, 1876-02-13

there is no further danger, now that the con-
spi1acy is known. But We would seriously
ask, What kind Of Government officer is
this to be employed in the prosecution Of
Whisky rings, who is working to suppress the
only evidence that can convict them?
TIE SCOPE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
COUNCIL.
Another important episode in the history
of the BEEcHnn scandal, and one which most
| intimately concerns that branch OF the re-
1igious world included in the Congreg gational
denomination, will take place this week,
| namely: the meeting of the Advisory Coun-
ell summoned by the recent "Letter- Mis-
sive" from Plymouth Church. We print
elsewhere an article commenting upon the
| composition of the Council, and forecasting
| what may be its probable advice to Plymouth
| Church upon the question propcunded in
! the Letter-A1issive. As the article alluded to
does not set forth the nature of these ques-
| tions upon which Plymouth Church soicits
| advice, We complete the record Of the Coun-
Gil by briefly stating them. These questions
| mainly concern the propriety Of the recent
action of the Church in cropping members,
having special reference to Mrs. MouIToS
and prospective reference undoubtedly to
Mr. Bowen. Applying the questions to per-
| sonal cases, they are briefly to the following
pu1port: Has Plymouth Church dealt prop
erIy with Mrs MoulToS and Deacons WEST
and DUNCAN, who staid AWAY from worship
because it has not done certain things, not
affecting them, which they have not asked it
to do, and because it has not done the things
they hure asked it to do? Has it dealt prop
erly with Mrs MouLToN, who absented her
self because she believed Alr. BEEcHR guilty
of otfenses Of which the Church had declared
him innocent? Has the Church dealt prop
erly with Mr., Bowen, who made charges
| against N1r. BEEcHER and then deciced to
substantiate them? This point, however, is
now modified by the fact that Mr. Bowen
has made proposition to substantiate his
charges, and that time has been allowed him
to do so. There are other points within the
scope Of this Council which are Of equal im-
portance. These are ~ whether Plymouth
Church ought to have called Mutual Coun-
ell to investigate Mr. BEEoHER at the request
Of Mrs. A1oULToS, who, while member, had
not made charges against him, and who made
this request year after the Church had had
its official investigation; and (o) whether the
conduct Of the Church in this whole affair
has been such as to entit1e it to the fellow
ship of other Congregational churches.
These are the points which the Advisory
Council will be called upon to consider with
reference to giving Plymouth Church advice.
It will be observed that they only concern
matters of church discipline, or rather pro-
cedure, since in Congregationalism there is
nothing which can be characterizedby by SO harsh
term as 't discipline" It will be observed al
SO that they do not involve at al the question
Of Mr. BEEcHEn's guilt or innocence. He is
not on trial before them at all, and does not
figure except Indirectly in any of the ques-
tions. So far as his moral status is con-
cerned, Plymouth Church appears to be a law
unto itself. The Church alone is under in
vestigation. The Advisory Council can only
advise Plymouth Church whether it has
acted in accordance with the Word of God
and the Congregational form of administra-
ton in its dealings with members who have
been dropped Beyond this it has no juris-
diction, at least if it confines itself to the
points in the 'Letter-Missive," although We
presume there is nothing to hinder it, if it
were so disposed, from rendering some very
pertinent advice to that church which would
60 below the surface and touch the question
Of Mr. BEEcuEn's Innocence or guilt This
kind of advice, however, would be extra
aAg ~ fn lad NV
Plymouth Church as gratuitous and i'm
pudent. It is somewhat difficult to see,
especially with DR.. LEONARD BACON in the
Council, how it will manage to steer its
way without running upon the rock Of BEECH
Ems otfense. It must be remembered, in this
connection, that Plymouth Church and Mr..
BEEcHEn have several times of late declared
in rather an offensive way their complete in
dependence OF all other churches, and their
determination to allow no interference with
the running Of their own machinery. In
brief, they have notified the other churches
to mind their own business. In the light of
this fact, and also of the fact that the Coun-
Gil is picked one, if not q packed one, the
attitude Of the Church towards the Council
is rather humorous than otherwise. If it in
dorses the action Of the Church its advice
will be received with feelings Of devout graf
itude, and will be pocketed with thanks. If
its advice, however, should be unfayorable,
it will be returned with thanks to the advis-
ers. Plymouth Church is evidently master
of the situation yet It can have no appre-
hension as to the Advisory Council, as it is
m nv 1fC ~ :,
apprehensions as to the meeting With Mr..
Bowen ten days hence does not appear.
The Anti-Monopoly Convention at Harrisburg,
Pa, vent directly back On Tom Scott. 4 reso-