The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-19
of sending anything to him, or words to that eff

Storrs' speech before the council of 1874.
NOW, sir, in regard to this other matter of
personal conference with Beecber, will speak
for myself. L had no conference with Beecher
concerning this subject because L felt that it
had been made impossible by him."
know nothing about that unless it be a
reference to the letter which he had sent me-
know of nothing unless it be that L didn't
answer that letter.
Mr. Shearman-It could not have been that.
Beecher-rhen am in profound ignorance
or any other reason. | know of nothing else
l always supposed it referred to that aud was
not on account of any communication from
him, but because intimate friends Of the Doctor
have socially mentioned that as matter of
evidence again and again, and it has been
sown up and down and through the city and
through the land, that he had made overtures
and that had neglected them, and sometimes
1t mas been said with good deal of color and
feeling that had neglected it in contemptu-
GUS way and sometimes it has been said that
mad neglected it 10 way that indicated con-
scious guilt L have stated to you exactly
the grounds on which it happened.
have this to say
A delegate-Can you state the substance of
that letter. Some of the council may have
read it. but some may hot have heard it.
Beecher.-We will at another stage find it
and you shall have it. cannot give it to YOU
now Now L wish to hear the other part of the
question, sir-"whether am willing that DR..
Storrs and DR. Buddington should state any
thing that they know
Ii there is any man on earth that has any,
thlng TO say to my detrment [ am here and
now challenge him to say it. (Cries of good,
good, and loud applause.) 1 go further than
that. Ii there be an angel of God more pres
cient and omniscient challenge him to say
aught go beyond that and 10 the name of
our common Redeemer and before Him who
shall Judge you aud me 1 challenge the truth
from God himself (great applause.) And what
Is an TINS gong to ba. Tomorrow morning it
will be said In the numerous journals, "Well,
Mr.. Beecher, how rhetoricaly he managed the
matter, aud 1t will be put in the religious pa
pers, lob, yes that was very plausible sta e.
ment butt and am in Judgment between
two devils "but" and eff" daughter Moth
ing that have said is taken to be true, and [
am put on perpetual trial on my veracity, for
although am wiling to be tried I don't dis
gulse from myself, suppressing every sentiment
OF natural honor that pertains to gentleman.
| know perfectly well that this whole process
is continuous trial and crucifxion of every
sentiment of honor AMI every sensibility of my
soul and that am questioned and questioned
and questioned and questioned as L have been
through months and years on the supposition
| that the truth has not yet been got at and L
suppose 1t will be so to the end of my life.
don't look Wi th any great hopes for the result
of this council. don't look for any hope from
the result of any council or tribunal. l think
there IS hope IN the grave and beyond. But
for me expect to walk with clouded head
not understood until go to heaven, and that
is not far off that is not away, and [ am con-
tented TO bear just that load that my dear Lord
puts on me. He knows what is best. / have
accepted. Though the natural man rebels once
| in white and bubbles out, yet grace in the
nature puts it down but am counted to walk
| so. All my sorrow is that the preciousness of
the gospel which it has been given me to
preach is hindered somewhat by this trouble,
| but to work for Christ and save men is my cal
ling and not to vndicate myself Applause.
DR.. Bacon of Illinois, asked Beecner if he
had heard that DR.. Storrs was aware of the ru.
| mors affecting him at the time of the silver
wedding of the church
Beecher said not precisely in those terms.
He heard rumor at the time that DR.. Storrs'
mind on the way down to the silver wedding
had been very much clouded by the rumors
which were going around about him, but a
| friend had spoken to him on the subject and
he then felt justified in acting as he did at the
silver wedding.
DR.. Bacon suggested that further inquiries in
this direction be postponed till DIS. Storrs and
Buddingtou appear before the council.
The attendance at the afternoon session was
| larger than in the morning. Assistant Moder-
ator, Ex-Gov. Dingley OF Maine, who had also
presided in the morning. called the council to
order and requested Dr. Deane of Indianapo-
| lis, to lead in prayer.
When the di scussion had been resumed on
| the resolution offered by the committee, DR..
Strong of Boston, said that having been oblig
ed to return into the session to hear Mr.. Beech
| er reply, they had not had time for full aud
| careful consideration of the subject, and they
| now wished to present substitute as follows:
ResoIued That the council now in session in Pym-
outh church extend cordial invitation to Rev. r.
5. storrs, D., and VIM Ives Buddington, D D.,
which may DE within their knowledge as touching
questions before the council.
| A delegate asked what the committee expect
ed to reach by inviting these two ministers
| DR.. Strong said that the committee were
unanimous in the desire that it should be adopt
ed. Should they shut out anybody they would
| be doing an injury to Plymouth church.
Judge Whitney said he considered it more i'm
| portant to hear the two gentlemen than any
others who should be invited to appear before
| the council.
The Moderator, DR.. Bacon, said that from the
| first he had been impressed with the fitness of
| inviting these two brethren to appear as breth-
rem before the council. They should not be
| summoned as witnesses, but as brethren to
come in and make statements in relation to
| the question beforeit
| Considerable discussion followed this, in
! which Drs. Park, Brown, Wacott and Presi-
| dent Porter took part. The resolution was
| adopted, and DR.. Bacon, President Porter and
| DIR. Sturtevant were appointed as q committee
| TO write to Drs Storrs and Buddington to APP
| pear before the council.
The question Of adjourning over Sunday
| was brought up and for a time heated dis.
cuSSion was kept up, q mOtlon OelnS nnaIly
| adopted that the council adjourn at noon to-
| morrow, and that it assemble again at O cock
| on Monday afternoon.
| Opportunity was given to the Plymouth
church committee to make additional state
ments and Sherman said he mad been instruct
ed by the committee to lay before the council
| paper which had not yet been presented to the
| the church for the reason that the meeting
| could not be called since 1t had not been re-
| ceived He then read a letter from the Ando-
| yer Seminary, published this morning.
His letter provoked great deal of discussion
and was eventually referred to committee of
| three.
! Deacon Isaac Wilson of Lombard, ILL.,, want
| ed to have it stated in the report of the COM
.mittee whether or not tie Audover Seminary
church had right under the rules of Congre-
| gationalism to call this council.
| Mr.. Cox understood that one of the delegates
| present had letter from Prot. Phillips of An
dover in relation to the council, and that they
| ought to hear it. 1t transpired that the letter
| was private ane and could not be published.
| Mr.. Sherman, in reply to question relating
| to the further investigation of the charges
| against the pastor by the church, said: First,
the reason why they had not opened the case
| again was because no charges had been pre-
| sented.
| Be echer also spoke at some length on the
! snbject his point being that he was tried by a
community who had not the cense to read the
| court reports of the case and to stop continu-
| ally SeuulnR COmplalutS, tudI luey uau uOb
| challenged the world as witnesses.
| DR.. Walcotts resolution that Henry G.
Bowen be invited to communicate TO this coun
| Gil any evidence he might have in regard to the
| question before was adopted.
| Aresolution was adopted providing that all
future questions should be put to persons
| through the Moderator from the platform.
| r. w. Raymond stated that further lnvesti-
! cation was not required by man, woman or
| child in Plymouth church.
| DR.. Bacon on behalf of committee to invite
| Drs Storrs and Buddington, reported that they
| had seen and been received kindly by both gen.
| tlemen, and that both of them had said that
| they had nothing to communicate to the coun-
Gil The report was adopted and the council
adjourned.