The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18
THE EVENING SESSION.

Long before the Council convened in the evening the
galleries and every available spot in the body OF the
church were filed with visitors and members
OF the church shortly after the meeting was
called to order delegate stated that Judge
Van Colt present In answer to the invitation
extended by the council and he was thereupon called
10 the platform He promptly took his place beside the
Moderator and after acknowledging the courtesy Of
the invitation extended to him. proceeded to define his
position IL not here, " he said, "as a member OF
the Church of the Pilgrims. l am not here
as the counsel OF Mrs Moulton l am not here
to represent anybody, but a private gentleman
spending to invitation of this great Council togve
IL information facts which | am supposed to
know and which the Council desire TO know and for
whatever say tonight | am responsible as an indi-
vidual TO God and TO you"
Dr. WoLcorr interrupted the gentleman 10 say that
he understood the invitation to extend TO Mr. Van Colt
to appear before the council as the counsel Of Mrs
Moulton
In reply this remark Mr. VAN Corr read the reso-
luton summoning him to attend:-
Resolved. That the Council invite Joshua " Van Colt
ESQ., appear before this body and state his views Of the
facts relative 20 the negotiations for mutual council be,
committee of Plymouth church
Dr. woLoorr repeated his declaration that Mr. Van
Cott had been summoned as Mrs houlton's counsel;
but the gentleman again said he was not
Mrs Mouton's counsel, but a person who
had been her counsel Upon this statement backed by
Dr. Bacon's declaI alton Mrs. Mouon would be
held responsible for what Mr. Van Cott
might say the latter was allowed to
were held between himself and the committee of
Plymouth church looking to mutual council and his
story was precisely that detailed by the plymouth
church committee, with exception 1T was ex-
planned, said he, ''by Mr. Sherman in his address
to the Council as reported in the papers, that the
protest against the invitation to the Church OF the
Pilgrims, and the Clinton church take part
in the Council was orally addressed to My
Is that that protest read to from paper and
asked for a copy OF the document and a copy was
made on the spot and delivered to mel
Mr. sHEARMAS and Mr.. TILsEY rose to explain this
TACT by the statement that the latter gentle
man, being shorthand writer had made
some rough notes Of the remarks of the
members of the committee before that body
had proceeded to the meeting appointed with Mr. Van
Colt, and that It was these notes incomplete and in
forpal which had been read to Mr. Van Cott and from
which corrected copy had been made.
DR. Bacon, Dr. Wolcott and Rev. Lyman Abbott put
number Of questions Mr. Van Colt all OF which he
answered without evolving anything new. One delegate
said:'I understand Mr. Van Colt say that there was
no way by which the Church OF the Pilgrims nor the
Clinton avenue church could tell except by inference
which OF the two parties had invited them. How,
then did he feel in honor bound to tell them that they
would not be permitted to attend such CouncilYn
Mr. VAN Corr replied that representations having
been made to those churches that they cordially
invited to attend the Council and that cordlay having
been terminated by the protest OF Plymouth church,
he felt bound IN honor having concurred in the
invitation TO inform those churches of the change.
On motion OF DR.. WoLcorT, a vote of thanks was
rendered Mr. Van Cott for his prompt response the
invitation of the Council. He then lett the platform.
DR.. BACON then stated that he had just received a
letter from Henry c. Bowen. Under the rules the
document was, without being read, referred to the
Business Committee, which will report upon 1t this
morning The following is copy OF the letter.
90 WILLOW STREET, BROOKLYN, Feb. IL 1876
Rey LEONARD Bacon, D. D. Moderator !.
sirfhe following appeared in Brooklyn paper OF this
evening"
Mr. WARREv-Did Won send for Mr. Bowen p,
"Mr. WlNsLow-NOt by any written We sent
Mr. CIshin the answer came that he atWoodstock
had nothing that he didn't anything
but that he would not say anything
city during the sessions Plymouth Church In
vesgatng Committee; that invited 20 pres
emit nor was any hint OF intmaton given that
i wanted On the contrary, l told by
of the committee that would be called.
conld have given, IT summoned. what give
next to the Examining Committee of Plymouth
hIy. II My G. BowEN.
Rev. Mr.. WILCOX of Bristol Conn, asked some ques
tions with reference 70 the correspondence OF Mr.
Bcecher, in which he expresses $50 much seli-con-
domination and remorsen He wanted TO know
whether Plymouth church had thought the only
ground for these letters that assigned by its
pastor
President sruRrEvANr thought the Council had MOTH
ing 20 do with such questions. That had been decided
upon when the Council convened.
Dr. BACON asked whether the dropping Of Theodore
that he had slanderng the pastor was
in the opinion OF the committee, the proper
have pursued?
Mr.. SHEARMAN replied that in the opinion Of the
committee, the course pursued by the church per-
fectly right
The Council then adjourned till this morning at
hall past O'clock. Mr.. Beecher INFORM
ing the members they dispersed that
vitaton had been received from the propretors
OF Turkish bath establishment TO the delegates 20
there, ''wash and be cleansed' The invitation ex-
cited considerable merriment