The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-09
BEECHER'S FIRST COUNCIL.
ONE THE EARLIEST TROUBLES IN
PLYMOTTH CHURCH.
why the Pastor Consulted n Clairvoyant-A
Threat that William A. Bcecher Made
and was successful In Carrying Out.

why the Pastor Consulted n Clairvoyant-A |
Threat that William A. Bcecher Made
and was Successful In Carrying Out.
Tho earliest council In the history OF
plymouth Church was that called to pass upon
Or Charles Rowland. now of 70 Henry street
brooklyn, who, on charges made 10y Mr.. Dcecher
in 1851, was excluded from the churchs com
munon. A portly smoothly -shaven, bald old
gentleman In 1T, onicc In Henry street said that
he was Dr. Rowland tho same who. with Henry
G. Bowen. helped TO organize Plymouth Church,
and who paid the nrst 500 toward wiping out
Mr. Becchor's Indiana debts, 40 that he could
leave there. The Doctor IL seventy years old,
dresses In glossy broadcloth the coat cut swal-
low tail and wears n white neckerrhief. He ex-
planned that his trouble started with William A.
| Bcccher, the pastors cousin, who In his day,
one OF the most successful shnrpers IN the
! him to handle his notes, "a he WINS n Wall street
| broker. saying that he would let him have money
| at seven per cent. changing him only two and
/ half per cent. commission The DoctOr us
| counted number " notee with lIeecher, and at
the end Of some timo, at q settlement. liceI her
for bonus money" The Doctor refused to pay
II. saying that lac could not possibly owe more
| Doctor did not pay. TO have him turned out OF
his cousin Henry's church: Or Rowland was
then one OF the deacons Of the church. william
Bcecher. true to his word. made representations
! to the examining comrllttoe, on which Dr Row.
10 60 saying that II the church allowed a rascal
TO control them, he would quit II, lie accord
lngly sent In his resignation as deacon.
TURNED OUT.
on Nov. ~ 1sin Mr. Deechcr presented charges
! TO the church against Dr. Rowland, accusing
him Of contempt for the authority OF the
church. and u other offences. III Of the
charges were su-i nined.aud Dr Rowland was sus-
pended from the communion OF the church IN
IN he should make satisfaction. No copy Of the
charges had been served ON Dr. Rowland, and
he WAS not tried on them. He asked tho
church 60 ioln Win him in a mutual council 10
lew
Corning was made chairman of the committee
70 summon council Tor Maich II; l0'l Ihe
! letter mi~-iNe was prepared 10y the Doctor. and
signed 10y Edward Corning for the church and Ivy
himself. II was sent 20 the ministers OF hve
churches The council met In Plymouth Church,
and when IL was organized Mr. Beecher said
that the church had not con-cnted TO a mutual
! council. and when the Moderator called Tor the
record Of the church meeting " could not he
found. The committee associated with Edward
ogTn9r ,"IS hS ep%nc mat SE sa dd t5s
Doctor " IIeccher lied lied like smoke to that
council" Tho ministers went home. alter con-
GLIDING that they had not been regularly called.
Dr Rowland n-a ed tine church to Join him a
tt 'y ,'.,', - ~ 1,y ref,,ssd and on Christmas
lay Of 1851 he sent word that he had summoned
an cx-parte council. to he composed Of the same
members that made up the mutual council
which Mr. Bcecher failed TO recognize. These
: ministers and delegates met IN Dr. COX lecture
room on Jan. Il. ls12. and the Rev lsAac Jennings
Of Stamford wn- Moderator. The council sent a
letter to Mr.. lleecher. inviting him and com
inent- concerning Dr, llowlands grievance and
the church's action toward him n might help tn
The church records Mr lleecher sent back a
verbal auswer that the church had declined to
have anything To do with the council.
; 4 CLAWvoYANT- STORY.
Tho letters that had passed between Or Row.
, land and the church and an attested copy oi
the charges were inirgdured In evidence the
, testimony of William BIgelow and j. Perry Of
! Plymouth Church wa- taken; the testimony ol
Judge Atwatcr respecting some notes OF hi'
spoken Of In the complaint against Or. Roland
the testimony ~ Henry ltnwland. simon Wilcox
and others and the statement Of Dr. Rowland
, / were listened TO-
Then there was one Witness said Dr. Row
land. after preliminary laugh which broke int
Y his suh~c1ucni narrative. " never shall forget
! lie Was - cairyn, ant from Atlantic avenue
> named Bennett or benedict. He testified that
4 / l,secher came to see him to ask IL a prominent
. member 81 his church Was not fond Of women
lie meant me. Of course. you see lac wanted K
, '.nt something against me We'll. now am funC
of women, aud don't think much Of the mar
hoe was a nro,ninent member OF tho churcl
who loved the ladies'. but there no crimina
charge tu Ice made against him. There was
great uproar IN the room during the testimony
THE council decided that Or Rowland la,
4 t-.i an proper means 20 have his case tried by
aritnal council that he was right in calling al
eN-parte council. that IL should lie "A matter .
= record that Plymouth Church had declined Il
4 present H. records " the council or Ia maxi
e had ~ fnir opportunity before the church tn
e charges wouid not have been sustained.
g TnE DOCTORS Victory.
l. The council advised Plymouth Church I,
l., re-cinl its vote Of rrnSire against pr Rowland
or a. con~rut 20 a trial ~ the case before a mu
: tual council, and they further found that II th
IL church did not within reasonable time
J. rescind their vote Of ceuSre or consent to rete
, the case rs advised, Doctor Rowland NIGH
= be received to the communion ot any othe
J. church. with the general appreciation ~ Con
V ,reaational churches. The copy of the decision
> ,ico wa never followed. Doctor Rowland neVc
n dar,ened the door of Plymouth Church again
h ham Christ to sue MIR. Ieecher for s2uun dam
y ages for libel a. presenting lal;e ohafso- 70 IN