St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-03-03

Haven, Ct. Rev. DIR. j. W. Wellman of
Maiden, Mass. Hon. Bradford r. Wood
of Albany, y. Y. are hereby appointed
10y this council as the committee of
three who shall create this commission
from among the following brethren ::
Then follows ii list of p names. such
us Woolscy of New Haven, Seelye of
Amherst, Angel of Michigan, etc.
THE ANDOVER MATTER.
After the reading of the above, DR..
Bacon said that he had been given Il Ie-
port of IL committee To which the letter
of the AndovcI seminary church asking
Plymouth church to Join in IL council to
try Mr.. Beecher had been referred. At
ter stating the case, the committee pre-
scented the following preamble and reso-
lutlons. which were adopted: =
Whereas. Il letter has been submitted
10 the church in Andover theological
seminary to Plymouth church, which
shows that IL misunderstanding exists in
certain quarters in regar, to the power
of Il church III relation to Il scandal sup
posed to exist in Il sister church; and
whereas. this subject falls within the
general scope of the matters brought
before this council. this council hereby
solcnnlN declares
First, That any church decming that
IL sister church unreasonable neglccts
to investigate public otfense affecting
the common cause MAY suitably adj
monish that sister church and remOu-
state against its supposed deIellction
of duty, and i'm case the sister church
do not hearken to the church that add
moni>hcs it. that church may acquaint
other churches with that otfense, which
the offending church lies under. and
may unite with itself those other
churches in still further admoniShing
the offending church, and, III case this
further admomition he not listened to,
the churches which have given the adj
monition may forbcar communion with
the admonished church, and may then
call IL council of churches to consider
the case. But the council So called and
assembled has power To inquire and
consider only whether the offending
church is acting contrary to order and
duty.
Second. that this liberty gives to no
church the right or power to proclaim
81 take part in the investigation of the
alleged scandal through mutual coun-
| I'll I'loIb>''u ny llStll anu lol lllt
purpose, nor. on the rejection of such Il
claim 10y the sister church, to call an en-
partc council for the same object.
Third. that the assertion of such
claims as those last named would be IL
pal pahle violation of the principles of
CungregationaliSm as laid down in the
Cambridge platform, and in that of the
national council of I-t5. and would he
not only SuhvcISive of the peace and
order of the churches. hut also such Il
dangerous Infringement of the liberty
of the local church is would be promo
tive Of the most evil results.
IN CONCLUSION.
After the reading and adoption of
the reports. remarks were made 10y DR.
Porter of New Haven. DIR. Stmtevant
and DR.. Bacon. all in sympathy with
Mr.. Brccher the hymn Jesus. Lover
Of My Soul" was sung by the choir and
congregation, and Mr.. Brecher assembled
the platform. lie spoke at great length
of the >utfrring> to which he had been
subjected. and said that it was mp">>i-
bic Ton IL man to 90 through all that and
NOT feel it,, and yet. if it pleased God to
have him GO on, he WAS ready and will
ing to go on another five wears: toI.
said he, | can do all things: Christ
strengthens me. At some time he would
probably he able to defend himself. He
was the child ot Il noble father and OF IL
noble mother. He WAS brought up in
the midst at morality and in Il house
hold with uublcIni>hed love. which to
him WAS greater than amy thing else. He
id"red the memory of his mother aS
did ii Catholic the Virgin Many. He
had inherited these qualities of his
father and mother, and when they re-
hulltd the vine for throwing out its ten
drills. they could rehukc him for loving
where he ought not. His love WAS built
mp in Il household where the name of
Woman WAS only next to that of il saint
tliurng tins portion ot his address Mr..
iiccchcr WIS very much atfrctcd.) His
:isSociatiun> had been with women
whom he could not help loving. and all
that he had suffered al the hands of
those of another school bad not in any
WAY blurred the ,,;IcIedness, dignity and
purity of womanhood. 1t WAS only
proper to maintain within its >erluSion
that which when it bursts out will de
/ >tr"N everything around it. He thought
he might SAY without tear that he was
III the blessing of God, and was very
near To him. and he would say that
there was not Il creature in the world
tor whom he would not suffer. if he
could save him from greater suffering.
If thrIe was any word which he had
said /" hurt The brothers of near church.
IS, Ii" was anxious to Withdraw il. At
some hour every day he felt us if be !
was nearer the New Jerusalem, and |
locking back upon his life he fell glrat |
JOY. lie did not care for his reputation
after h" was dead. but, if in his time,
ie had been able to put into literature
that which would cheer the sick and |
the Young. thririn Was his JOY for pos
triitI. He expressed his great graft |
tude To the fathers aud brothers of the |
council for the result arrived at. ILeV .
had brought them strength and courage,
and he WAS thankful for it. They had |
uI:l,ii, no recommendation which would .
not lie adopted. and that, probably. |
before some ri them had reached their
homes. He desired to assure them that,
II ever they were in trouble, that IN the |
darkest midnight and in the narrowest !
path, that light which we'd III. world |
was enough. He asked them to trust |
in jesus Christ, and said. feathers and |
brothers, bid You farewell
DR. Bacon then declared the council
dissolved.
Tit"n may lie and swear, and Moul-
ton and Bowen and all the rest of the
dirty crowd may contradict themselves.
and testify falsely, and empty their
slop tubs upon the public. and still
nothing will be proved. nothing will he
settled. Only death and the grave will