The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-11
DIR. BUDINGToN,s AYsWER.
why DR.. Richard =. storrs RESIGNED from
the Home Mission Society.


The nftieth annual meeting of the
American Home Mission Society was held yes
terday in the Bible House. The suspicion that
the Beecher party was trying TO Get control Of
tho society, based on the sudden legacy OF
si45sO9 from Plymouth Church and the aces.
zion Of forty. nine conspicuous members OF that
church to life membership In the society,
aroused deep interest In the meeting, and IL
was expected that spirited contest would take
place in the election Of officers. so many mem
bers we're present that the socetys apartment
would not hold them, and the managers room
OF the Bible House Vas used.
Theodore D. woolsey, President, took the
chair Several Of the new life members from
Plymouth were present. After the reports OF
the Secretary and the Executive Committee
followed the election OF officers. All went
smoothly until the committee appointed to
nominate officers for 1873 reported the renomi-
nation Of last years officers, ineluaing Theodore
ID. Woolsey for President; all the Vice-PIesi-
dents Of last wear. escep. that the Rev, A. D;
for the Hon. Jacob Butler, deceased all the
Directors OF last year. the Rey. Arthur Little
Wisconsin. deceased, and Nathaniel J. Burton
Of morISrd foT the Rey D Robert g e. Yer
treasurer, George s. Coe ,' for AUDITOR the rev.
aud he Rev. Df. Henry H. sioirs for cyyff-,
Recording Secretary, all Of whom served last
year. Just us the society was on the point Of
pSpGT Bck ne mdve 99pfh a G be-
with the prOviso that the secretaries should he
elected by ballot separately, and the others viva
meant. Mr. Buck replied that some Of The mem
bers would like TO have the privilege OF express
Of the secretaries. Richard @. Green opposed
Mr.. Bucks motion, anc insisted that all should
be elected viva voce. and It soon became ap-
parent that all OF the Plymouth members meant
to stand together and vote down the motion,
which was ultimately lost.
DIR. BuDiSGroS.
Then DR.. Burlington. with great carnes,ness Of
voice and manner, asked whether the brethren
Intended to deny to any member Of the society
the right to vote against any person whom no
Here" he exclaimed, "there H. a principle
involved that lies as deep as the basis OF Conere-
gattOnalism."
MIR. WHITE was Instantly on his feet TO fatty
deny that the question involved any principle
underlying Congreeati 9nalism.
lhe Rev. William A. Bartlett OF Chicago said
wsv OF doing business. iii there Is ANYTHING
here" said he, that Ia covered up so That we
men from the interior can't see ~, n seems to
me that It would I've best to give every man q
chance to extress his opinion. think, and |
that the management of this institution Is not
such us commends Itself 10 good, serious, busi-
ness men. That's what | think about II"
Another gentleman said that IN the early days
OF the society the oincers were elected by ballot,
The Rev. EDWARD Beecher didn't see any
y Hoe sad that
The Rev. Mr.. Boynton then moved that the
Officers should be elected by ballot IN class, $
and Mr.. Stone that any class OF officers might be
| voted for separately BY request Of any member
DIR. sToRRs.
These PROPOSITIONS were carried. and. on mo.
| tion of Mr. Woolworth, the name Of DIR. Richard
| :. Storrs was replaced on the list Of NlcePresi
| uente, he having resigned ST winter.
Ballots were preaared, and all the Officers were
| unanimously reelected az fast as the teiler-
could collect the votes until the class Of " cor
| responding secretaries was called, when Mr.
| Stone asked that they be voted for separately
| Ii now became pretty evident that the OBJECT OF
the separation Of the names and Of the whole
| contest preceding II. at least in the minds Of
| some Of the members. was t. defeat Henry NJ
| storrs as one OF tue corresponding secretaries
| A skrmish ensued over Mr. Stones request. In
which Edward Beecher led the directors. bu
| after some manuuvripg the request was granted
Drs. Coe and Clamp were reelected without
| delay, there being only three votes against the
| When President wooiseY announced tina
| Henry N. storrs had also been reelected, Mr.
| stone wanted the vote stated IN numbers, bu
| Dr Ciapp asked as u personal favor that tn,
| number OF votes against DIR. Storrs should no
| be announced. and MIR. stone withdrew his re
| quest. Then DIR. WoOlsey, with the air OF on'
| pouring balm into wound declared that DR.
Storrs had been reelected by very large major
| ity, whereupon there was n rattle Of applause.
Immediately after adjournmer, the director
met aud reelected the Executive COMMITTEES o
| last year, hOding, at r. BudiffGt Ons suggestion
| the name OF DIR. R'cf ard =. storrs.
| Then DR.. budington offered the following reso
| luton, the passage OF which, he said, would b
| pretty sure to brng DR.. StoIrs back into the SO
| ciety ana restore confidence in its management
Resolret. Thai the disposition of the funds cor
trbuted tor home missions tne Executive Commit IL
be directed t. continue tu administer them hcreaftt
upon the princpes hitherto recognized aud acteu upO
William Henry Smith thought II would belittl
the society to pledge Itself to administer IL
affairs in "A certain way TO please any one man.
DIR. oOlsey Id That he would do anythiD
| Tor the sake OF peace. and he was anxious I
have d.. StuTts back. but II seemed to him at
surd for the directors to direct themselves |
this way.
Edward Deecher thought the directors had n
power to pass such "a resolution, and Mr. PettiI
gill believed IL would create u ulvision instea
Of neahng the trt uble
WHY DR.. sTORRs RESIGNED.
The debate finally brought out from Or. Bud
ington the ST cement that DIR. Storrs had r,
signed because he believed there was DANCE
Of the Introduction Of "A new Kind Of Congregr
tonusm into the denomination and the ohJe,
Of the resolution was 10 satisfy him that tn
society WOULD 20 on according to its Old meth III
Some one then ask what the PRINCIPLES {
the new Cungregatonasm" were.
"lhnt when an individual member Of
church or congregation Is incrminated," rt
Piled Dr. Burlington promptly "he shall hay
no resort 20 mutual council, but shall b
dropped IN the face of the charges and witnou
an opportunity to defend himself, and turtle
that whenever pastor OF "A church Is en- rye
right. with his particular friends. Of institutiu
the Oh argos and OF trying the offence"
This straightforward declaration, which wa
made with Intense eafneslness, caused "A nus
In the room and provoked no reply. he reese
luton WAS then tabled Us a vote Of 10 to y, all
NIa MT