Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-02

Beecher challenged anybody in Heaven,
that l have ever written, or any information
that touches me in any manner" to produce
it.
A secret session, lasting about three quar-
tiers of an hour, was held.
A secret session of three hours duration
was held on the Dist Committee reports
were made, which, the Brooklyn Eagle states,
sustain the general principle of Plymouth
Church in dropping members from the rolls,
and, without going into the Tilton and Mrs.
Moulton cases, declare that the rule in these
practices in Plymouth Church is not in
consistent with the Word of God or
the principles of Christian justice. The
late action of the church toward Mr..
Bowen is said to be sustained, with a
statement that it had been better to have
been more promptly taken. 1t is also stated
that the church is exonerated from failure to
give Mrs. Moulton a Mutual Council, and the
church's plan for council of non-local
churches is commended. A minority report
was made from the committee to which was
referred the second question in the letters
missive, that relating to the dropping OF
members from the roll.
A letter was sent by Mr.. f. D. Moulton to
DR.. Bacon, as Moderator Of the Council, stat
ing that the writer was prepared to prove the
guilt of Mr. Beecher, by evidence both oral
and documentary, and saying that "n al
lowed an opportunity Of producing such
proof before the Council fail to make good
this assurance, then | am willing to be dis
NV anL a q
wretch devoid of truth and honor and I'M
worthy Of human association"
Henry G. Bowen also addressed letter to
Dr. Bacon, denouncing as false certain state
ments made by Mr.. Beecher to the Council on
the 10Th, and saying that he (Bowen) has
never been afraid to look Mr.. Beecher in the
face and intimate moral impurity to him; on
the contrary Mr.. Beecher had never dared to
meet him in an interview on the subject.
The session of the ed was mainly devoted
to the consideration Of the reports of the COM
mittees, ali Of which were adopted with the
exception of the one relating to the sixth
question, which question is as follows: Has
Plymouth Church, in the principles and rules
which it has provided for the maintenance of
order and the administration of discipline, or
in any known cases of it's administration under
those principles and rules, gone beyond its
rights as church of Christ, so as justly to
forfeit its claim to the confidence and fellow
ship of the Congregational Churches?" The
committee expresses itself satisfied that there
is no absolute necessity for reOpening the
(scandaD case, but inasmuch as there are so
many suspicious claims and ruinous aIlega-
fic~,c dc hat % (IOupail aopoipt
a committee Of three to advise Plymouth
Church that it would be well to select com
mittee of five from a list of eminent persons
which they submit, whose duty it shall be to
hear every scrap of evidence that can be col
lected, and adjudicate finally upon the case
The discussion on this question was a some
what heated one, and had not ended up to
the time of adjournment.
At the morning session, on the 23d, a re-
port was made from the special committee to
which was referred the letter from Andover
Seminary Church calling for council to try
the case of Mr.. Beecher; in which the com
mittee say Plymouth Church should not ac-
cept the invitation. Report adopted at the
evening session.
After discussion the Council decided that
the Church investigation held in 1874 was
adequate, and that Plymouth Church had
done its whole duty to the matter.
Announcement was made that the commit
tee of nine to whom all matters for final
consideration Of the Council were to be
brought comprised President Porter, Chair
man; Dr. Fairchild, DR.. Salter, DR.. Strong,
DR.. Sturtevant, DR.. Bacon, Bradford r. Wood,
Judge Whitney and ex-Gov. Dingley.
At the afternoon session, the resolution as
to whether or not there should be another
investigation of the charges against Mr.
Beecher was discussed at great length, and
finally decided affirmatively, about two dozen
delegates voting no.
At the evening session it was decided that
a committee of three should be appointed to
select five names from the list presented by
the committee, VINO shall constitute an In
vestigating Committee, to hear all possible
evidence that can be CLEANED in regard to
the scandal, and sit as final judges on the
matter.
The Council concluded their labors on the
oath. An adverse report was made and
adopted on the resolution offered by the Rev
Dr. Bell, to the effect that the Council de-
clare Mr.. Beecher innocent of the charges
preferred against him.
The report of the council sustains Plym-
outh Church in its dealings with the mem
bers whose names have been stricken from
its rolls, and in its general discipline in this
respect. 1t also Endorses the action of the
church in relation to the proposed Mutual
Council, and expresses regret that Mrs. Moui-
tons representative did not substitute two
other churches for those objected to- and thus
crafty the expressed desire of Mrs. Moulton
for such council.
The report says the Council finds no reason
to call in question the method by which the
committee was constituted which investigated
the charges against the pastor; but in view of
the dissatisfaction which more or less pre-
walls with the previous investigation, it is
recommended in view of Mr.. Beecher5 de-
mand to be brought face to face with his &C
cusers, etc, and for the peace of the churches
and the protection of Plymouth, that new
investigation be had. The provisions for
such an investigation SIS follows
Prof. Timothy Dwight, D. D., New Haven,
Conn, the Rev J. W. Wellmar, D. D., Maiden
Mass, and the Hon. Bradford r. Wood AL
bany, N. Y, are appointed by the Council as
the Committee of Three who are empowered
to designate a Commission of Five out of