New-York tribune., 1876-01-21
,rs NorLToy,s FUTURE COURSE.

MRS MOULTONS FUTURE COURSE.
CONSULTING COUNSEL AS TO ACTION CoNCERNING
MR.. BEECHER's STATEMENTS on FRIDAY NIGHT
THE COMMENTS OF Mr.. VAN COTr on HE
AHGUMENTS OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH AND MR..
BEECHEKs POSITION-HE DECLARES THAT MRS
MOUITON DOES Nor NEED vGSDICATIoN.
Correspondence has taken place between Mrs.
Emma C. Moulton aud her counsel, the Hon. Joshua NJ
Van Coti IN regard proceedings in the meeting at
Plymouth Church last Friday night and the remarks
Of Nj Beochcr at that meeting relative to Mrs Mouton.
Mrs Mouon she has been asporsed and charged
wrongfully by Tr Becchcr with PERJURY She asks her
counsel what she shall pursue to vndicate herself
aud whether she shall cndeayOr to call another Mutual
Council lie replies that her position in society is well
established and she needs further yindicaton. Fol
lowing is Mrs. Mouton's letter TO Mr. Van Colt:
BROOKLYN Jan. II, 1876.
Mr DEAR STR: | ask your attention to the Friday
evenings proceedings Of Plymouth Church, reported
IN last saturdays morning papers Mr. Beeeler aud the
church people could not conceal their e1ultation over
their nom Mutual Council, and from the proof
OF the facts known To me but not yet made public
particularly ask your attention 10 the answers made to
your statement of President Edwards TO Mr.
Beechers description OF his interviews Win me- ana 10
said TO ne but that had covered my head with per
jury Please advise whether ought, under the cir
dcac myself from his SANDER or to expose his
wlckeness before church council or otherwise. VIII
Very truly yours, EhhA C. MOuLiON.
Mr. Cott yesterday prepared the following answer
10 this letter: -
BaooKLIS Jan. 90, 1870
ties prevented earlier reply To note OF the
18th January IL has seemed to me that what had writ
ten To the Committee Plym,sh Church and what Mr.
Bcechcr said at the church meeting you reer TO- was
would deal wisely with the facts. The point of Presi
dent Edwars ease was the abuse aud mischief Of the
device of ercdng churches either party might desire 70
select That point not answered but was sought TO
be cyadcd by saying see what mischief was done by
composing the Council OF Local chuicnes anu eAeluung
distant churches" But know that we dd not desire
10 constitute the Council OF local churches ana exclude
distant churches. on the. contrary, we aSrreed
upon forty church delegates, OF whom thlrtyfour
the locality, ald tea individual delegates al
Of whom were nj distance Al .Huouth ChnIcn itau III
good faith carried out the agreement ON which we
started there would have been no exclusion wlthn or
without tho locality. Plymouth Church broke down the
arrangement fora council by perslstlng IN ITS clam 10
exclude local delegates ont of the wnole Number oi
30 dele gates to bo invited 10 constitute the Council
remind you that Plymouth Church scut its solemn pro
planning that the assembly OF delegates from distant
churches directly in opposition to he genius Of
fine local troubles TO their locality, and 10 settle
them in the ne glborhood by the aid OF neighborng
churches. without spreading the tale Ot local dssesOhs
over the whole Land But flym.uth '.hurch h'S
genius for being Illogical
ANYTHING the coalseness OF the pastors
speech the church meeting II was Ihc eXorabe neces
sy OF his situation IL was hoa ngceiss @ una. nT o ,
effort the beginning has been to reconcile rFecOh-
cabc things and To make the false seem To DE the true
cannot think IL is Your duty further, certainly
not lust You had with tue boidness OF innocence
and truth courted inquiry, while Plymouth church from
the beginning sought eyaGa and cover up aud has
again succeeded in eyaumg though not IN covering up
III Plymouth church have investigation BY inYest-
gators exclusively selected by itself IL did IN ls1l,
and can have its judged solely by what its commit
tee peasos to produce ts own sidc-let IT, Such al
Investigation cannot settle anything. and VIII leave
distrusng and porten,ous public opinion where stands
today. Plymouth Church VIII noi produce alIs' lI.Oh
as a witness il any doubling delegate may cross
examine her, Mrs. Bradshaw, nor Mr. ana Mts.
Richards. II will not produce the prSdueed evidence
that to exist that the pastor knew Defote the
29 December 1870 aud before be wrote the letter Of
contrton ntrusted to Mr.. Mouton, that ne had been
charged with criminal Intimacy with Mrs Ttlton. When
they escaped tho Council they knew that You knew Of
Mrs .ilton's repeated confessions OF that criminal in
tuacy TO persons, and prepared To prove
those confessions and he probably knew that the fact OF
his pre yious knowledge Of the charge susceptible OK
such proof could not again be denied With safety
You have long and too well known IN the best
circles and the best Christian society OF Brooklyn TO make
it necessary TO vindicate yourself here; and L
venture the opinion that, before this pain,
full controversy ends, your truthfulness ana
Christian integrity will dc recognized by all the world
You have properly cared for the good name and fame OF
the CONGREGATIONAL Church, but tho Church must now
take care OF itself II determine for Itself whether
its members can driven from its pale without hear
ing and trial. and whether niquity can be so securely IN
trenched within its walls that inquiry cannot uraR ~
forth the light OF day Congregatonslism@ @ se,i -
now on it's trial. and IL remains To be proved whether
has enough iron in its blood 10 continue 10 I'VE; MN
great respect, truly yours, JOSHUA NJ VAN VIII
To Mrs. Emma G. Moulton.