The New York herald., 1876-03-17
BEECHER'S REPLY.

Dr. Storrs' pronunciamento against the Advisory
Council II appears IN the ChristidH linton In large
type and in prominent place II is here given in full
another interesting contribution to tho scandal
literature
The address delivered by Rev. Dr. r. s. Storrs
Sunday evening, IN The Church OF the Pilgrims,
nominay an explanation of his course and posi-
tlon, but really an attack on the recent Advisory
Council
AS TO the character of tho Council, Dr. storrs de-
clares II TO have been zone OF fair ability and respectable
character without possessing any precminenI share OF
that undelnabe authority which comes with conceded
eminence and knowledge and experience and Chris
tan wisdom" He int'mates that a considerable por
,ion OF its members werc invited because of their
known prcpossessions 'in favor of Plymouth church
policy and OF IT'S minister" that they unduly
swayed by the appeals OF that minister and that they
were subjected to the 'silent but powerful influence"
OF liberal hospitality.
After this introduction he proceeds to condemn the
dehverance OF tho Council on every point submitted to
IT, Its declarations, he says, arc 'ooscly, though
quite tDgeniousy stated" but he finds their real mean
ing and relations not obscure. The answer OF the
Council TO the first question OF tho letter missivc no
finds 20 be dangerous doctrine" because II leaves
'the church wholly at liberty" TO put it's own in
tcrprcta alton upon the circumstances of each case
'and 10 recognize and TO decide for itself whether
this Is one OF the many where such action is
proper" In the frrther dcliverance concerning the
withdrawal OF fellowship from members who have
abandoned the church, he finds that tho Council
without Intention OF course has In effect heapcd dirt
upon the graves Of its ancestors and done great DIS
honor TO mo name and cause OF The Lord OF righteous
ness"
The advice OF tho Council concerning certain classes
Of members who abandon tho ordinances upon the
prcicxt, IN various forms, that another member OF
The pastor OF the church, is guilty of crime, Dr.
Storrs visits with less sweeping ccnSurc though not
without sarcastic reference 20 tho wrath of the Coun
Gil toward such offenders, compared with It's
lcnicncy toward persons "accuscd Of scandalous
Offences" lie argues that in some cases (and appar
emily he refers to that Of Mrs Moulton) may be bet
tor for the member TO abandon the ordinances and
swat in patcnce and in prayer, until God in His proy
dcncc shall bring light the hidden things and mako
others the sharcrs OF the painful knowledge which al
ready Is HIS "
On the subject ofthe constitution OF mutual councils
DR. Storrs takes direct issue with the declaration of
The Council. lie denounces the notion that one party
has the right 10 object TO churches ministers named
by the other, and says that "a dangerous blow
never delivered at that church order which has
granted TO ministers right be heard and mado each
church responsible for the many standing in fellowship
with IT,"
The declaration OF the Council in favor OF the regu-
ary and sincerity OF the Plymouth Investigation OF
1874 is assaed by Dr. Storrs with great severity, and
the character OF that investigation is insnuatcd TO
have been Irregular dishonest and fatal TO justice
TO order. Wo understand Dr. Sorrs to have asserted
hore Though by rhetorical ndrecton) that the attor
ney of Mr. Beechcr also the counsel Of the invest
eating Committee, and decided what witnesses should
be called
The condemnation by tho Council of tho Andovcr
proposition Dr. Storrs considers revolutionary add.
ng:"If this is Congregatonasm, cannot but
pcct that the general Christian mind OF the country
will think it has had about enough OF it, And the
plan OF commission devised by the Council he
analyses at considerable length concluding that at is
not too much to say that no result In the least
nkey 10 DC attained by Such COMMISSION can DO any
thing toward enightcnng and purifying the darkness
and dirt In which the churches OF Brooklyn and the
land have long been walking
The remainder of the address contains an eloquent
-tsume of the foregoing points eulogy Of the history
OF COngrcgationallsm, prophecy OF It's failure II the
views adopted by the Council are to prevail a con-
densed indictment of Plymouth church and intima-
ton that DR. Storrs cannot remain In fellowship with
the general body OF the Congregational churches they
approve IT,
10 this remarkable lecture we shall add at present
but few brief notes
i. We look in vain, from beginning TO end, for
single word OF Kindness or sympathy for Plymouth
church.
2. We look, equally in vain, for any recognition Of
the fundamental and peculiar doctrine OF Congrega-
tionnlsm, the independence of the local church. and
It's liberty under the advice but from the control
Of its BRETHREN to deal with all matters OF admnstra
ton according TO the Word OF God they arise. On
the contrary the very OF this delivcrance is
revolt against tho liberty OF the churches and solemn
declaration that no system of church government
be tolerated which leaves grave and important ques
tions to be finally determined by the local church.
The objections thus raised apply with equal force to
the whole system of Congregatio nalism. We do not
perceive that any distinction made between the
OF pastor and that of any private member OF church
Great scandals might arise out OF the real sup
posed conduct OF lay member or officer
OF church, and, If we understand DIR.
storrs correctly, he would feel u neces-
church 10 try every such Certainly chat is the
logical Inference from his position, whether 1t is
which he Is willing to accept or not Yet nothing
bo certain than that the admission of any such
principle is transform Congrcgaonaism into Pros
byteranism. IL Is the fundamental doctrine OF Con-
grega ioualism that the final decision Of all questions
rests with each church upon its individual rcspon-
sibility, which II can devolyc upon council and
tribunal, although II may tako the advice of councils,
tribunals, committees and-wc submit with becoming
difference to the opinions OF wise menthe advice
ofcommssions cnlighten as to the course which
II should adopt But, The end, its course must be
taken upon its own judgment
4. We can see nothing new in tho arguments ad-
vanccd by Dr. Storrs against this elementary principle
Of COngrogationallsm. We do not deny that some OF
them we'll deserving OF consideration; but they
PresbytcrIansm and were deliberately considered by
our Puritan ancestors. Since then thoy have been
considered and pondercd by successive genera
tons OF wise men, whose opinions have been always
divided upon the questions thus raised Those who
have been convinced by these arguments adopted
Presbyterian Episcopal forms OF government; while
those who adhered 10 Congregational forms have
dono because, while admitting tho weight of these
arguments on the adverse side, they convinced
that s wcighiier arguments could bo adduced IN sup
port OF the Independence OF each church.
o. We do not rec how DR.. Storrs proposes TO recon-
clc his theory that the action OF every Congregational
Council is conclusive and binding upon tho entire de-
nomination, upon all the points considered by that
Council. with his own profosscd desire TO remain
within the Congregational fellowship. Upon tho nrst
point he Is very explicit and emphatically condemns
the Council Of 1916 because claims that It's action
in two respects was inconsistent with that OF
the Council OF 1874 So far so good But he does not
claim that Its action in other respects tho least
travcncd the decisions OF 1874
Thus the declarations OF tho last Councl-upon the
duty OF church members 10 remain loyal 10 the church
or else 10 take their dismssion from IL as to the su
nccncy OF inc investigation already had by Plymouth
church, and on some other pontsare not and cannot
be represented as contradictory to the action OF the
Council o 1874 Yet DR.. Storrs condemns all these
dciyeranccs OF the Council, and makes condition
OF his continuanco in Congrcgatonalsm that these
u,tcrances shall be repudiatcd How can they bc
pudatod except by tho voice OF the churchcsS
II The churches act separately then each church
dumcs 10 oycrrulo tho decision OF a council, Without
giving the members Of that council opportunity
be further heard. This would be acting higher
spirit OF absolute indcpcndency than Plymouth church
has ever been charged WITH On the other hand, the
dissatisfied churches may call another council But
according TO Dr. Stors that council absolutely with
out power 70 overruc the decisions Of tho Council of
1870 upon any point, except, at the most tho
two points upon which might consider that the Coun-
Gil Of 1916 had overrucd tho Council Of 1874 Where
is the way outY What relief the opponents OF the
recent Council nnd, except by either repudlang their
own theories Of tho sphere OF councils and the power
Of the local churches or rcpudating Copgregationasm
isrfY
Tho position assumed by DR.. Storrs was Endorsed on
Monday evening by his church. which adopted
Of resolutions downng the action OF the Coun