The Morning herald., 1876-02-16
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
AEETING or THE ADVISORY
5rs, COUNCIL.


ossslsh-The Plymouah Church
Crowded, - Flfty Journalists
Prssent-The Case Of PLY.
mouth Church - Organi.
tattoA Of ihe Codnoil.
BY American Press Association.
XII ''" 'f% BRooKtYN, Feb. Is.
The Advisory Council Of the Ccngrega-
tional ChureheS, called to take action on
questions sfising IN Plymouth Church, ~.
sembled It Q O'Clock this afternoon. 1t was
{ large and digniaed body. Al the dele
gatss have not arrived, but agrsat majotity
Of those accepting inyitations were present.
The body ofthe church was reserved for
the delegates, While the galleries were open
to the public. About 80 newspaper reporters
and correspondents wers, present. "A large
portion Of the audience were composed OF
ladies. 2 nj, ,,.,-. ~-..,....
The statement Of the case Of Plymouth
church with annexed documents covered 10
printed pages. In this document are set
forth the principles and practice Of Plymouth
church In dealing with members, who will
fully absent themselves from its services,
and series of questions are asked regard
ing the duty of the church In certain cases,
including queries % to whether the church
ought to have called . council to investigate
the character Of ito pastor to the charge that
Plymouth church has virtually declared itself
outside of the community Of the Congrega-
tional churches. The Committee say this
Council called by the church furnishes In
itself an overwhelming answer. Regarding
the discipline of Plymouth Church, the
committee, SAY, tho Council is not asked to
determipe what modes or rules Of discipline
should be adopted in all Congregations
churches, but only to advise Plymouth
| Church ~ to modes and forms which may
wisely and lsgitinately be adopted by this
chutch under these circumstances. Six
questions are submitted for the Councirs
confederation. The lst and and questions
refer solely to the discipline Of the church.
| The 3rd question inquiries what course the
Council ought to adopt concerning members
who absent themselves. The question Is
divided into flve specific classes, embracing
the various motives Of abeeuteee. The 4th
ia whether, Plymouth Church ought to have
a mutual or other council Of churches for
the purpose OF Investigating the character OF
it's pastor when requested to do 90 by MEM
bers of the church who have never admitted
any charges against the pastor, and when
such request Is made for the first time ,fhore
than ono wear after an investigation has
been had by the Church itself, and the pas
tor has been sustained BY unanimous vote.
5th question is whether the course OF Fly
mouth Church and its Committee IN 1te
conduct of negotiations between the
lchurch and Mrs. Moulton concerning
the call of the proposed mutual council has
been wise and Just, or whether there naf
baeu any error on the part OF the church
therein which 1t should correct. The sixth
ouestfon Il whether tho church y--tu- The
} principle and rules which 1t has provided
for the maintainance of order and admins
} tration of the discipline, or In any knowf
cases of it, administration under those
principles and rules has gone beyond It'll
, rights as q church of Christ so Us justly K
/ forfeit its claim to the confidence and fel
, lowehip of congregational churches. Tht
Abatement concludes a. follows !: You arr
} doubtless aware brethren, that the position
} of this church two years ago was interpre
ted bv some as Q rejection OF congrega
f tioual fellowship. We were then chargee
With maintaining practices which ought tt
/ exclude us form fellowship, and !
: that were not enough VIII
!, having "a virtually declared our
: selves outside Of the community OF Con
/ rreratioual Churches. The first of thes'
sccusations We lay before you, courtAn((
. YOUR full inquiry, and seeking your irani
advice az to the second. Thib Council caiiet
: by us and responding 30 freely to our can
! itself an Overwhelming snswer. we 40 no
: desire nor do our sister churches, repre-
Q sented BY you, desire that We should stan,
e alone, Independent, but not Isolated
Q strong In the conviction OF her sole resPon
d sibllity to Christ her master, out aouol
strong in the added support, sympaty, am
Q II need be, admonition OF her oretnren
e Plymouth Church offers you the. we'com
# and thanks Of fraternal fellowship, ~
J, prays that the holy spirit may guioe = an
9 bless your deliberations to the glory Oh ~
and the welfare OF nus people.. "A a
K two o'clock Beecher ascended tue Piaiofl :
and said the church extended welcome =
s,i dslArates. The church appreciated tn
svm natSv and the sense of duty which IN
Snced their brethren to come from lon
distances when they called for succor: I'M
vss the second great church council cor
70 vsnsd IN brooklyn, and this, he was conf
). Hsnt- would not be behind that OF 1874, !
shiNtv and character, while 1t was IN
j. isrssss- is ever convened in America to cons
= dsr the affairs Of single church: After re
n Ssrrinr far to tho trials Of Plymouth Church
NJ Beecher said that its great heart wa
- mnited and II stood as ono man. To-day tn
. ouestions to bs considered were m POI
!. nsrsonal and otherwise, but the
~ aiI ran back to one person.
u onastion and whatever tho Counc
y mirht with to investigate they were ~ y.
!. erty to follow their own inclinstion unie
r tered by the strict interpreta alton OF tne - r.
!. ter, missive or any other rigid nmiW. =, :,
ic himself he feared no just ana tnorougn
= vestigation and desired that sucn .;an sn sar
,e nation would be made: After reieIr.4s -
!, delecates had left, and invoking the bles
:, y mo mo- of God upon the Council. Mr.. Beech'
= !. ca7,ed I for the nomination of . temporal