, 1876-02-16
There Should Be No Whitewashinq ;
Neither Any mcddling with the
Main Question.
But tho Council May Iseview Ply
mouths Treatment Of the
Scandal Case.

WoIcQmos and subsequently,, 10 stating TIC case
and questions to be submitted to tho Council,
Doecher said ho Ind, and tho Church had, no
objection to going into that question, and were
willing to hear advice regarding II. but tho formal
fetsor-miaslvo docs not invite discussion of the
scandal, aud Moderator Bacon, In bis speech
announcing Tho objects and purposes Of the
Council distinctly said that there was no cali or
occabion to investigate Alr. Doocher's conduct.
WhltoWashing tho pastor or tho church was nos
tho business Of the Council. Nevertheless, In
prayer, Which ho subsequently made, Bacon
prayed that tho whitewaah might ba supplied
from another source. II Bacon feels thus
friendly, there ia lits!e likelihood that any fro.
brand will DO thrown In tho Council by my
body elso. William r. WoBt tried to got in
a protest, but it waa diBsogardsd. Tho
Council will conclude by Thursday night.
Bowen and Moulton have Joined forces, and
will proceed against Deechsr iu soma way.
ITO tbs Assoeia&td Prsss.1
NIB. BEEonEa 0nEE7s THE nELEoA1Ea.
NEW YoaK, Fob. 15.-The Advisory Council Of
plymouth Church WAS oreuod at . Quartor past
o'clock, with delegates ftom abont 40 churches
present and occurring tho body Of tho church.
III: Dsoehor I greotod @ aii tho doesatos on their
arrival, and opcncd the procaedinga by an adj
dress. Ho said that this IL tho largest Connci,
over held IN America to discuaa tho affairs Of any
one church: He reforrea to the storms which
nevertheless, though II had been cot upon by
various adversnrics, IL WAS united Church.
Plymouth Church nunbors betHocn 1850 and
2.G00 mbmbasB, and. Whtla Tho average menbar.
snip Of American churches Ia 100. the nombor-
ship OF Plymouth gives no adequate idea Of the
great work done BY this church, g and henco VIC
have called you from all parts Of tic country to
como and give lis your COUNSEL" hlr. Beechor
said he hoped the Council would do what it
thought tho wisoBs aud best.
In explanation OF the hhsouco Of notable local
churches. BIT. Beccher explained TINT somo had
requested not 10 be called, and it WAS thought
best not to involve churches nearest to this
trouble, oven In conaul!ation and 60 far from
their omission boing through want OF respect, Il
WAS out Of respect for them that they had boen
e1ouerated from tho trouble that falls upon tho
Council.
Iii. Boecher concluded as follows; II assure
you that you como into house Of prayer. You
have been remembered In prayer In many thou
saud houscholds, and We have reason to bcliaYe
that your staying hero will not only be to our
bcneds, but to your own great spiritual ed1es-
or . chu.ch questIon. but 10 joint Quo
which h.s long seen many sequehee1. The
roots Of n run baek to \, per-
aonai question. We studied to make. the
every inquiry which you see 1T. Whsteyor
questions you may 500 at to ponder you will act
on at your own discretion, and Without any
restriction Oh the part Of this church. For my
soil, wish to say that I fear no adequate and
juAt Investigation OF whatever Ia thought to be
wiesst and bost, and that I most earnestly givo
my consent to 1t. We believe 1t iB possible for
Cod 70 50 p9ur out His spirit upon you here TINT
you VIII 90 homo With more ardons power: with
saving Of souls. We heartily wacoms you here
to Brooklyn"
rLYMoUTu'H RrATEa1ENT.
Each delegation WAS handed long printed
statement Of tho case Of Plymouth Church, con-
arising from tue dropping OF Mrs. Moultons
name from tho roll. Tho statement declares its
presentation Of tho facla to bo uncoutradicsod
and unqueattoo able that the Plymouth Church
mattor what ehurchos should DO Included, and
never refused to invite any church named by
Mrs. Monlton. and says. "1f any ono desires
no longer To be known aa = membor of this
ohulch, or ~ protosBod follower of Christ, we
hold that whilo wo cannot re'case him from tho
Apocsl obligations to Christ which bo hae ns-
Bumod by the public profession OF faith, NO may
and should, after having ondeaVokod to cllaugo
s!bi!ity to and for him In whateyor pnoshodI the
circumstances OF tho Case may require. We
hold that It IL our right aud may bs our duty To
avoid the OWLS incident to public explanation
or,public trial and that such an exercise Of our
discretion furniahea no good ground for tho In
tcsterenco OF other chuschos, proyiled wo
noithor sotain within our fellowship. nor dismiss
BY lottor ~ In regular standing, peraons who
bring d!shopor On tho ohristlan name.
ORGANIZATION.
DR.. Bacon, Of New I1avon, was nominated tenn.
posary CAntrtnsn. and Clark Of Boston, How Of
TsIro Hause, Boynson Of Newark. temporary
Scribes.
Al.or sone preliminary business, Dr.. Dacoa
was selected ID tho Firnt Moderator, lion. Nelson
DnRfey, Of Louisville. Me-. ancoud Moderator,
and Gen. Dates, Of Iiliuois, Third Moderator.
The three temporary Bcsibes we're then made
permanent.
Tue lstter submitting tho questlons of dlsci-
p1ine to be passed. upon WAS then read. Aftog
Scripture reading, Dr, 1acon prayed for wisdom
III tho Council for tho paHtor Of Plymouth
Church, that he might BE- wholly bIeeesd. aud
hiS ministry moro fruitful, and thpt tho re4lllI
would bs harmony in hlB church.
0utxCT or TlIK GATHERING,
The Moderator then said, II iH proper to 70.
mark At tho OUTSET that ne ere not hero to whita-
wash either th!e church OF tts PASTOR, II thoy
than US. Second, VIC are not called to seyiBo
and correct rho Judgment OF any former Council.
Third, not to atnuso the public by drawing OF
their sstentioa to eide iasues. Fourth, not to
tatod not oaly Brooklyn, bas Ill English. sposk-
Ing Christenlom for three years. We have
nothing to do with that question. It IL not But-
mittod to us 1t would be proposterous to
assembly Ike thfs. why7 VIC aro more
humorous than Presbyterian Synod, aud moro
unit Tor any judicial function than tho 0eusIal
A'semt!y Of tho Presbyterian Church itself.
such case ~ that. Let II be understood It the
outsct that oven II this church, by its Conmlt-
tee. should Inyto III to Try aud decide that quoa-
tloD, we haYa nothing to do With 1t, We ara iu.
compliant or. AZ ! ence heard lawyor say.
"WLy, appoal to tho poot,houaa, auu you
wouldn't have moro unfit trial"
lu tbs eth place, NO Are hero to &dylse this
church concerning the nanner in which It An4
dealt and how it ought to bave dealt with what
Ia we'll known ~ tho great scandal. to revise III
tho proceedings Of thia church Ii relation 10 ii.
10 ao< on principles uot facts.