New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-24
PLYMOUTH CHURCH COUNCIL
ANOTHER DAY OF SECRET SESSIONS.

DELEGATES FoR COMMUNICATING WITH RE-
pORTERs-THE PROPOSITION OF THE ANDoVER
CHURCH FOR MUTUAL LNvEsTTGATING CoUN-
GIL LEFT TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH FOR DECISION
--IHE WORK OF The INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
OF 1874 APPROVED BY A LARGE MAJORITY or
THE COUNCIL
Although the Advisory Council held three
ecret sessions yesterday the neighboThood Of Plymouth
Church In great appeared deserted The excessive
sold and adherence Of being "intcrvewed" lent
agility the dignned delegate, and scarcely more
than three persona seen together 1T time
When the Council assembled in the morning ngnincant
Elances exchanged and the volcano VI indignation
evidently about to explode inerfered with the spirit OF
the devotional exercises. Ex-Gov. Dingey took the
chair announced that the Council was "by tsef'
Dr. Bacon had something to say on that Hypothetical
point and az excitement and cycling OF delegates
Indicated that other minds agltated on the same
mbject During the open sessions there was much com
paDt Of the incOrrectness OF the press reports, but
sung the secret sessions the complaint has been OF the
correctness and completeness especially OF THE TRIBUNE
reports.
DR. Bacon Immediately after devotional exercises
made highly indignant speech, and shook rod OF ter
ror the assembage. He said in substance that he
kDew the customs OF the kingdom and the spirit OF the
locality were against the of the Council but he
had idea when they resolved to be by themselves"
that the proceedings would be kept secret He was sur
prised and indignant, therefore, 10 find that the
proceedings OF each days secret session had
been found entirely correct in THB TRIBUNE,
and substantial given in several papers lie
said he did not know Thether this was attributable to
the contingency Of reporter being concealed near
tbem-and then he looked in the direction OF every sus
picious place OF cOncealment, except the Organ-or
whether some delegate had proven leaky vessel" and
furnished . report TO the papers. He declared that
measures had been taken to institute proceedings and
inquiries at the newspaper Offices and thought some
h. Of IN Qhs 10
eresy
President Porter OF Yale also expressed his views OH
the turpituds Of "eaky delegates" He wanted il I'M
herstOOd that when he made speech in secret session.
II not TO be made public property, but only to ae
quaint the of the Council with bis personal and
private views the subject under debate. When the
delegates pressy understood that the sessions
secret injustice to have his utterances pro-
claimed 10 the world
Dr. H. NJ storrs followed President Porter in much the
same tone of indignation, and every member whose
pernept remarks had found public utterance complained
of Having mis- honest views on public matter laid cor
recy before the public II asked that those dele
gates who lad talked with reporters should MAKE &C
owedgement of their acts, but nobody responded The
scptural precep Let him that 10 without sin cast the
frat stone prevailed, and little more was said ON the
subject.
The Special Committee Of the Advisory Council to
which the Andover Church letter proposing Mutual In
vesigating Council sttls the scandal finally was sub
pitted, orted adversely TO its consideration by Ply
mouth Church. The question OF advising Plymouth Oh
this point was submitted with the letter ITSELF The
Committee consisted Of seven members, headed by the
Moderator, DR.. Bacon The other members were Prof
Dwight, the Rev. g. II. SpaudiDy, DR.. Welman, Dr.
samuel Wolcott the Hon b. r Wood, and the Hon. j. b.
Grinnen. Contrary 10 expectation DR.. Bacon who has
come considered specially favorable 10 further In
yestigatOps in any direction which revived the scandal
warmly advocated the adoption OF the report chiefly on
the ground that Andover had point too far IN ts
letter for Investigati0nal usage.
The Committee did not criticize the motives Of the An
mover Church. stated the rules under which church
request another church TO unite with them IN ea
for q Mutual Council. 10 conceded that church
had right to request Mutual Council as the Andover
Church had done, but not In this instance, when Ply
mouth Church had already held an investigation satsae
tory to ITSELF Hence the Audover proposition not
strictly In accordance with Congregational polty and
should these grounds be accepted by Plymouth
Church
The report was received but before the Council tool
final action upon IL the report OF the Sixth Committee
was osled up again, action having previously been
taken the last part which, at the suggestion OF
the Rev. Lyman Abbott was divided into three spcc-
cations, as follows;
First On the approval OF the Plymouth Investigating
Second; on the adysabiy OF further investigation.
Third the method Of such proposed further inyesu
CATION
Considerable discussion was then bad DR.. Strong who
framed the report smoke support OF the Investigating
Committee Of 1874 did also DF. H. NJ storrs Presi-
dent sturtevant said he not fay satisfied with the
manner which the investigation rad been conducted
Dr. Parker Joined In the debate which protraced
The "previous question finally called and large
majority approved the constitution and work OF the In
yestigating Committee Of 1874.
During the afternoon session the Council concluded TO
Try stop the ledky place with preamble and resolu
tons. as follows:
whereas Man false and injurious reports Of the pro
eoff Inc
Iesoired That all public reports Of what IL said or done
In the private sessions Of tins body unauthorized ana
nnauthente and therefore undeservDg Of public conh
Resolped That ,e hereby collectively and individual "
sclaim all sponsbiity for any statements that may
have been may be attributed 10 Us Ia such fepoilS'
No express denial Il made this preamble and resolu
lions uni after il had passed. when delegate de-
eined to furnish THE TRIBUNE with some information
he volunteered the statement that its reports 50 far OF
the recent session. had been remarkably correct.
The discussion on the question OF another investigation
and the manner in which IL should nc made was eaines
but Lot 80 noisy the previous day II was finally
decided that the Council should not commit Itself 10 adj
ylsny another Council absolutely and II made the force
of its acceptance the Committees report provisional on
the wishes and Judgment Of Plymouth Chnreh As
the latter hal expressed desire Tor an lnVesugatOn
which should be tnailty as made On bchhi OF the
church by Mr. shearman III bis speech 10 was let 10 fy-
mouth Church TO say whether It would select scandal
bureau OF five persons en- from among the ~ prom
ipent ngreg tionasts suggested by the Council, who
include the Modoratos OF the Council and PTeAl
dent Angel. Bradford r. Wood, aud Others
Tue reports being TINS placed before the Committee
OF Nine for final consideration and ultimate report the
Council concluded to adjourn until 10 this morning,
when II is expected that the Committee OF Nine will lay
the results OF the Committee" before the delegates
sad invite discussion. IL is expected that the Council
will hold open session this evening and make it's final
deljyeTsnes.