New-York tribune., 1876-02-16
THE AFTERNOON PROCEEDINGS.

1t made my duty. brethren and fathers TO welcome
you to this place to the duties which will he incumbent
upon you Advisory Council. You have come from
great distances Of you, and all of You have come
from occupations that could III spare you, ana we ape
cate your fidelity to the great principles OF syinia'hy
ana OF ffll0wship by which the CHURCHES are uitcd
together ana bv which those that are IN any heceSSN
feel themselves liberty to call for sueeof ana ior hep
from their brethren You constitute NOT the hst great
Council that has assembled in this city-2 CITY aV9ied o
conncil. n * tEc second largest Council in the history
OF the American churches IN within TWO Years H!tS con
vened Brooklyn. and although me Oocl OF 80 Wa M
impressive IN the dignity ana tne cTlins ana ihc
pety and TIC general excellence OF lts members ne
ileyc tLat fs Council Will be reeadcd as no W1it W.
hind them in spiritual and moral excellence Ana tnht
you you su II ,rn,arL except 10 saw that this constitutes
the Target Council tVor couN ened III America caIeG ~
any church tor the discussion ot the anniS VI 'h"'
II is matter that ueeds no explanation that Plymouth
Church he Tor the past four or I'VE years maRhEa
voyage tnrougn a stormy Its difficulties that are
known have btcn many; but every heart knoWeth is
cuities and trials within have been more than thoae
which have been Known without. Nevertheless through
this peros aud stormy period You viii JON with me in
giving thanks to God that the heart of this
to-day ana that though ii has been set npon by varlons
dyorslte, II has pleased God to bless trouble ana ac
tion 10 it and that there has been month in
history in winch the spirit Of God has NOT been present
with the work, awakening men, converting thcin ahd
bringing into church. and quiekening the mem
hers OF Ihr church all their various labors. that II
has been perpetual sumner oi green experience among
while W. have cen gong through our iloaoi ~ eo
This church numbers between 2,ouV ana 2teo mem
bers The average m1'nershlp oi me chniches ID Ac
lea is about 100 50 that Pi mouth Chnch Is cquNaeh
10 some twenty-five chUrche: But thai gives nowhere
near number cf that great body OF men FOR whom We
feel spiritually responsible II Hou take out outlying
missions our Pethel. MaYuower. our Home. our
about l. 900 TO 1000 persons who Loo, for in
struCtion. for consolation Gnd moral diccuon rms
ats voice TO lOu aud said. Come over ANA hciP us
At period. from reasons unnecessary 20 henlon
Il was thOu.i.; unwse call! ANA II was Thought that
il woud not ho wise in che churches I" respond 10 IT, b
the soh'r second thought II ha been deemed beS' ana
flasu "a tt
Advisory Council tie best answer th can e siNch 10
T.. Behold. you Here. And now need not S3y 'hH
you ls bin Sing as we trust wisdom a. d. as -
hope to receive from us not oniy ietNtht Eftldt ht
assure you christian brothers and iailels GA come
INTO an atmosphere OF prayer. NoT coming IL tlou
sand households has bet1 the tathe al moihg anu
fore God all the sessions yon vii b. by 'evoW
and women, by great mHl'tu9. & "p i nav po%S'
with God And We nave reason to ptcVc mar tIu! 'lN
in here will ice not alone for our benefit bt Tor AoF
own spiritual cditcaicn and that Watering you VIII
It ,ay cue word in regard 10 the themes yOu
1n re- ip"rmaton We have deemed tc topic reHtionco
The e OF greai interest a. can he church lolty
Tn re are cticr things Gore important thah chhlch
~ & @ ~, ,ro4rsrftv of This church 10 bc among tue
eminent duc.,ions There is tuis popularity however
that you called. not 10 personal qu'sti"s hot 10
cnlrch dueS ions. bat TO Joint one. pretnient per
sona one winch has had long and many sequencW Inc
roots OF the Questions winch you axe 10 consider run oack
TO personal questions 1t j. not for Ibis church whlch
and drew uP the ctIer-lhssNe so tlt you 3nouil ec
yourselves AT liberty within be meaning ol 'e
make every inquiry OF every sort tha You Thought 10
BE wise and best Aud whatever lhve'iisaoh yHG may
wish to make. whatever investigation !91 MA! tila II
pOEdcr and ADOPT or TO reject veg y,u 10 u-
cretcn and not according any restriction III sprii on
in letter upOu part For l may say WthOul having
menf of th Council 1t il best for them investigate aud
consider they will tie fullest desire and help of the
church to IT, aud may for myself that rear 10
adequate aud Just investigation. and whatever may D.
thought w,es and best tba most earnestly coVet and
Yiil gladly advise aud consult With you.
And one word more lOu nave not pleseh'
Ma chu hes
hood This has not been an accident AT an carry stage
Sir flat theT mi hi moi he called and upon further
consideration such has been the continuance Cf thS
extent the division OF opinion reached through imi
lies aud churches, that, after mature consideration II
was thought ~isest not 10 lhvcyc o''i % Ihio. 80 H. -
required consultation, the churches thar are near ne
center OF ;s trouble; and So without any d,Ttspeci 10
fhern-sa NJ of respect them-thoy have been Xon-
Grated that spOnsibillty when VIII deVo'e upon
Brethren and fathers know that many Of you have
lett scenes OF revival. the most tender ana interesting
scenes that come III pastoral ne we icsrt ui"i
W, ere Otlg d to call yOu aNay. bit We believe IL lhc
Holy CHOst, believe IA be presence o me oiNloi' n'
nrt mon Won that yom shall he better qualified 20
ho,a and labor i'm reyIyals than you were before
n"uo non % au ne' "a and that giving yoI II. st cordial vel
come to homes and our hearts, we ais" expires. 10
on the aIrienf wish tia there may lee spirit oi
uod in yur midst that when you return home tDg ehall
20 with added power with more faltH ~ 'tod ana
more I'VE or saus. bid YOU, brethren ana iaLet-
hearty greeting and wtE thee few remarks sap
pose my duty will BE- discharged when ask yoa to ncni-
naie temporary Chairman 10 assist III ofsahlhs ths
Advisory Council will "alt Tor some one to ncnneio
temporary Chairman
j. w. Weilborn then nominated the Rev. Dr. Leonard
Bacon of ewHayen. DR.. Bacon was chosen temporary
Chairman the Rev j. d. Clarke OF Jamaica Plain. Mass.
temporary scribe and the Rev. T. Howe oi Jcc iloue
Ind aud the Rev Mr. Boynton of Newark were electe
Assistant 5crbes The letcr-ms-iye was read and ne
roll OF churches was called, each pastor or delegate
responding for the church.
The permanent Organization was then accomplished by
te election Of Dr. Leonard Bacon Moderator ana The
Hon Nelson Dingley OF Maine and Cen Bates o @pilhs
aeld. Ill.,. ~ Assistant Moderator Tie temporary
scrhes yyero made permanent. D.. Bacon then, by re-
oue. of delegate read the Second Book OF Chioa
Cle, XIX 5-1I and made long PRAYER, ~ which ne III
voked the assistance OF Divine Wisdom TO accompany
the Council In il. deliberations aud prayed for the fnie
webeine aud prosperity OF plymouth Chuf'h ana H9
pastor.
Tho Moderator Dr. Bacon, tnrn made tic following adj
dress:
We are now ready rs o Council 10 proceed TO the bus
ness for winch we are convened Tine letter niissiyc,
which MARKS out FOR the Inc Of our duty, has Just
ord 10 rcmiud ourselves nov mt outset Of what
s-o 10 do and OF what not Ia no III
This Council Lee me say inrh' iFsi, i We o ito if
pastor II It needs whtewasbing ID should nave called
others than ourselves 10 perform service OF thaI hlu
lei me saw in the second place not called to re-
wise and correct the judgment o any former COe
Such RnppOsI!iOn cOnraNencS me very lucr on Mrnh
Congregational councils meet and tho Committee o uhS
church in prt-elting their ease viii naturally SNOW lis
that TIE f and second questions IN their rtter.'ussive
DO ca "a sii in judgment nl the Council thu Was
he'd In = ncighbOriug church Two years ago. -, ,,t
IL the third place, arc pot here - a,'se lne PoI
by drawing on their attention 10 any sldc >Hues RIO
any aucstiops merely Incidental. IT Would be disre-
spect this church 10 suppose tirt II hhr convened s
here with any such intention ia the ionfh placr, We
are moi here 10 decide nor TO try the question wich
has agitaed only this city bu tbc cHtiIc countl,
and all Fngish-speaking Chrisendom may say, l9I or
the In a three ycais aud more We have nothing 10 40
with that question Tho main question IL - hot suh,
ted 10 us. II would be prcpostrrOus 10 submit snch
ouason ss that 10 an 8ssemhagc Ike this. Wny. We