New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-17
PLYMOUTH AND THEC COUNCIL
THE CAUSE OF THE RUPTURE.

MR. SiEARMAN DECLARES THAT MRS. MOULTON
CONSTANTLY TRIED TO MAKE THE COUNCIL IN.
PossIBIE-THE NATURE OF HER LETrERs-AN
TX PARTE COUNCIL IMPRACTICABLE- PLYMOUTH
SATISFACTION WITH MIR. DEECnEE's FRIDAY
NIGHT UTTERANcEs.
The very earnest and Outspoken address
made by Mr. Beecher Friday night IN regard TO the
proposed Mutual Council the relations Of DIS sorrs and
Burlington to Plymouth Church, TO the Council, and to
himself and in regard TO his innocence OF the charges
made by Mrs. Moulton, much commented IN
Brooklyn and tins city Saturday and yesterday Drs
sOrrs and Burlington and Mr. Van Colt, when called
upon by TRIBUNE reporters, declined to say anything
concerning tho breaking up OF the negotiations for
Mutual Council, concerning the statements made by
Mr. Beecher.
Thomas G. Sherman expressed great satisfaction with
the Friday night speech He said 1t the power
fu address the Plymouth pastor had made Before tho
church the subject OF the scandal since his speech OF
December 1873 before the last Congregational Council
assembled. The society was delighted with the frank
and fOrcible manner in which Mr. Beecher had finally
asserted himself upon the relations OF Plymouth Church
to Drs sorrs and Burlington. ard without dissenting
voice approved Of the course he had taken The demon
stratops Of applause and sympathy indicative Of
the unfaerng and confidence OF the church for the
pastor. Mr. Shearman then said:
Every right minded man ought TO how arcica Mrs.
MoultOns pretended exertions for mutual council have
been from beginning To END. Size did not want mituai
council, but parte council and TO get one which
would carry tho necessary eight before TIE public for
her aims very clearly that II would be necessary
first to get Plymouth Church to refuse to accept mutual
council She mscacuaied the temper Of Plymouth
Church, which well Satisfied at her discontinue. WITH
view to stirring ny ihe anger OF lhe church nIs.
most offensive terms aud many parts OF them
society IN which there are as many young girls as theIe
are in Plymouth Church. TIE church has borne itself
with worthy selfconro in this matter. Mr.. Van Cot
outraged tie deccncy Of the committee meetings
with any such stuff IL thrown in the face OF Pymoutl
Church by each Of the letters which We're framed Tor me
double purpose Of driving Plymouth Church into refusing
the scandal newspapers alive TO the moral attn
that has deuged the country for the past two years
Mutual Council with DIS storrs and Budngton they
insisted on gong ON IN any event Ihey Thought only
equitable agency for settlement that Plymouth Church
soud show It's estimate Of taese men by entering pro-
test This demanded By the So
W6S-in face OF tno Indignant protesiatIons
SlOrrs and Burlington we're likely TO be invited saying
Affairs before them to Observation-Disclosures would
have accepted DIS. sorIs and budingtor II Mr. Van Cot
had insisted upon It, But after our hrst protest they
did 20 on, and IN tue face Of refusal ~
decline Mutual Council they did not desire to OIL.
be ascrbed the action OF Dr. scuddePs
church, which marked the diSapproyal fall-lnindei
men iet for the scheme aud alarmed the ministers
who engaged In II. And II all the facts were Anown
IL would probably be found that the lay members OF the
CHURCHES revolving against the plot to destroy
Plymouth Church We did not seek or "ish To have our
NJ
having those reverend gentlemen on the Council hoping
that expression OF c OF confidence IN ther
ability judge impartilly would cause them
posed to Mir. Van Colt that the protest
action thereon be kept strictly private IN order 10
ourselves against the charge Of seeking TO iniu
public opinion, and to create bias III our iayor
finally decided TO accept DIS stors aad Budns.
ton This Mr. Van Colt refused 10 do, claiming tue right
to make any part OF our business pubic wcn ne saw n
Dr. otorrs has admitted That lie placed great
reliance upon Mr. Van Colt, and that tAer
relations very intimate, even more intimate
than MINI Wi ktpll AZ
with Mr. Van Colt in tie previous controversy with Ply
mouth Church After all this To take Dr. sOrIs would
have amounted Ia fact 10 giving Mr. Van Cott the conn.
MIS- MOultOn, scat IN tho council. II Dr. stOus
were Interested ia Mrs Moulton's Nj. Van Cott
could been brought INTO this business and OF
lhaJ well conS iDcod
We offered at to withdraw all the four
churches our LIST 10 which Mr. Van Colt
| objected. 10 insure fairness upon
our side. II a protest made IN good faith 10 u W do
Van Cots counter protest. when coLieesediy MAS hos
made good faithf &c not that there was any
hAe arbitration in which one party sas 70 le Etner
do think your arbitrator " lar AMI lhlpdr-
id man, ne.srth5ie's MI 80 on S'T re,a I'M
To accept Mutual Council plee uies
enectualy her calling parte council tAink lha
view Is held by "A majority OF Congregational churches
aud that Or Storrs the opinion IAc nIss
business of pr council is "a ask se Why eA slA
and 10 invite the unrepresented pa u 10 Lahe ls
not decline Advisory Council VIII nc called lnDed-
ately ana Will consider the questions already made puo
lie In the lctter-inissiye. lLe nst 0. 9Iuehes ~
made out, but the letters have not been sent.
This probably closes Inc controversy, as lar ss
Mrs MOultOn is concerned. We ready now To meet
them IN the courts On any issue their mSShaity may
ev se They are greatly mlstak 4 they TANK Ply NOUN
Church DIowOcaten OF WeaIcd Al raised SlUOpOo
fight Of last year. and has already Raised SooOto
than money is he moral support given Mr. BeecAel AID
tLs represents the confidence AZ MN