The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-19
Failure of the Bcccher. Nloulton C0un-

Failure of the Bcccher. nloulton Coun-
Gil.
The attempt to call Congregational
council for the purpose of deciding the
question as to the right of Plymouth
church to drop from the list of member
ship the name of Mrs. Moulton, has FINAL.
ly failed. In arranging the list for the
council the names Of DR.. Storrs and DR..
Burlington were included among other
clergymen. After they had announced
that they would probably accept the in.
vitation the committee of Plymouth
church entered a protest, on the ground
that they were partial and had enmity
against the church. When some of the
other churches heard that DR.. Storrs'
and Buddington's churches would be left
out, they also declined to serve, and the
calling OF the council was therefore aban-
doned. Mrs. Moulton was appraised of the
fact of the withdrawal of the churches,
and the disarrangement Of the list, and
consulted with her counsel, MIR. Van
Colt, who on the l4th sent long letter
to the Plymouth Church committee. re-
fusing to treat with them any further in
relation to the mutual council, and sharp.
ly rebuking them for the course they had
pursued in rejecting the churches select.
ed. He did not think that they had act.
ed fairly, and said Mrs. Moulton expected
to submit testimony before the council
that would show good reasons for charg-
ing Rev. Henry Ward Beecher with adul-
terry. Now he thought the action of the
church would be considered by all just
men to be deliberate attempt to avoid
investigation as to the guilt of the Ply.
mouth pastor.
The correspondence between Mr.. Van
Colt and DR.. Storrs and Buddington was
enclosed with the communication. The
letter from Mr.. Van Colt was prelimin-
airy inquiry whether the parties address,
ed would comply with the earnest wish
Of both parties that they should attend
the council. DR.. Storrs, under date of
January 18th, refers to his prior consent
to take part in the council. on theu nder-
standing that the invitation was cordial
one from both parties, but now learning
that the committee of Plymouth Church
protested against his church having part
in the council, he could not attend it
himself and thought his church would de-.
cline the invitation. DR.. Buddington
also withdraws his acceptance, for the
same reason.
The lecture room of Plymouth church
was densely crowded last evening long be.
fore the hour for opening the prayer
meeting had arrived. Nj. Beecher en-
tered the room with smiling counte-
nance, and during his address seemed to
be possessed with vivaciousness that he
has rarely displayed of late. When he
had concluded he announced that imme.
diately after the prayer meeting ad.
journed business meeting would be held.
He pronounced the benediction, and with
out sitting down commenced to
address the audience in rela.
ton to the mutual council. He was
glad, he said, to inform them that
the other side had withdrawn, and had
thrown up the mutual council altogether.
This announcement was greeted with loud
applause and the speaker continued, tell
ing them they knew nothing about the
affair, and should not express even
pedal opinion in relation to the matter.
They desired to put all the trouble pos.
sible on the backs of Plymouth Church.
that poor camel of Congregationalism.
We simply said that these charges should
be examined, and they have now backed
down from that examination because we
objected to some Of their churches. The
speaker never believed that the council
was asked for by Mrs. Moulton with any
degree of sincerity, and it was never de-
clined by the church. This declination
on their part to go on made it imperative
to invoke the advisory council, which the
church had adjourned, to investigate the
matter and determine whether or not the
church had acted properly. They should
issue at the earliest possible moment the
letter missive calling it. If he was
to consult his own temperament
ne would open church and
preach in an entirely different way to
that which he was now pursuing. The
church was willing to accept suggestions
from the wise men in the brotherhood,
and would only ask to let those who gave
such advice, to do so as friends and with
the proper spirit. This was followed with
applause.
The report Of the committee to call a
mutual council was read and reported,
when MIR. Beecher rose and said that DR..
Stcrrs's church Of the Pilgrims had ever
been the refuge for dissatisfied members
of Plymouth church. They had gone
there crying, and had always been taken
in and cared for. The pastor had receiv-
ed calls on New Years day, and had been
visited by Messrs. Moulton and Tilton.
The letter of DR.. Storrs to him was one
offering to do what he could for him. The
advice of counsel had been taken, and the
policy of silence would have been MAIN
tanned had it no: been for the treacherv
OF others. The newspapers had been
Sewers for all the filth fhok NOS f,,.n;eh "A