New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-12
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE PLYMOUTH AGITATION.
PREPARING FOR THE COUNCIL.

PREPARING FOR THE COUNCIL.
MRS. MoULToS's ADVISERS GATHERING ELEMENTS
HOSTILE TO MR.. BEEcHER-A PLYMOUTH VIEW
OF THE MATTER-soMg OF THE CHURCHES IN
yrTED-wHo INSPIRED MRS. MoULTON's LET
TERsf
The conference that was expected to take
place yesterday between Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Van
Colt In reference TO inviting the churches and delegates
who to form the Mutual Council postponed until
to-day at Mr. Van Colts desire. The members of the
Plymouth Committee decline absolutely TO state what
churches have been will be invited, but prominent
member of Plymouth Church said yesterday that among
the churches which had received an invita-
ton from Mrs. Monlton beside DIR. scuider's
DR.. stors's, Dr. Budingtons, aud DR.. Taylor's 0he
Broadway Tabernacle). IL evident he said, that IL
intention Of Mrs. Moultons advisers to invite
only such churches they believed would be predposed
against Plymouth Church and Mr. Beecher They had
made mistake in the Of DR.. scudders church. be-
they had depended what they thought to be tho
opinions Of DR.. scudder and Mr.. Stone Drs storrs
and Burlington had been invited because It was well
known that they had been fighting Plymouth Church FOR
long time Considering the disposition OF both OF those
eergymen, It would be o disgrace II their churches
Joined in the Council Their invitation had deep mean
ing and the keynote OF the whole Council on Mrs.
Moultons part II they attended the Council II would
be considered by Mr.. Beechcr's friends packed"
council. There would be difficulty in managing DR..
stonss Church. said the Plymouth member, for he
perfect despot in IL, and DIR. Burlington knew how TO
hold meetings and manage affairs and only let his chosen
friends know Of IL. Those gentlemen had been Mrs.
M0ultOn's real counselors oil along Dr. storrs had
shaped the policy and Dr. Burlington had done tho
managing DR.. Burlington had been the real author Of
Mrs. Mouon's letters to the church. He had prepared
their contents and informed the spirit OF them.
and Gen. Pryor, who had the credit OF having
written them. had done nothing moro than
to copy them of in his handwriting.
l.aH r.a.u
vted behalf of Mrs. Mouton because he thought
TO be inimical to Plymouth Church. Mrs. Mouon mad
also invited Mr.. Coe Secretary of the Home Mission So
ciety but he had declined to attend account OF his
official position and another society secretary, who had
invited benaf OF Plymouth Church. had likewise
declined on the same grounds. The list thus chang
ing every day and very difficult matter to get 1t
decided beyond any chance OF change.
In regard to the powers OF the Mutual Council the
gentleman said that it could not decide finally the
questions to be submitted to it, The Church would not
bound by it, action IL could only give advice, which
might be accepted rejected the Church saw 1T, and
q subsequent Council might be called which would re-
its advice The only authority attaching TO its
decision would be the moral weight which Is
might have. The question it was called to decide
was whether the church had done right according TO
its rules in dropping Mrs. Moulton 1t did but whether
the ought have such rules at ALL The practice
prevailed In all the Congre gational Churches and MEN,
dropped in the way from the churches
of Dr. storrs and DR.. Budington. Plymouth Church
had the rules written down-that WAS the only
difference. 1t question between old
and new Congregational usage. Formerly the
doctrine was once a member always member unless
removed by DEATH excommuncaton letter to another
church The recent usage has been TO give members
chance OF Withdrawing at their option and by vote
OF the church, and this liberal policy had been marked
in the case OF Plymouth church.