The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-18
BEECHER'S COUNCIL,

NEW YORK, February 17.-After the
usual religious services this morning, In
Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, the Adv
sorry Council was called to order by zen.
Bates, Assistant Moderator.
Rev. DR.. Sturtevant re-opened the dis
cussion of last evening, and said that
when it was interrupted he was on the
point of offering a resolution inviting
Judge Vancott Mrs. Mou.ton's counsel,
to appear before the Council and state his
views of the facts which led to the failure
Of the mutual council 1t was very i'm
portant that they should know whether
or not the Plymouth Church committee
was censurable for any action they had
taken IN relation to the mutual council.
Speaking of the necessity for calling
Rev. Drs. Stoors and Buddington, and
Bowen, as no questions concerning them
were to be considered by council. Rev.
Mr. Sturtevart said he listened with
great deal of reluctance to the remarks
made about the Church of Pilgrims and
Clinton Avenue Church and their pas
tors. The mutual council failed from
some reason, and they wanted to know
that reason. DR.. Wolcott, chairman o.
the committee on question number D, said
the committee this morning had unani-
mously decided TO write to Judge Van
colt to present his statement of the case
before it. Mr.. Sturteyant was arguing
in favor of Vancott appearing before the
when the death of Rev. DIR.
Bushnell was announced. Eulogies were
pronounced, resolutions of regret adopted
and Henry Ward Beecher offered up a
fervent prayer, causing many to shed
tears,
The discussion of the pending question
was then resumed, and Mr. Beecher, while
cries OF question were heard, said the com.
mlttee was not only willing but anxious
that Vancott should appear before the
council or committee, that he is good and
noble.
A procracted discussion resulted finally
in the adoption of the following:
Resolred, That Judge Nancott appear
before this body and state his views rela-
tive to the proposed and abandoned ma
tual council between himself, rs the rep
resentative of Mrs Moulton, and the COM
mittee of Plymouth Church.
Rev. Lyman Abbots, Chairman of the
Business Committee, presented three
resolutions which excited
Heated and Long DIscussiOn.
The irst and second were to the affect
that special committee be enjolned to
keep their results private, and to be pre-
sentcd to the council in secret session.
and that the council go into Committee
of the Whole tor their consideration.
The portion of the resolution requiring
secrecy was stricken out and the remain
der adopted. The third resolution.
which provided for the appointment OF
a committee OF nine, whose duty it should
be to take al conclusions and embOdy
them in a final report to the council,
created AN animated discussion, and was
finally laid upon the table.
A resolution that the six committees
of the council report to the council to-
morrow morning, precipitated another
lorg discussion, and it, too, was laid on
the table finally.
A resolution was adopted that the
members of the council be present ut the
evening session and that none 90 home
without leave. Recess was then taken
When the council reassembIed, Doctor
Bacon announced that Judge NanCott
would appear before them this evening.
Rev. &. B. Spaulding then began the
further examination of the Plymouth
Church Committee. In answer TO the
question Rossiter Raymond said Mr..
West had asked the church to cal! a mu-
tual council, but had never preferred
charges against the pastor. In reply TO
another delegate, Mr.. Sbearman said they
Mrs MouIton wished the church
to get rid Of her case and to take up that
of the prs,or, when she had made deh-
mite charge against the latter
Dr. Strong, chairman OF the committee
on the sixty questions, asked whether the
church designed by that question to
open all the questions which might prop
erly come before the council.
Mr. Shearman replied in the ahirlna-
tive, and said it WAS intended to open
every case in the history Of the
church, including the Investigation
touching the pastors character in
1874. Beecher had favored making 1t
as broad as possible so as 90 iucIudcthls
point. In reply TO the question as t.
whether Plymouth church would con-
slider it an act of dlscourteSy for an
other church to receive a member who
had been dropped, Beecher said tnat If
proper notice had been given to
Plymouth Church by the examining com
mittee OF the church to which the mem.
Der had applied, the receptions Of mem
bers would not be- considered an act OF
discourte>v; It would be considered DIS
only uader such circumstances as
would make 1t appear such to the pubic.
y somewhat lengthy examination fol-
lowed on the subject Of NJ. Vests case
and the investigation which took pace
in 1874
Judge Winslow was questioned in re-
gard to the latter and said the committee
did send for Henry c. Bowen through
II. B. Claffl.n. H. was at Woodstock ut
the time and could not come, but
sent word that he had nothing 20 say. II
response to tie questions a Co whether
or not the committee had retu>ed to hear
any questions, he said YES; they had re
fused 10 hear one witness. Mrs " NoodAUi,
the report of the conclusions O! the
Investigation Con- uittre was read by
Rossiter W. Raymond and was gree,ed
with applause. NJ Sherman and Ar.
Beecherr replied to questions touching
the letter in connection with the Cir,s-
tan Uniou ard in regard TO the close
corporation which was said to
e1is. in Plymouth Church. Wnile on
the lst,e- subject Nj Brecher ,a.I a
they were in
The Kingdom OF Money
he desired to SAY that the trisl Of his
case has ccs. him Sis 900 and he
did not care s5ou; going
,b-ouyb many NOR. surh Trials