia council an II Is affirmed that NJ church sh0nid
invited council except by agreemc mt Of both par
Therefore the tounc says tat Plymouth Churcn
al right TO object to the churehts OI DIS otorf ai
Budingon, and tnat tue duty Ot tne representa-
tive of Mrs. MJuton to have substituted $50 other
churches in OdCr th. the council might Dc satisfactory
both parties The COunci furtler aifms tat wheie
there Is great local excitement liable effect thelt I'M
PARTIALLY 1t Is proper 10 exclude the churcheS OF ho
yicnage.
TIE BETCHER SCANDAL INVESTIGATION.
s. In respect Tie cIso OF br. Brechrr te Council
willie expressing regret hat the course ldsd III hiU
adopted at tine beginning. says thae so lar
be scol the cnurch investigated thc scandal
through competent committee 10 hOrou; ;hly A. posi-
bic tue tlne that the thOrOus ness of te nvesS +
ton mad manifest by tine a1t mat The court aor
searching tral six mOnts, ouhd no Important evl-
denco dIuonai "a at Obtaincd py the Church Commit
tee ahd tnat tho Council Soc no reason 10 tstOh Ine
unanimous decision Oi very mrgr church thaI Tie pas
tor innocent In view. however OF the iact ID some
cxcel,nt persons think thaL tcre is mp0ltahS evidence
yet DrOu-nI Out, ad for tDo satisfaction or oJ cr
churches tho Council ADVISE ymuuin Church 10 accpt
ana empower commission nOninad Dy the COM ii, To
inquire In aie5cd new evidence, III case any fspons!-
person sall forward VII Ia 90 days and maze
ltu distinct sptciiictitiDis
ana prvOt Prof. Dwight of Yale Coeg D.. We in.in
Of Maiden Mass, ana tHe Hon. H. H. WOOd or Albany.
~ w. are authorized 10 appoint ths cJnilhss'on 10 con-
Of i've members, odt OF the following stnteheI
Now-iiaycn, Conn; President IiOpAns 81 Williams Col,
,c cX- rntor Foster OF CONNECTICUT Pol Scciyc OI
Ain-ersl c tse. Judge Shipm'n OF .rioid, Conn;
eX-GOv. WisJnrn Of Mlasa'hnsetts; eAGoY Ch,n +
ltin of Maine Judge B,hAordoH ~ OiJ; frOi AuSeli
of Michigan University: Apueus H.ruy OF Boston,
Henry r. Haven OF CONNECTICUT a. u bisto" o iVNn &
deuce H. L., aud elt OtAcr ntlench vi Ike clldrd@tcr
IN
a ii sscu .ns Sute On nearly all the 1np0Hdnt pom s
there was substantial uuaulmuy from the b ginning.
Mauy the unOrs Of disigfec'uts ind nratrd discus
SONS private sessions either entirely NICER tct
grossly exaggerated, AMI tis WAS tle particularly
with reported dcclarilfDns Uf te Rev u. aeon. t Is
but Justice To say tnat he declared In Council t1at
Le IIlly believed Mr. cc.cr Ia he innO,eht May
members of the Council made similar declarations, All
mit tns at the ine tC they mad siatc doubts ol
they went 10 B!UuLIyn ihe Ec,. = - fcsscii-
CoancctiCui, !orHcry of Mainr, sad tat no went
L. BROOKLYN almost convinced of UtcChcrs gu Dut he
sOuld home thoroughly satisfied al h innrr nee.
A careful showed that every member OF the
Council returned til, Nlrw alt-Odgh large mum
Der went 10 B.oohiJn VIA more or J. =, uOGDt.
NJ general BELIEF tiIf tIe.e no evidence n anst
Nj. Bcccir wicn Has not been male puOic ana tudt
the few Iacts general known (ncJry a o! vi ch
iHqui!e into by Individual IcnDc Ul tic Council
bear more III n.s iaNtr tnan against MN. 1Hort are
many aJa but NONE OF tc, 1ar rs followed,
have any trtI. 10 illustrate the act r Of
g,,s. allowed to iHildrlcc some minds, II may
ii that day t"e Moderation Oi tc Council
received ctter nom person Saying mat he nal cyi-
denUe III has possession wnlcn would criinndtc Nj.
Dcccher Inquiry made, tue person VhO wrote tIe
citcr IUnI, id the whole story was found t. Dc base
less be learned, al the sOrcs alOdt are
iially H. he icved that Tue able cOnscl iOr
ItUn brought out AZ la" tri every piece oI u'iden e
tnt beir against BccChc Toe unv.ral coli iciUn
among cncnies OT BcocLcr Is titt Bowen nas 10
cyIueLce against hIn Few expect tat any ono having
"A eyiicncc viii como forward To make char -os
before the COuinl.ss