New-York tribune., 1876-02-16

the Council protest signed by VIM +. West and desired
that ii be read for information TO its contents before
dsposing of it, 1t decided that the Council owed s
attention first the matters for which IT was called and
the protest was referred unread to the Business Com
mitee but not before much time bad been consumed in
motiOns amendments and reconsiderations
TIT CASE OF THE CHURCH STATED.
Mr. Beecher then read the statement OF the case as
presented by the Plymouth Church Committee. taking
position on platform in doing II is long docu-
mcnt which had been previously presented in pamphlet
form TO the delegates Mr.. Beecher introduced several
ntcrocut0ns OF interest The main points OF the state
mtnt given below, Omtting much Of argument nut
retaining all the main facts:
In the original formation Of the church. and during the
first OF its existence the rules OF discipline
very simple. aud so far as the Committee are
aware varied in no respect from me % os pI negc for
the termination OF meInherthip by any 9ther n'oae
than death. letter OF disinission. or formal cN-
prohibiting any other mode of Terminating member
ship; but no oncr was provided and In fact no oher
was When the rules of the church were settled
in April 1sfs. the church contained only about l50
members was too remote be considered lis growlh,
however more rapid than had been anticipated me
csnns 10 The church in sj7 and ljS brought 10
l25O-a membership which never lad been dreamed OF
cave every encouragement Ia non-rc. .den members to
lake let disms>lUn to other churches b iothd
conrsc of lime Considerable number Of the n,rmbers
upon rJ oi The church came to be riaeucaY ou,
state Of things was disadyaniascous both 10 the
WHO were thus placed beyond IFS supervision hen ii
assistant engaged in the pastoral work thor"'Sh
reform was instituted III this rcs pect moi ny conts
members unwhngly 10 take their disnis.on from Tie
church, but by bringing them INTO regular t"nnHlIIca'
rion with the pastoral helper, the Rev : B lalluHy'
who has fur wears maintained system oi super
vISiOn corresponding at least once Ncdr au III many
wDo,e address he car find. s. But il VIII easily be
tnt after ali possible precautions have been ah,il,
a considerable number viii remain III ln'inh@r,hp
when is now Oyci 100, concerning whom no saii>l"-
tory Information can bc obtained.
presented by the letermissye which lnqnr- OF tins
Council what course the church ought 10 adol', c"'ei
ing five CLASSES Of members therein eni;lci1t" We
should premise that the entire number OF persons WHO
cn,uc within this enumeration j. very snail never 80
far az are having amounted t' one per cent ol
,,,ntir" IN, IN stirrey dozen 6u of ON, > rnJ r,-
hers We will consider tucir cases successfully.
tirSt: Members who deliberately, purpo'cy. ana pr
nifty absent IN mselyc, from ihc services dl' meet
>oi, uOu ground ihni c church ia> NOT takch &C.
mru cis lio.ct, 10 co.acntonsl believe ousl, 10
nave tascn hat which trcv never asked II t3 TAX
IEcre nave been members of this elias. 'ud There
may still possibly be han dozen We ADMIT iHil th
foim of The question lut to tie tom'il j. SOMEWHAT
vague but We hnS ID is mon. NuStr thdn the con
Jants Of the members referred Ia. 80 ar a. the rhi gen
knowledge o. tncn. Ps.,ucally, the fu', na-
arisen out ol the weikn""n difficulties N VIZ ). tiis
foh has the last two three yclr. been involved
ly reason OF what il hcicycs 10 be false ana wicked
aspcrSlon ron tnr ftpnlailoh "i l' pi9.ii ~ 81,
sim lar line OK conduct ha. hcen pursued ih N,I| i'W
grounds blch ~ no way ffl't itd
VITA the pastor. II j. &c >ii'e i.' lhc iu,>ln ''''
hy considered upon general principles applicable I" al
S,eond : Tnc second class consist. Of members Who
,bseut themselves ia Ike manner upon the sam" roni ~
with the difference that thcy ho,s a,k,i ,'' '.fh 2
take such steps. aud that the chnIch mas WIN ~
uuanny declined To- do 10 J. very doAliNl "hrlErf
any oi our meml~,rs MY come Nllhn lhi- '"i,i
erthecSs. as lheic ~ one "I Nv" Mio ihi%i ''l'' @
tins Is the description Of their ease y has been
Thought wise u ask advice upon thni assuGl' " "'
ally asst would De very chH' I"I m ~ Ilo,iN "
first class to bring themselves Nihh me ~'" "' ire
7hird =. The third cass includes members who al--ut
Themselves in like manner upon the ground ihai ir' n
Wiihstandng The church has made ~ COM !cc dnd "N
i..siivr an Investigation into the facts ~ cAurcL
coild make, and has acquitted ana S'tf'" 7 f''''''
witEcut dissenting vote.
NE pastor this Church. Of bis own accord when y"
acr,Is;tiou against hun had been submitted @" th"
CHURCH, demand Il an investigation mo crfiain late
ncnts ANA rmors injurious to ms reputation sn'h "i
i,,ve.gut,uu VA, made: aid the committee making
re,uric and The Church believed. IN" in -eatl"h "l-
a. thorough and complete ~ WAS Wi,mh ~ roM'I. "
w conducted Ia tie hrsi instance by surumin!ii'r'
The work OF which was reviewed ard unai muu-l a't
proved by the Examining Committee fc"nsHtlng "' =
both Committees @,n iad before the Cnur'h arr ii
public noiiSe' sr, %cIc ""cpgab c,.1b Tee "V.r held
IN This, or probably any o:hsr chnfc, -fant Loo,
,, , Il, the teayr il after such vote any Of IT."
mclnb r. beongng 70 th% hei and se.ond - =, ,h,,id
10 ot agree with the verdict OF The church. h thcir ~
legged belief. even II sincere. Justification oi thrlr
clr,el # the church, uitcr lab0il0u' nits'ls non
and n, lin overW lclmng uuannity, has acquitted - pa.
tor car u never exercise discipline toward l' nrihhi'
af,ervuId without i, uud"ing ~ own solemn ac' ~
"v,wing is unanimous couclusiun aud rcopcnng Tie
case il has decided! II seem strange ihdi ny
~ rsOn processing L. believe me l"-"i gu' nt cinr
and the church unanimously wrong IN supporting him
should ak for regular dismissal hui should h'si IN
stead upon remaining ihahncr 81 ,h' ri,'II'n.
abandoning it, worship ana dsOTnng s Suih"ri|; YET
hs il the attitude which M. In some cases b'c a.
suiu d and which call. for action on our part.
rgnrfh The frdrE clas- consists 81 members IN" az
sent themselves in Ike manner Tor come o. Il" oi the i
assigned To inc Hif'. 81 o1hu an ,nIIu '"t
only question arising under this l. Nh"iher chrr' no.
aiccc ail the excuses heretofore rrt"c1 s'Ad Ii ~
better position thah t"'e %ho an-it UiIf Wv VI '
grounds oi absence h1i we have mentioned.
FtGh: The NTH class consist. o. mrm m'rrS Wh" are
generally reported aHd 'hcVcd :" ha" ha c"if9 nr
u nuaiuiq gro-- iuhnoraiity against oiEer h"n"f,
Ir brrtDrcn for the sake OF tie purty and peace Of
Tho church, decline either "a ant or d'ht lh' 'iWh "i
sich reports of .rrA Ca. ,cs IN. GGr'li" IrIH 10
STATE o things ha'ing ~" he'rs'"t! '",ai ~ 'i''
cases prey ioisy considered II i UNFORTUNATELY
st,us 10 give currency fo nsntr'lons AGAINST The chaf
actcr II which they aic inN!llinE !" tahs
+" dy that few oasc- of This Kind have IN
chu;Ch which proper committee hat hceh u"ai'' 10
,rttlt hy suitable reconciliation ana apology ,tl rir
are cases OF long standing aud great hlHJlliN. NHh
which the chuich desire. 20 deal IN wioc anu hu-a
sir,t and upon which prefers 10 take connect ~ ad
vince "a her than proceed without atF"e, ANA per
Lapa do an injustice WHICH can ntNf nc 'ni'Ie' i''
rem OF course the members WIN whom 'l' 'lHfh las
io deal will moi permitted To be, AMI should no hr
,r,dired by the advice of Council, given il must
necessarily I've in anticipation ana upon supposed sls'r
of facts which not Dc correct l'ut sc lGhh "'h
drtcrtnre to the judgment oi our breiii- al ms =
u,t uGiccnt re- son for aheaning from ~ ug adiirc
nom a copc too large 70 ba suspected q! intHl!
a,i rnor a abatement oi facts accurate ai We know
how 10 make II. . , . 80, ,., .
the fourth question submittod 10 The 'on'ch ~,
whether tlus church OuGn tO have cHNc1 mutual OF
other conc ~ churchcs for the purpose ~ inNr-gHf
tr chractcr OF III pasfnr when requested 10 90 40 :" q
,rc, i,r nf mo tbirCI WHO has submitted 'n'
cbara. AGAINST the pastor, and when ru'h irlW-' -
de for the inst time more than one year dii"I hh ~
v.etigaion has been had bs the church aclt and ne
r.st0r mas been sustained 10y unanimous Nol" l-'
the duty of nc church 10 listen seriously Z" me"
VINO says: You acquitted The pastor unanimously, !,
v,ifhnri object ION at thc time, or since, nom me- f
and hall having passed away 90 Inl ,l l' - -I'