Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-17
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Second Days Session OF the COngrega-
tiOnal Council to Try Beecher.
Preliminary Proceedings Bro. Shear
man Active in Behalf Of His
Pastor.

NEW YORK, February I6.-When d.
Leonard Bacon, moderator, called the
advisory council 10 order this morning,
not more than half the members were
in their seats, and the galleries were only
half full OF spectators. The exercises
began by singing the hymn, 81 Love
Thy Church, o, God.u Delegates aud
church members were arriving freely
now, and when the business hour ar
rived there was a good attendance OF
both.
Rev. DR.. Bell, of Mansfield, Ohio, Of
fered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That it is our firm Lelief
that Rev. II. w. Beecher is innocent Of
the sins and crimes laid to his charge.
Resolved, That we regard with pro.
found admiration aud gratitude the un-
shaken and loving faith, trust and devO-
tion of the members of Plymouth
church, Brooklyn, to their pastor, espe.
cially because by these we have been en-
abied to arrive at all the facts by which
we know he isinnocent; and especially
50 becsu Sc thus Il ey have eI mp, ified he
beauty, fidelity aud glory OF the fDtn as
it is In Christ Jesus, our Savior and our
Lord.
d.. Bell, attempting to speak on the
resolutions, begun by saying, Mankind
were waiting to know the opinion of this
council in regard to this matter" when
he was interrupted by point OF order,
that the subject of the resolutions was
not given to the business of the council
The moderator decided the point well
taken, and the decision was on an ap-
peal by DR.. Bell, who alone voted in the
negative.
Mr.. Shearmau protested against being
called upon to present the casa of Plym-
outh church In the absence OF the COM
mittee, and then was read Ex-DeaeOn
Vests protest, presented yesterday,
ag ainst the submis sion to the council of
any other questions than the guilt or In.
nOcence of Mr.. Beecher, and asserting
that the whole cause is contained in the
extraordinary conduct OF Plymouth
church in dropping from It's res er the
names of Theodore TiltOn and Mrs.
NJ JultoD. The protest was referred to
the special committee previously sp-
pointed.
Mr.. Beecher announced that Mr..
ShearmRn would represent the case for
the church and said He or /, or either Of
u, will be suhj sct to such inquiries as
may suggest themselves to the minds Of
the cCuncil.n
MI. SheArman made an exhaustive
statement CT the case of Plymouth
church, trRversing AL the ground gone
over y, ,saerday by the pastor and DR..
Ed ward Be5cher, and taking up in ad-
dilion the subject of the mutual coun-
ell, srrsigning Mrs. Mouiton for her &C.
ton Throughout.
The argument Of Mr.. Shearman was
interrupted by q recess taken to give
the committee an opportunity Of getting
through 3 vast amount Of work they
have upon their hands.
EVENING SESSION.
The advisory council reassembled at
two o'clock. A great number OF specta-
tors were present. The session was
opened with prayer, after which Mr..
Shearman resumed, giving the details OF
tie letter of opposition offered by the
committee to a mutual council, in which
certain delegates should sit as members
Plymouth church was not ruled by one
man, nor ty ten; those who were sup
posed to rule, were most frequently over
ruled. He denied that Plymouth church
had gone b7yoDd its right as church Of
Christ, 60 as to justly forfeit its claim to
the confidence and fellowship of the
Cor rgregationsl churches; never wss
there more preposterous case. He had
read q long report of an investigation
which was had In the matter by COM
mittee appointed by the church. AL
though they had done everything asked
o: them, 1t was demanded thst they 90
be'OTe the courts He cited the trial and
the verdict, and said that there was no
new evidence; it was only what some
body had told somebody else.
When Shearman concluded lengthy
examination of different members Of
the committee was gone through with
relative to the questions contained 10
the letter missiye, during which Shear
man explained the motives Of the COM
mtttee IN Oblecting 10 the churches Of
Stoirs and Buddiugton being represent
ed in the council. He said: "SupDosing
Judge Van Cot had accepted the objec-
tiOns and agreed TO withdraw the
churches, be could have repre- ssnted the
case to these churches, 80 that there
would not be any apparent dice )urtesy.v
In replying to Mr.. shaw, Of Illinois,