The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-16
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
WHEELING REGISTER.
Associated Press Report. by Western
Union Lime, otfce Northwest cor.
of Main and 18th SITS.
CHURCH
Meeting Of the Advisory
Committee.
What it Proposes to Do.

iery being filled chiefly by ladies
Mr.. Beecher greeted all the delegations
on their arrival, and opened the proceed
ings by An address. He said this is the
largest council ever held In America tc
discuss the affairs of any one chnrch. he
referred to the storms through which
Plymouth Church had gone, and
said, nevertheless, though it had been set
upon by varisus adversities. it was an
united church. Plymouth Church num-
bers between twenty-five and twenty-six
hundred members, while the average
membership of American churches is
only 100. The membership Of Ply
mouth Church gives no adequate idea OF
the great work done by this charch, s.and
hence we have called you from ali parts
of the country to come aud give US your
council. Mr.. Beecher said he hoped the
Council would do what it thought was
wisest and best.
As an explanation for the absence of
notable local churches, Beecher said
that some had requested not TO be called,
and it was thought best not to involve
the churches nearest 20 this trouble, even
in consultation, and so far as their omls
sion being through want OF respect, 1t
was out of respect for them that they had
been exonersted from the trouble that
falls upon the council.
Mr. Bee cher concluded as follows: l
assure you that you come into
house of prayer. You have been remem-
bered in prayer in many thousands OF
households, and we have reason to believe
that your staying here will not only be to
our benefit, but to your own great splr-
itual edification. You are called not to II
personal question or church question,
but to joint question which has long
seen many sequences. The roots OF 1t
run back to personal question.
Whatever questions you may see
fit to ponder, you will act on your dis
cretion and without any restriction on
the part of this church. For myself |
wish to say that l fear no adequate and
lust investigation OF whatever is thought
to be wisest and best, and that L most
earnestly give my consent to 1t. We
believe 1t is possible for God to so pour
out his spirit on you here that you
l'WllI 90 nome Will ihoAo al ue"
power, with more faith in God,
and more success in the saving of souls,
We heartily welcome you here to Brook
lyn.
Each delegate was handed a long,
printed statement of the case of Plymouth
Church, containing an elaborate review
of the difficulties arising from dropping
NJ N,,1,oo'. Mama from, tho rolls
Mr., Clark of Boston, was nominated
as temporary chairman,
Messrs. Howe, of Terre Haute, and
| Bovton, of Newark, were nominated Us
temporary scribes.
Hon. Nelson Dingev, Of Louisville,
Maine, wa. elected First Moderator;
General Bates, of Illinois, Second
| Moderator.
The three temporary scribes were
then made permanent after submitting
the question of discipline to be passed on
and then read. After the scripture read
ing DR.. Bacon prayed for wisdom IN the
counsel for the pastor of Plymouth
Church, that he might be wholly
blessed and his ministry more fruitful and
that the result would be harmony in his
church.
object oftbe COunseI-no whitewash
40 be Permitted.
The church moderator then said it is
proper to remark at the outsct,we are nCl
here To whitewash eithe. this church or
pastor. il they need whitewashing they
should have called others than US.
Second-We are not called here to re-
wise or correct the judgment Of any
former council
Third-Not to amuse the public by
drawing off their attention to side issues
Fourth-Not to decide or to try the
main question which has sgitated not
only Brooklyn but the English speaking
Chri,tendom for three years; we have
nothing to do with that question.
the main question Is not
submitted to it. 1t would be rreposter-
Gus to submit such questions ike that to
snv assembly like this. Why, we are
more numerous than Presbyterian
SYNOD, and more unfit for any judicial
function than the General Assembly oi
the PRESBYTERIAN Church itself. We are
NOT here for the trial Of such case as
that Let it be instructed at the outset,
that even If this church, BY its council,
should invite US 10 try and decide that
question. we have nothing TO co with
Il: we are incompetent, or as | once
heard a lawyer say, "Why,appeal to the
poor house, ar you would not nave
more unfit trial.
In the fifth place, we are here to advise
this church concerning matters in which
. it has dealt, and how it ought to have
dealt with what is well known as the
great scandal; TO revise all the proceed
ipps of the church in relation 10 it; 10 ACT
on principles, not facts. In conclusion he
asked for solemn silence, and that al
hereafter abstain from manifesto
tiors of applause or otherwise
Business committees were appointed
end the moderator announced that h
had received written protest from W m
! r. West. rlaughterl which after debate
wss referred to the Business COMMITTEE
Mr. Beecher then read the statemen
of Plymouth Church.
The Business Committee then repor1et
in favor of appointing SIX committees
each TO consider one of the SIX questions
70 be decided Adopted.
Recess till 7:30in the evening.
The council re.ssembled at s O'CLOCK
DR.. Edward Beecher addressed them II
behalf of Plymouth Church, chiefly II
reference to the first and second qQes
tions in the letter missive In the cours
of his remarks be referred to the sttacl
upon this council and church in lead
ing Congregational paper in New Emf,
land. xnd said that he believed that arii
Gle to have been written By the Secrets
~ of the CONGREGATIONAL Union.