The Morning herald., 1876-02-17

lnGs Hn Full.
BY American Press Association.
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-When the hour for
opening the religious exercises arrived this
morning there were not more than half the
members of the Plymouth Church Advise
ry Council in their seats, and the galleries
were not more than half full Of spectators.
After the religious exercises the business
session was called. Rev. Dr.. Bell, of Mans
field, Ohio, read two resolutions he wanted
to offer, as follows: ~t
Rssolvsd, That It Is our firm belief that
the Rev. H. w. Beecher is innocent of the
sins and crimes publicly laid to his charge.
Resolved, That we regard with profound
admiration and gratitude the unshaken and
loving faith, trust and devotion of the
members of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn,
to their pastor, especially because we have
been able to arrive at all the facts ny whlcn
we know he is innocent, and especially so
because thus they ehave exemplited the
beauty, fidelity. and glory OF the faith as 1t
10 In Christ, our Savior and our Lord.
Mankind were waiting, DR.. Bell said, to
know the opinion of this council in regard
to this matter.
A member arose to point of order, that
the Moderator had decided that such mat
ters as the subject of the resolutions were
not gcrmane to the business ofthe council.
Another said that a. friend of the pastors
he would move that the resolution be 70.
ferred 10 the business committee.
DR.. Bell again tried to speak In favor OF
his resolutions, but was called to order
after having said few words, by men,
Der who desired to know from the Moders-
tor If DR.. Bell was not out Of order. Inc
latter continued bis endsavor to speak, and
the members called for decision on his
point Of order.
The Moderator decided that the point
was well taken, but DR.. Bell continued 70
talk. The Moderator said that he had o.
cided that DR.. Bell was out of order, and II
he wished to appeal from the decision ne
could do 10.
"Well," said Dr.. Bell, ''you must pardon
me for appealing, but / must, though very
reluctantly"
He still desired to talk, but the question
was called for from all parts of the house,
and at the rulingof DR.. Bacon the Moderator
v as sustained, nearly every delegate an
swered in the affirmative, DR.. Bell alone in
the negative.
Dr. Bacon said 1t seemed to be secular
question and he had put it in secular way.
A letter of Deacon West, protesting
against Council spending time In trivial
matters, and leaving out questions OF
Beecher's guilt or innocence was read ana re-
ferredt to tho Committee. Ontie fourth quess
ton, which relates to Vests case, Ihomas
G.. Shesrman then ascended the platform
TO make statement of the case OF the
Chu.ch. He first spoke of the criticisms OF
the press on the course OF Plymoutn
Church, and to correct reports published
If the Church and of Beecher. de passed
on to the question of dismissing members
and other theological matters. he re-
viewed the case Of Mrs. Moulton, OF tne
attempt to have Mutual Council and ex
blamed how the council fell through. The
said Plymouth Church done Its
nest to secure q Mutual Council but 1t was
essential that the Council should be impair
tial. The present Council was at liberty toex-
anime everything in the history OF thee
The question was before them In the
broadcast possible form, and the church
wished the fullest advice of council as to its
manner of dealing with the charges against
it's pastor, and whether any further investi-
cation was necessary. Recess was then
taken till o'clock. During recess an ex
traordinary scene occurred, the occasion
beinp the arrival of Professor Smyth, OF
Andoyer, Mass, who addressed
Rcrcher inquiring whether the
letter had been received from Professor
Phelps of Andover. Beecher replied In the
Affirmative and said the letter was now In
The hands of the clerk of Plymouth church.
The letter proposes that the Advisory Coun-
I'll and Plymouth church consider and adopt
means by which the Mutual Council OF
smaller numbers should be called for the
express purpose of investigating the
question of Beecher's guilt or inno-
cence of charges against him.
Mr. Smvthe said he desired to correct an
imnression sought to be conveyed by FRO
fessor Phelps letter. 1t misrepresented tne
action of Andover Church and he contended
that the letter of Andover Church should
be read before the delegates here.
Mr., Beecher professed willingness, pro-
vided Phelps' letter was also read.
Mr.. Symthe objected and said the
church should not go before the public mis-.
represented, and he said that two-thirds OF
what Beecller had said Of the Andover prop.
osition was untrue. What the Andovei
nroposition was both Beecher and Sherman
decline to state Beecher intimated that per.
haps not more than 5 members Of
Andover Church were present a!
,neetinp when letter was proposed
and said he did not want a body IKE
that preiudiced, perhaps to try him: smytnst
WIS a small affair, but refused to give any
details Of the meeting or who took part II
~, .nose r.. for itself. 8eecher said the action o
Ip Apndoyer church was irregular an.
discourteous. It had Ignored oo..
him and the church havin!
l,u laut ,ts latter 10 the Clerk of the churcl
and and not 10, to the church itself. The exchang
at's of sentiment r upon this and other points wa
earnest. Mr.. Smythe demanded that Mr.