The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-18
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
Judge Van Colt Invited to Address the
Council.
Examining the Course of Plymouth
Church.

NEW YORK, Feb 1.-THE attendance present
at the opening of the morning session of the
advisory council at Plymouth church to-day,
was much larger than that of yesterday, at
tracted no doubt by the heated discussion which
took place last night on the question put to the
committee by DIR. Bacon.
The council was called to order by the assis-
taut moderator, G. E. M. Bates. who said that
at the adjournment last evening the committee
we're being INTERCEPTED, and asked if there were
any more questions
Dr. Sturtevant of Illinois college, arose and
said that when the discussion was interrupted
last evening, he was on the point of offering a
resolution inviting Judge Van Colt to appear
facts which led to the failure of the mutual
council. 1t was very important that they
should know whether or not the committee was
censurable for any action which they had taken
in relation to the mutual council. There was
no occasion for calling Mr.-Tilton or Mr.. Bow
en-, because no questions connected with them
were being considered. Mr. Walcott, chairman
of the committee to which question No of the
letter missive was referred, said the committee
in meeting this morning had unanimously
decided to invite Judge Van Govt to appear be-
fore it and present his statement of the case
At this point the regular proceedings were
interrupted by DR.. Parker, who announced the
reception of a telegram communicating the sad
intelligence that,Rev. DIR. Horace Bushnell of
Connecticut had died this morning.
DIR. Bacon delivered glowing eulogY on the
life and character of the deceased and it was
resolved that the council receive with deep
sense of regret the announcement of the death
of the Rev. Horace Bushnell and that tele-
gram expressing the regret OF the council be
sent to the relatives of the deceased.
Mr.. Beeccher then led in prayer during which
he caused many to shed tears.
The discussion of the resolution in relation to
the appearance of Mrs. Moulton's representa-
tive was then resumed. Mr.. Beecher stated
that the committee was not only willing bat
anxious that Mr.. Van Colt should appear be-
fore the council for the committee. After a
long and tedious discussion the resolution was
informally adopted as follows.
Resolved. That the committee write Judge
Van Colt to appear before this body and state
his views relative to the negotiations concern
ing the proposed and abandoned mutual coun-
Gil between himself as the representative of
Mrs Moulton and the committee of Plymouth
church.
The scribe was instructed to notify Judge
Van Colt of the action of the council.
Rev. Lyman Abbott, chairman of the bust
ness committee, then presented three resolu-
tons which caused long and heated discus.
sion The first and second of them were to the
effect that the special committee be enjoned
to keep the results private, to be presented to
the council 10 secret session, and that the
council &c. into committee Of the whole for
their consideration. The first portion of the
resolution was stricken out, so far as it relates
to the secresy of the committee, and the rest
was adopted. The resolution providing for the
appointment of a committee of nine, whose
duty it should be to take all the conclusions
and embody them in a final report to the coun-
Gil. created an animated discussion and was f.
nally laid upon the table
A resolution was then offered that the six
committees of the council be prepared to re-
port at the opening of the session tomorrow
morning. Another discussion followed this
md fruoo 1oid hn fol
A resolution was adopted providing that the
members of the council be present at every ses-
sion and that none of them go home without
leave. The council then took the usual recess
The galleries were we'll filled with spectators
at the afternoon session. DIR. Leonard Bacon
called the council to order and the scribe an
nounced that Judge Van Colt had received the
communication from the council very courte-
ouslY and promised to be in attendance this
evening. None of the members of the Ply.
council were obliged to wait for them. R. W..
Raymond arrived soon, however, and the ex.
animation in relation to the sixth question of
the letter missive was gone on WITH.
Rev. G. B Spaulding of Dover asked wheth-
er or not Deacon West requested Plymouth
church to call mutual council for the purpose
Of considering Mr.. Beecher's case
Mr.. Raymond replied he did and said in res
ponse to another question that ne never pre-
ferred charges against the pastor.
DIR. Strong of Minnesota, chairman of the
committee to which was referred the sixth
question, asked what was contemplated by the
committee in preparing that question.
Mr. Sherman replied it was designed to open
to the council every possible case that had ever
come up in the church.
Dr. Willetts asked Mr.. Beecher whether be
knew anything of his own knowledge that
would prevent Dr.. Storrs and Buddington and
himself loving one another, to which he re
piled that he did not He could then give them
his hand and say, let the dead bury the dead
A somewhat lengthy examination followed
on the subject of the West case and the in
vestgation which took place IN 1874. Judge
Winslow was questioned in regard to the latter
and said that the committee did not send for
Henry g. Bowen through H. B. Caflin. He
was at Woodstock at the time and could not
come but sent word that he had nothing to
say.
In response to questions as to whether OF
not the committee had refused to hear any wit
nesses he said yet they had refused to hear one
witness MRS. w oodhull
The report of the conclusions of the investi
eating committee was read by Rossiter w.
RAYMOND and was received with applause,