The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-02-24
The Plymouth Church Advisory COun.
ell.

Resolutions introduced on the second day
of the session of the Council, by the Rev. DR..
Bell, of Mansfield, Ohio, declaring it to be
the firm belief Of such Council that the Rev.
Ii. w. Beecher is innocent of the sins and
crimes laid to his charge, and applauding the
faith and devotion shown in his behalf by the
members of Plymouth Church, were declared
out of order by the Moderator and the deci-
sion was sustained on appeal, DR.. Bell alone
voting in the negative.
Mr.. Shearman made an exhaustive state
ment of the case of Plymouth Church, after
which a lengthy examination Of different
members of the committee was gone through
with in relation to the questions contained
in the letters missiye.
Rossiter w. Raymond read lengthy state
ment against Theodore Tiltol, and general
discussion ensued as to questions relating to
the Investigating Committee, Mr. Beecher
joining in the remarks.
On the 18th, resolution was adopted in
viting Judge Van Cott, Mrs. Moulton's roun-
sci, to appear and state his view OF facts
which led to the failure of the Mutual Coun-
eli. In response to this, Mr.. Van Colt attend
ed at the evening session, and made lengthy
address, in which he claimed that the blame
for the failure of the proposed Mutual Coun-
Gil rested with Plymouth Church. He said
he believed on his honor as gentleman,
| that Mrs Moulton desired such council to be
held, and that he desired it also.
A communication was received from Mr..
Bowen; its reading was objected to, and II
was referred to the Business Committc. The
communication stated that he (BUwen) was
never invited to be present at the session OF
the Plymouth Church Investigating Commit
tee, nor given any intimaton that he was
wanted. He says, in conclusion: /" propose
to give next week to the Examining Commit
tee of Plymouth Church, my reasons for be-
lieying Henry Ward Beccher guilty"
On the 18th, resolutions were adopted in
viting Dr.. storrs and Buddington to come
before the Council and aid them with any
facts which might be within their knowl-
edge as touching the questions before the
Council, and inviting Mr.. Bowen to
appear before the Council in the
evening. Mr. Beecher, in an impas-
stoned speech, challenged any man
Garth or angel in Heaven who had any
thing to say to his (Beecher's) detriment, to
saw it; and he added ~ go beyond that,
and. in the name Of our common Redeemer,
and before Him who shall judge you and me,
| challenge the truth from God Himself!'
At the evening session Mr.. Bowen was
questioned as to his course i'll connection
with the past troubles OF Plymouth
| Church, especially regarding his non
appearance before the Investigating Com
mittee appointed to inquire into the
Beecher scandal; among other replies,
Mr. Bowen stated that the reason he
did not appear before such committee was
because, although he was aware general
invitation had been extended to all who
knew aught concerning the matter al
issue, lie did not know that any
time had been fixed. A long ex
animation was gone through with in relation
to the tripartite agreement. Announcement
was made at the afternoon session thai
! Messrs. Storrs and Buddington had beer
w;ited upon, and both had said they had
nothing to communicate to the Council.
On the 10Th, Mr.. Sage, of the Plymouth
| Church Investigating Committee, stated tina
| it was considered unnecessary to call MIR
Bowen before that committee, as he was no
supposed to know anything. Mr.. Sage sal'
such investigation was as thorough as it wa
possible to make it.
MIR. Beecher made some denunciatory re
marks in reply to an account by Deacon
| Howard of a former interview with Nj
Bowen, during which the latter had declared
that if he communicated the knowledge II
his possession it would drive MIR. Beeche
from Brooklyn in twenty-four hours. In TN
course of some subsequent remarks MIR
Beecher challenged "Anyb in Heaven
and anybody in hell, that has any documen
that | have ever written, or any information
that touches me in any manner" to produc
| it.
A secret session, las ting about three quar-
ters of an hour, was held.