New-York tribune., 1876-02-16
THE OPENING SCENES.


ASSEMBLING or THE DELEGATEs-MR. BEEcIIER's
CORDIAL NrERE'r-ATTENGIyE SPECTATORS
EXPERIENCED MEN AMONG THE DELEGATES
THE ADDRESS OF wELCoME-NR. BEEcBERs
MANNER.
Three-quarters of an hour before the Council
began its sessions delegates and spectators were
entering Plymouth Church, and Orange-st presented
much the same appearance as Sabbath
morning save that many delegates fastening
to the church doors, carried traveling-bags,
indicating the general urgency, and tho
unusual business nature OF the meeting
which had summoned them from almost every
quarter of the Union. The preparations necessary
for the convenience of the Council and its attend
ants were simple. The church parors were turned
into refreshment room; the lecture room. designed
for private sessions of the Council and committees,
was prov ided with long tables, with materials for
leter-writing. In the church itself shelves
ranged in the gallery usually occupied by the choir
for reporters of the press and few Were provided
with tables in front of the pulpit large flower
pot of fragrant exotics was placed the right Of
the pulpit, and ordinary letter-box, lent by tho
t-Oice authorities. occupied the other corner of
the pulpit under the Secretary's table
Henry Ward Beecher present at an early hour,
and appeared the embodiment of good spirits and
good health He received DIR. II. VI. Dexter Of 7as
Boston COngyegati0ndlist with a cordial greeting,
though he has received no little eensure from that
Quarter. and secured for DR.. Dexter a ticket for a
place among the newspaper men. lie made no
attempt to conceal the interest he took in the Council,
though his moy ements quiet. and he displayed
no reslessness He read OFF the addresses of lcttcrs
received from delegates, and while not engaged m
conversation with brother pastors stood medtating
in a front pew, leaning forward and contemplating
the assembling delegates.
BY o'clock nearly every seat in the cOlnmodiOns
galleries was filled three-fifths of the spectators be-
ing ladies, and equal proportion, perhap belong
ing to the membership of Plymouth Church. Tho
largest Congregational Council ever convened and
within Plymouth walls, did not attract the audi
encc that sunday after Sunday crowds 10 hear hr.
Beecher preach. \ few faces III the gal
lery were recognized as those Of frequcnters
of the great trial. Mrs. II. W. Beecher and
Mrs Col Beecher sat side by side in the front seat
of the west gallery, near the pulpit, and pad tho
closest attention TO what took place below. Niss
Catherine Beecher and few other ladies occupied
seats on the main floor under the galleries. Some of
the ladies brought their operlglasses, and numerous
hands raised to aid their hearing showed that they
were as attentive with their ears as with their eyes.
In the front seats the Rev. Drs ii. NJ. Stors
and Lyman Abbott of New-York and John 5. G.
Abbott the historian among the delegates, and
Oliver Johnson among the spectators.
The members of the Council were promptly IN
their places in the body of the church, and pre-
sented digniied appearance. IL had been said III
some disparagement of the Council that it TO be
composed largely of young men. The number of
gray heads among the delegates dispelled the idea
that the Council was not to have the benefit OF
matured and experienced men, and if line had
bccn closely drawn two-thrds of the delegates would
have been found on the side of advanced middle life
The number of jurists in the Council, skilled IN
matters of legal Judgment and parliamentary law,
is large OF the l72 churches invited to take part
1872 have sent delegations, and the decision of six
or eight others is not yet known.
When the hour came TO begin, Mr. Beecher went
on the pulpit platform, advanced to the front, and
claSping his hands before him, and without remoy-
ing his 0ycfcoat, delivered the address OF
welcome. He spoke slowly, earnestly, and
occasionally with an impressive pathos, conveying
to the Council the grave reality of the churchs In
tcrest in the work of the Council, and its duty
representative body Interested in the peace and
purity of the Church of Christ. The stiffness
throughout the church was marked He dwelt upon
the character of the Council, the largest ever
called in America by any church for the
consideration of its own affairs. With rising
voice and much feeling, he told how the church
for five years has been making voyage througha u
stormy sea- and with frank and decided tones said
that all the questions of church polity 10 be con-
sidered ran back 10 prominent, personal question,
and the Council should advise whatever invcsuga-
tions it thought wise to adopt.
During the call of delegates Mr. Beecher sat on
the railing leading the choir gallery looking with
interest at the Council. Assistant Pastor Halliday
stood in front Of him. Thomas g. Shearman behind
him and Dr. Edward Beecher took a chair in front
of Mr.. Halliday. DIR. Bacon, after being elected
Moderator addressed the Council on its object and
its powers and expressed the hope that it
would be the of causing peace
and harmony among the Congregational
churches of Brooklyn. Applause greeted his
assertion that, If Plymouth Church needed white
washing should have called others than us to per-
form a service of that kind" The Council, he said,
was not to sit in judgment on the Council called by
neighboring churches in 1874; il was not to amuse
the public with side questons it was to advise II
Plymouth Church had dealt wisely with the great
scandal in the past, and how it should proceed in
the future.
Mr.. Beecher read the printed statement OF tho
case of Plymouth Church with all the effect his
voice and power give to speech, and frequently
left the printed page to enlarge some important
point some of these foot-notes, as they might be