The New York herald., 1876-01-22
THE COLLAPSED COUNCIL.

MR.. BEECHER CoRRECTs SOME MIsAPPREHEN-
s1oNs-PLYMoUTH CHURCH STILL DESTROYS
FOR MUTUAL COUNCIL.
BosroY, Jan. 81, 1875
The following is Henry Ward Beccher's letter TO the
Boston Journal
BROOKLYN Jan. 90 1870
To rHR EDITORS oP BosroN JOURNAL
Allow me to correct some misapprohens.ons which
exist in regard 10 the mutual council TO have been held
by Plymouth church IN the OF Mrs Moulton. The
statements in the newspapers generally have been
imperfect and incorrect
Eust-Mrs Moulton withdrew her request for a
mutual council against the wishes and urgent influences
OF Ihe committee Of Plymouth church. She had by
her lawyer, Judge Van Cott, member OF Dr. Storrs
church. agreed TO the time and the place of meeting
The committee of the church had framed the letter
mssive In her language, and the church desired
and expected the mutual council TO proceed II is still
willing call IL
Second-It is not true that Mrs Moulton was Obliged
to withdraw because Plymouth church would agree
to the churches which she desired. On the contrary
Cott in her behalf mentioned. Not only did the COM
mttee agree to call the churches and ministers men
toned by her, but it stated this fact in writing, which
before her when she threw up the council
Third-0 what ground then did Mrs. Moulton break
up the conierencer On the sole and single ground that
the committee OF Plymouth church had pointed and
respectfully asked for her consider the Improperly of
asking the two Brooklyn churches named to sit in a
mutual council by reason OF their known and public
antagonism 10 Plymouth church. These the
churches which had Instituted long cor
respondence with Plymouth church in 1878,
OF no very friendly Cnaracter Wncn nad
called great national council in 1874 to discuss tho
affairs OF Plymouth this church 10 ng expressly
cuded and subsequent events have not decreased the
sense OF their unfriendliness The committee did not
20 call these churches II expressly declared its
Willingness 10 call them II Mrs Moulton still wished Il
after hearing the which the committee sug-
gesed TO her why they should not be called will ap
pear from their letter Of January 10, from which
tract
Second-Your right one-half the council Is not
disputed aud simply called your attention to con-
siderAtons which to US TO require reflection your
and the past o the churches referred to- We repeat
said In the rs instance that do not for
think Of withdrawing from the mutual council in
you disregard our suggestions
On the day that Mrs Moulton withdrew she had IN 8
letter the clerk OF Plymouth church before her
eyes:-
''BRooKLYS, Jan II 1876.
"JoHN VAN Corr, ESQ.
"DEAR SIR-Tnc committee Of Plymouth church dc.
sire me to inform you they change their
position in the matter OF the protest They ready
at once to sign and issue the letter mssive either with
or without the changes suggested respecting the
churches 70 be called. sincerely yosrs
THOMAS j. TILNEY"
Plymouth church desired the mutual council, was
willing to call any church named, but allowed herself
the liberty during the preliminary conferences Of sug
gesng objections TO two OF the churches nominated,
expressly stating that such objection did not exclude
them. No perverson Of truth De greater than to
alege that Plymouth church prevented the mutual
outh church committee opened the eyes Of Mrs
houtons advisers TO the garng improprety OF calling
the Church OF the Pilgrims and Clinton avenue church.
and that hrs MOulton did care TO have a mutual
council II these two churches were not TO be in H.
HENRY WARD BEECHER