The New York herald., 1876-01-22
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mr.. Beecher Replies to Coun-
sellor Van Cott.
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL POSTPONED.

Plynouh church turned out in her might last even
ing for the purpose OF participating IN the regular Fri
day night prayer meeting and TO hear what MT.
Beecher would say regard to the recently published
correspondence between Mrs Moulton and Judge Van
Cou for all felt assured he would say some
thing upon this subject And none we're dis
appointed. Mr. Beecher spoke with great
feeling and earnestness and was frequently in
terrupted by outbursts Of applause, which he
vainly endeavored to stop. He wished he said, 70
speak calmly dispassonaely and ruthfuy, and there
fore desired the audience maintain dignided com
posure His request regarded until he SAID in
ferring to hts having been criticised for selecting
such men as Mr.. ClaAin. Mr., White, Mr.. Sage and
others Of his friends to on the Advisory
Council, that he would have had to 70
outside Of Brooklyn to find men, save FIVE
six, who were not his friends aud then a uni
versa cappng of hands and stamping of feet begun
and continued several moments But If Mr.. Beecher
was in earnest, and he terribly for the most
part he could not altogether resist the temptation 10
be funny once in while For instance he jocularly
referred to the Rev. W. W. Patten the evangelist Of
mischief from the Northwest and the comforting OF
tins peculiar appelation "brought down the house"
Again. Mrs. Moulton the "Joan OF Arc
of Brooklyn and the congregation evidently
thought this very funny, too for nearly all ''smcd
audibly." Toward the latter end OF his remarks Mr.
Beecher grew extremely sarcastic, and in tone OF
voice that would have SUITED Mark Antony when
haranguing his "swect iriends' the body OF
Caesar spoke OF Judge Van Cott as ga pumed knight
a milk white pafroy, riding with Mrs Woodruff
to-day to right the social system, and on the same
white steed riding building Of the walls Of Zion
tomorrow.
Before the business meeting, however, Mr.. Beecher
spoke at length in the prayer meeting. His topic
the various types Of religion evidenced by ooser
walton Of the different people embracing it Instead
the great diversity of appearance and expression the
part Of those who had been converted being an evt
dence against their sincerity 1t the strongest pos
sble proof Of their earnestness No two men think
alike act alike in the ordinary business affairs of life
and why hen should any expect to all who pro-
fess religion and claim have been converted express
their hearts belief and experiences in identical language
and actionsY
BUSINESS MEETING.
At the close Of the prayer meeting an adjourned
business meeting held with f. NJ. Edgerton
Moderator Not soul left the on the contrary,
OF those who had been standing the corridors
managed to squeeze themselves inside.
Brother John I. Howard moved that the committee
appointed by the church to represent it before the
Mutual Council represent 1t before the Advisory Coun
Gil The resolution adopted
Then amid deathlke stiffness Mr.. Beecher came
forward and said
MR. BEEcHgR's ADDREss
l hold in my hand two letters which have been pub
ished in the daily papers and which devoted me-
10 this church, to its committees and TO the councils
past and prospective and which, therefore constitute
a lit matter for your attention for few moments The
hrst is the letter published by Mrs Emma O. Moulton
10 her counsel:-"Please advise whether ought,
under the circumstances make any further effort at
present to vndicae myself from his slander'
referring TO mel 'or to expose his wckedness before
church council or otherwise will be much Obliged II
will with early IL this |
question that Mr. Van Cott makes the letter. OF which
shall only lead in paragraphs because IL has been
published IN all the papers, morning and evening OF
course he who steps upon the first sentence in the
threshold of this letter pauses When men are in
great distress and troubles enmy for the
moment No officer of claw bearing a writ would
care TO intrude upon funeral and he
who would be inclined to invade the
privacy of Mr. Van Cott's household when
be hangs upon the Of his house. and also upon the
very door Of his letter such an annuDciaton as this:
'My painful domestic anxietes have prevented
her reply TO your note Of the 18th OF January" His
laughter had died and one would have supposed that
put OF the solemnity oil such an experience IL would
have been impossible for man TO have sat down and
90 have deliberately penned letter which contains
nsnuatons, falsehoods criticisms that are neither
fair just nor gentlemanly; arraigning a whole
church and, as shSn show doing that which
with the instincts OF gentleman could possibly do
(Applausel May be permitted TO go on with my re-
marks without applause will not detaln you a
great While for there Is not much of IL l
wish TO speak with calmness, but l mean to
speak with truthulness Now, in so far as |
concerned in tins letter, more than one half
of 1t is direct attack upon me. SO far that is
oerned shall pass ali by, except paragraph, in
which he says 'If anything can mitigate the coarse
OF the PASTORS speech at the church meeting II
was the inexorable necessity Of the situation -alud-
ing 10 the remarks which made last Friday night in
respect to Mrs Moulton. Now you yourselves are
witnesses that from the day that Mrs Moulton APP
peared before the church, believe In yonder
room--by her counsel, Mr.. Pryor, not document has
ever come with her name attached TO 1t that did not
with the words ''crme" "adultery, perjury
and every other offensive epithct 1t the charac-
toristic stamp Of that correspondence, and VIC
obliged TO s IN church meeting and have such letters
sent TO us as no woman Of dehcacy could have read
aloud
and when last Friday night simply stated that she
had fasnedI only used that single Phrase that single
allegaton-I don't recall H. but the declaration
that Il not l. but she-has brought down this
criticism OF coarseness upon me from Judge Van Cott
Il IS proper IN his Judgment ior lady
indelicate and offensive phrases; but lor me 10 say
that they false, and that in respect
lies 'under an allegation This is the foundation OF
his charge OF coarseness Now, appeal TO you, and
appeal every gentleman and TO every woman TO read
the remarks that did make and consider the charges
that had been made and repeaed-all OF them IN the
most indecate phraseoogy under circumstances that
would have Ned the patience OF any church the
ermost-whether my dealing under the circumstances
was not far and honorable tAppLausel Is man
90 stand in the community as long as l
have, and before church as large as this,
which have built up under God, and after the
1--WE of trial that have been going through and
Is woman TO be permitted to lash him with her
tongue, and by every epithet which is unbecoming
and throw of these epithes Is that dealing
in coarsenessf dealt enentlv, dealt delicatey.
Judge Van Cot speaks Of tho council tho mutual
councn-and this subject propose to be very ex-
piict He declares, In language which ! think he l
will not be willing 70 read year hence "lf |
Plymouth church had in good faith carried out the |
agreement on which we started there would been
no exclusion within without the locality. Plym- |
outh church broke down the arrangement for a coun.
ell by persstng in its claim TO exclude four local dele
gates OF this whole number OF ny delegates TO be
Invited 10 onstitute the counciLn Plymouth church
did such thing and no living man knows 1t better
than Judge Van CotL Il never insisted upon ex-
cluding any church any Of the men mentioned on
the other side-never. And this subject allow me
10 call your TO two facts On the 80 OF
January the hrst mention between the two parties of
The churches that to be called, was made At
that meeting our committee said TO Judge Van Colt
show A of mt he uht to