The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-03-09
The Scandal COmmission,

L
The Advisory Council at Brooklyn
has been dissolved. Beginning
Tuesday, Feb. l4th, it held ten.
days session. The expectation was
that it would be in session only three
DAYS.
The council sustained Plymouth
Church in the points of ecclesiastical
polity involved. In other words, il
declared that each Congregational
church is a law unto itself in matters
Of discipline. That is the distinctive
principle of Congregationalism, as
compared with the Presbyterian
church, with which it is in accord in
matters Of doctrine. The real work
of the council, the one result Justify
ing its existence, was the provision
made for an investigation of the
charges against Mr.. Beecher. A
committee of three was appointed to
select from twenty names submitted
commission of FIVE to try the case.
This committee consists of Professor
Timothy Dwight, ID. d., New Haven,
Conn.,; Rev. J. w. Wellman, ID. d.,
Maiden, Mass; Hon. Bradford II.
Wood, Albany, N. Y. The list from
which they are to select is as follows:
Theodore d. Woolsey, New Haven,
Conn. Mark Hopkins, Williamstown,
Mass. Jules II. Seelye, Amherst, Mass ;
N. Shipman, Hartford, Conn; L. s Fos-
ter, Norwich, Conn; j. w. Andrews,
Marietta, o.; j. B. Angel, Ann Arbor.
Mich; w. b. Washburne, GreenbrIer,
Mass; A. c. Barstow, Providence, II. l.;
J l.. Chamberlain, Brunswick, Me-; F.
J. Walker, Detroit, Mich; Jacob Brink,
erhoff. Mansfield, o.; Alpheus Hardy,
Boston, Mass; Asahel Finch, Milwau-
kse, Wis; 8. Il. Gookins, TeIre Haute,
Ind; L w. Blatchford, Chicago, H.;
William b. Edwards, New York; iona.
than Z. Sargent, Hampshire; j. G.
Knapp, Keosauqua, Iowa; Henry p.
Haven, New London, Conn.
These are all men of eminence in
the Congregational Church, and near
ly all of them enjoy national reputa-
tions. The first two named are ex-
Presidents Of colleges, Mr. Scelye is
college professor and member Of
Congress. Two are ex-Governors,
Chamberlain and Washburne. The
latter is an ex United States Senator,
also, as is Mr.. Foster. J. b. Angel
is the President of Michigan Uni
versi,y. +. j. Walker is one of the
ablest lawyers in TIE West. f. w.
Blatchford is well known as one Of
the foremost business men of the
country. He is a member of the
New England Church, Chicago.
Judge Gookns is accredited to Terre
Haute. He has law Office there
and in Chicago. He is member of
and Deacon in Plymouth Church,
Chicago. He has long stood among
the foremost lawyers in Illinois and
Indiana, and possesses pre-eminent
fitness for the service 10 which he
may be called. No doubt every man
named is entitled to the fullest con-
fidence of the public.
Three Of the five shall constitute q
quorum, and shall have power in case
Of failure TO complete the requisite
number of FIVE to fill the vacancies.
This commission will be intrusted
with the duty Of receiving and ex-
amining all charges against the pas
tor which they may regard as not al
ready sufficiently tried. 1t Is pro-
vided, however, that this scandal
bureau shall not be constituted ex-
cept on the following conditions:
Unless formal charges against the
pastor of Plymouth Church shall be
brought before the church or its com
mittee within sixty days after the disso,
luton of this council by party making
himself responsible for the truth and
proof of the same, unless, within the
same time, it shall be adjudged to be
by the examing committee of
the church and the committee Of three,
that important testimony not previously
given, which might throw light upon
the charges which have hitherto been
tried, should be heard by this committee.
The result of the investigation by this
shall be reported to the
Committee of Plymouth
Church and be given by them to the
public.
The natural inference is that the
Eve are to meet With closed doors,
and maintain secrecy as to the de-
tails of the statements made to them
1t is only the results that are to be
given to the church and the public.
This should be the distinct under
The public is insufferably
tired of the nauseous scandal, and is
prepared to say to the commissions:
. Gentlemen, we have full confidence
g in you. We know you to be fair
" and able men. Go to the bottom
of this case. Invite the fullest con-
- fidence of everybody who knows,
$ or claims to know, any thing about
g it. Don't pollute the air with fur
e ther details, nor blacken reputa-
g tions by giving publicity to gossip,
g nor yet deter the submission Of
g testimony by the fear of ipjuring
g the innocent" The commission
will be small enough to make it easy
to maintain secrecy. (Hica1O ,/Our- |