New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-17
THE MORNING SESSION.

DR. BELLS RESOLUTIONS IN REGARD TO Mr..
BEECHERs MISUNDERSTANDING RULING or
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS oP MR.. VESTS
PRoTEsT-ARGUMEST OF MR. sHEARMAN 0N HE
COURSE or PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
The Council was called TO order at 800 a.
m by DR. Bacon who invited the Rev Dr. Marsh Of chi
cago to conduct the devotional exercises After the
singing OF the hymn love thy church, o. God" Dr.
Marsh read John eth chapter beginning with the 10Th
aud delivered prayer Prayers were also gwen
10y H. NJ storrs the Rev Mr. Jones of Utica and the
Rev. Mr.. Wilcox of stamford. After the ny nm " Come
Of every blessing, had been sung the minutes
OF the day before read. and the Rev Dr. Samuel
Bell Of Mansfield. OHIO, and asked II II was In or
der to Offer two resolutions He would give his
why they should be offered after he had read them
He could give good Why they should be discussed
lie then read the resolutions rs follows:
Resolred. That it is our firm belief that the Rev
Henry Ward Bcecher ia innocent Of the sins and crimes
publicly laid To his charge.
H. And regard with profound admiration and graft
nle the mistaken and loving aith and aud deyo
ton Of the members aud congregation ~ Plymouth
Church. Brooklyn in their pastor especially ss because
that this should be- unable to arrive at all the
facts and especially that because thus they have en-
plned the pur the fidelity and the glory 9f the faith
Dr. Bells resolutions would have been supported with
an argument, but the Moderator declared them not
within the province of the Council DR. Bell still insisted
they gernane 10 the purposes OF the Council,
and recalled some expressions Of tho Moderator during
the session 10 the effect that the conduct OF MI
eecher reality the which had produced the
Council. DIR. Bacon interrupted lin with 4 shake of the
list merely positive fas all DR. Bacons ges-
and words ae), but almost begcent N manner,
aud demand TO know In his speech OF the day before
lac had declared that the question OF Mr. Beeehers limo
cence the Council according 70 the call or let
trr-mssiye without waiting FOR reply from DR.. Bell,
the Moderator decided the question not 10 he In order
rhereupon DR.. Bell appealed from the decision amid
much confusion and loud Of Question" Tue Mod
orator refused 10 listen TO his appeal declaring not de
paable lie then put the question whether the decision
the Moderator should be stalled ANA there was an
almost universal and decidedly emphatic Aye" DR..
Bell the only respondent III the negative. lIs re-
The rather posve charac'er OF the mover Of
tons. They were referred TO the Business committee
MR. VESTS PROTEST.
Prof LYMAN Ahott, the Business Committee, said
the Committee did want Il said that an exolcer and
member of Plymouth Church had requested that his
Grievances should laid before council of Congreg-
ona churches, and had been refused Therefore 1t was
determined to read Mr.. Vests protest, which
follows:
DEAR BRETHREN The undersigned is member, and
was formerly officer OF the Plymouth Church aud hc
desires respect uy to lay before yoa the following state
In the rst sentence OF the etteimssive by which you
IRE convened, the P mouth Church says mat III lncs
ts good name called IN question on accont 1l ,,o
regulation Of lts internal affairs The uidCfslghrd
c,Is attention 10 the fact that no "prncple rule
adopted many years ago" has been called in question
by any aggrieyed member o the church tAat lhe
neighbOrng churches, who called the Council 81 1874
lid not do IT, and that there has been discussion III
tins community on any such subject since the hcetis
n that Council. The sole cause OF disturbance III Ply
mouth Church its extraordinary procedure, by
wuich Mr.. Tt0n formerly, and Mrs Moulton more re-
Gently, have been dropped from membership WITHOUT
ccnsure 8bsentees, and their grave charges against
the moral character Of the pastor have been ignored
Tie good name OF the Plymouth Church has 0een called
In question for only one reaS0n-its refusal, under he
guidance OF Mr. Beechcr aud his advisers Ia submit the
charges against pastor to an Investigation before an
impartial tribunal, where his accuscrs would nave sa-
il ctory opportunity TO present the evidence on which
therefore, as member of Ply mouth Church. protests
against the presentation OF comparatively unllnp0rtaIt
matters 10 this Council TO the neglect OF Tue one ony
subject OF concern 10 the chuTen anu le COMMUNITY
namely the question of Mr. Reechers gult
The Undersigned in the first place. str0ve to bring Mr.
non and Mr. Bowen to trial. under the belief which he
EN- entertained that hey had sandered his pastor and
in the second instance, his sole object by means OF
10 investigate the charges against Mr. Beeche and thus
settle controversy. II he did not the best course
better owle,ge of ecclesiastical rOceedings, upon
winch he found ministers to differ, ana especially pc
cause, instead OF being helped by the ocsrs oi tne
Justly as an enemy Was he right In Wishing some
mutual council or other strictly impartial ecclesiastical
body 10 try Mr. Beechrrf Was the church right In re-
fuslng his request for such council and their part
originating nothing Advisory Council la place OF
one would have the confidence OF all
investigate all tne evidence, and 10 render decision
when Men T york Feb Ss TO- isS6 WILLIAM F. WEST
The protest was referred the Committee having under
consideration the fourth question Of the ettermissve
MR. sHEARMAN's ARGUMENT.
Tbomas G. shearman from tho Committee appointed
IN present the case OF Plymouth Church. then intro
duced I'm few words by Mr. Beecher, and spoke mainly
follows:
This Council has been called two classes Of Ques