New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-21
OPINIONS OF THE DELEGATES.

OPINIONS OF THE DELEGATES.
No possIpIIJTY OF A wHITEwASHING" REPORT
CONFIDENCE FELT IN MIR. BERCnFR-EFFECr OF
MR. VAN COrrs sTATEMENTs-MR. BowEN's AP-
rRARAycE OF MORE BENEFIT THAN HARM TO
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Members of the Advisory Council are not at
oil recent in speaking OF the effect on that body OF the
statements Of Mr.. Van Colt and Mr. Bowen, and OF the
rel tons OF the Council 10 Church OF the Pilgrims and
Clinton Avenue Church. but rule maintain silence
probable result Of tine Council They agree that
the calling Of the Council wise step, and that owing
to OF IT, and the diverse character OF the repre-
sentaon. it, decision must have great weight with the
public They declare that there are too many men IN IL
Of recognized and unim. eachable purity and integ-
ry TO mako % withdrawing" process possible.
At the beginning OF the sessions delegates say,
there were few members who were thought
to be suspicious Of the designs OF the majority but they
had readily into harmony with the majority after
the appearance of Nr. Van Colt prominent delegate
from West said he Brooklyn believing III the
innocence of Mr. Beccher yet at the same time standing
rather in awe Of the labyrinth Of testimony. statements
and insinuatOns which he could not fully understand or
reconcile lie determined TO ask the most search
Ing Questions he could devise. He was reassrcd IN his
confidence In Mr.. Bccchcr and plymouth Church by the
uuexpected latitude given 10 the examination, and the
avenues ymoutn Church itself had opened in that d.
rcctiOn.
It's believed that Drs storrs and Burlington have as
many warm friends in the Council Mr. Beochrr. and
after the appearance of Sir Van Colt it was thought by
prominent friends OF those clergymen that If Drs slorrs
and Burlington would appear before the Council ana
mako statement OF their transactions with and feelings
toward Plymouth Church, IL would be found That the
cstrsnscm had grown largely out OF misconceptions
both sides and that If the Council after wise ana care
ful scrutiny determined tht further Investigation OF
Mr. Beechcs case was necessary that lie was worthy
til. Loo O. I,fnn hp
unless the result Of another investigation should prove
him guilty way 10 full reconciliation would be- OPEN
and harmony would be happily attained some were OF
tho opinion that II mistake inviting DIS Stoirs
and Budngton and others that tie step was wen al
vi,ed l. believed that the decision Of tine Council viii
he opposed the ettcr of the decision OF Tie Coun
Gil Of 1874 and the members of the Western delegation
ro at loss To know why The friends OF Drs Storrs ana
Burlington and M Becchcr should not DO able 10 remove
the obstacles TO cuIe harmony IL the Council should tie
eide unanimously on the thorOusIness Of ia" previous
Investigation The opinion IN some quarters tbat the
Church Of tie I'll rms AID tbs clinton Avenue Chn reh
aiming t forming Congregational party with ccr
tam Massachusetts churches, is discredted In the
Council
Hos long the deliberations viii he continued or how
they will result Is yet only matter of speculation
Prominent nembcrs have expressed their belief that no
conclusions Will bo published foro the middle Of -"
week. 4 division of the COunci l. expected on H""r
points, though serious want 81 harmony has been no
iiced thus The prevailing opinion IA iaNVraD"
to Plymouth Church and Mr. Eccchcr This
opinion La, gained siroH sth throughout The Sos
sons. and IN cIot part due Ia the readiness win
whcn 81. BoccIrr and thc church Coinmicc nave r.
stvdol to all demands fO li lisht on al pom Ii
siaieurnis Of Mr. Van Cot. uofWithsEndin; q rkll
vita when they maize, were counierblanccd IN or
by the evident wish Of the church to have thcn
l1ycI AMI by the unilnclnS WY IN which they were
met On the whole Il believed that they failed To pro-
ducc On The Council the impression that flyinonth
protest against the churches o Ds. 5Orrs AMI bad
in ton
THE manner IN which NJ Bowens assertions have been
t,r,ainy made good nuIr ss',u 90 tAc Council M
iowt n's statements aKoriby received hy many
O he ue, gales, tnou-ht uiry found discrepancies.
Mr Claim. a Western Judge said his belief IN Mr..
mad be II somrwii shaken by Dir Doweu's IT.
tie Examining Committee. But alter
ing Alg Lowcn aui a. irug HiI tan. aud CITING s"m'
insight into hir character, hc. iad De- ONO salts
either insinCcTc or missed ~ any rate,
thai cUuId Say nothing from iis own kD""lr'iEr.
Mr. Bowen Impressed man 40 was e"hlihuat
un ms guard lcl oi MS riat,In nis miLht CON
1T with others. and who aid not have that coincidence ~
Do. statements which uiU his who speaks what he
hnJWs ns dircct knOwc,gc % DE TIE trutn The
courtesy Win whIcn treated aud thc T'f"hi pI
tIr Committee o. tiku an advantage hy allowing vi.
al!eaiIni utcTrO. Lam, clru any prJunicf III
I.iIuf -Iouud That l.ia position ci'IitSs
INK 10 IA as ftcd That nufhins oortr ~i uig i"e
SESSIONS WHirh influenced t.r Council IA taN"T ga
I'.Siuouth church ana NJ. beccucr mora tAan MI.
BoNcn's apes. aurr 80 "a "it1e--.