Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-07
THE BEECHER SCANDAL
Another Gong rexatfouaI Nutdle

Nav YORK, April AT the meeting Of
the New YORK snd BROOKLYN Congregational
Union esterday the resolutions for an eX-
ami stion of the charges against Mr.. Beecher
appointed T.. =. StorrS. ". I Budding ton. l..
=. HOBART, Il. :. Stone, and n. W. Nerger as
committee 20 act. Dr. BIddington op-
posed the resolution. On the adoption OF the
resolution by the association, II =. StorrS
" m. l. BUtdinEtOu. Ii. II. Mac Farland h
y. Martin. W. NJ. Taylor, and w. II. Ward
united ln protest against the action OF tue
body as wrong In principle, and likely TO
embaTrasS the future action of the BODY in
deciding on the guilt or innocence Of Beecher
BURLINGTON AND SrORR= SECEDE.
DrS. BUddiugton, Mac Farland. TAYLOR
and StcrTS then sent the moderator a letter
In which they Withdrew from membership OF
The New York and Brooklyn association.
Inc following are
TIE III SOFT FioNs ADOPTED AT THE MEET
ISG:
Rs-CiJeu. That committee OF Il sc be now
appointed by this association, and requested
tU publicly invite any parties believed or
prOfeSSiug 10 have eviCen e OF any knowledge
OF evidence not already Investigate before
me civil court, 10 present the same before
the commission, and the said commission ne
requested 10 give 10 them or Sny parties
bringing definite charges against M.
BeeCner, whatever assistance may seem
called for 10 these parties ana proper 10 the
comm SSlon. IN order 10 make such a preSen-
tation OF tue same before that commission. as
shall tie likely 10 secure the earliest possible
determination and satisfactory issue.
RcSOtr,f, That ia the name OF our accused
brOthtf. 10 the Interest of truth and common
Christianity. This assoc alton desire and in
Nlte al persons claiming 10 have such evil
Oence, or bTICEiDS such charges, % avail
themselves OF Ibis means. il then desire such
heip for laying the same before thai COM
mission OF investigation.
ReSJ're6, That il those who claim % have
evidence, or To be able u subS:anffste
charges OF immortality against Mr.. Beecher,
shan knowingly fail, or refuse 10 make use
Of his or other means for bringing such
charges or evidence before that commission
OF invest CATION. this association, ia the D.
SERGE OF further light. must hold Itself hence
torlh simply justified in utterly c0ndemnfng
those charges, allegations. and insanuatfolS
ana TulnoTs as tHlSe Snd Sl6uderOus, and IN
defending Mr.. Beecher as worthy, hoaOr4-
bic. and beloved member OF this body.
ke2O',ti, That ~ =. StOrrz, W. J. Ru!ing-
ton. l.. Smith Hobart, Il. :. Stone. AMI y.
w. Nergen. be appointed as this cOmmiSS on.
c'aiiCu.
THE FOLLOWING Is THE PROTEST
entered on The adoption Ot the resolutions:
Whereas, Ike New York and BROOKLYN as
ISOLATION has appointed committee To CO.
operate with the commission of the late ad-
VlsOry council so called for an Investigation
Of the charges against the Rev Henry Ward
BeecheI; and whereas, IL is the settled con-
vlcilon OF the undersigned that tue calling
Of that council by a church TO consider it,
administration OF discipline IL certain cases
Without the agency or concurrence OF the
PERSONS affected by that discipline. is a yiO-
laliOn OF the fundamental principle OF con-
sregatiOral order which regards IL as the
right OF The humOleSt Individual TO have a
part in the selection OF any council I'm whIch
ne or She is TO be judged. and whsn. as fur
theTmore, there is no reason in our judgment
20 think that an Investigation originating
mus IN injustice and carried out by an
agency hitherto unknown TO our churches
result IN anything more than another OF
these superficial inquiries which have al
ready provoked so much OF public dit satis-
faction therefore, the undersigned members
OF this association co hereby enter their ear
nest and solemn protest on grounds bOtn Of
conscience and of Judgment against the
aforesaid action Of his body as wrong ia
principle, and likely Only to result in in
creased suspicion and 10 embarraSs the IN
tuTe action OF the boiy in deciding as we
are solemEly bound 10 do, on the guilt or 10
nocence OF MT. Beecher. lSlgneiD X. =.
StCTrs, W Ives Buddington, A. A. McFar-
land, Il. y. Martin, W. NJ Taylor. Wm. IL
Ward. The Withdrawals ABOVE mentioned
took place after the submission of the pro
test.