New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-18
SEARCHING AFTER INFORMATION.

SEARCHING AFTER INFORMATION.
THE DISCUSSION OVER INVITING Mr.. VAN CoTT 70
ADDRESS TBF COUNCIL-Ius DECLARATION THAT
MRS. MoULloN REALLY DESIRED MUTUAL
COUECIL--MR. BEECHER on MS BOSTON VISIT
ms ATTITUDE TOWARD DRs. STORES AND BU-
DUNGEON.
Plymouth Church is no longer large enough 10
afford room for all the people who desire oppor-
tunity to hear aud see what is taking place within
its spacious walls. And some time today the Adj
yls0ry Council will probably offer another
obstacle to public curiosity by going into
session by itself" conducting its con-
sidcration of the subject matter presented
in secret. Yesterday sessions were even more i'm
portant in point Of interest excited than those of the
day before. The difficulties which boset the Council
in adherng to the line of its, authority and duty,
understood by its leading members, became more ap-
parent, and the existence of two parties not clearly
different in purpose but unlike IN methods If pro-
cedure, was indicated.
At an carly stage of the morning session President
Sturteyan offered a resolution inviting Mr. Van
Colt to appear before the Council and give state
mcnt of the facts pertaining 10 the conference for
calling Mutual Council. He ihOught it necessary
that Mr. Van Colt shonld be heard To clear the Couu-
ell of the imputaons of "whitewashing" designs,
but he did not think Unnecessary to call the pastorof
the Church of the Pilgrims and of the Clinton Ave
me Church who had no occasion, he said, TO yndi-
cate themselves before the Council This resolution
was adopted.
The interrogation of the Plymouth Committee
taken up again in the afternoon, ard the Rev. Mr..
Spaul1ing of the Fourth Special Committee asked if
William f. West invited a Mutual Council TO in
vcsigatc Mr.. Bcechers ease Mr.. Raymond said he
did and Mr. Sherman said that Mr.. West never
made any charges against his pastor II was asked
if il considered discoureous in church 10 take
mp q member dropped from the Plymouth Church
roll without comforting with Plymouth Church.
Mr. Beecher replied that it would depend the cir
cumstances whether or not such condnct implied
imputatlon on the good name of Plymouth Church.
John WinslOw a partner OF Mr.. Van Colt, ard
who was "a member Of the Plymouth Investigating
Committee IF 1874, called TO the platform and
questioned lie said because of the dinculty of
getting witnesses Gen. Tracy aud Mr.. Hill were en-
ployed as counsel by the Committee. II was de-
signed 10 make the investigation secret, but they
found the very frst days proceedings in the next
mornings papers. Whose fault was that ~ was
inquired. II hayn't called It 2 fault il fact,'
Mr.. Wnslow replied. He said the COMMITTEES
called and heard everybody who would speak, with
one exception. They did decline to hear - certain
lady. lCrcs of Woman "WomanDl Her name
was Woodruff.
NJ Fcsscudcn asked Mr.. Beccher ii he would be-
willing To have DR.. Storrs state before the Council
the substance of an interview with Mr.. Beecher.
This declared out of order and Mr. Beecher OBJ
jected that the Council was injnring him 10 favor
itself in doing After the morning session he said
to the crowd which gathered about him that he had
conferred with Drs. StOns and Buding;on about the
Council OF ISL that he was willing 10 have those
pastors say all they knew about him, aud will
ing To be tried with them as his prosecutors.
Before the Council adjourned for the afternoon,
Mr. Mears asked some questions of Mr. Bcecher rea-
tive to his Boston VISIT which elected the fact that
information of a character which would have been
important in the legal trial had come TO the notice
of Mr.. Beecher within the past month. but he bad
no previous knowledge of it, and the statement Of
this fact led TO the eXaggcations about what he
said at Boston.
1t was well known in Brooklyn long before the
evening session of the Council began that Mr.. Van
Colt would he present and give his version Of tho
conferences for Mutual Conncil This fact assisted
in drawing large and intensely interested audience
when filled every part of the church About half
of the spectators were ladies' Shortly after tho
Council was called to order Mr.. Van Colt appeared
on the platform and said he recognized the cour-
tesy with which the invitation extended 20
him had been made and wanted no
misunderstanding "a 10 his appearance before the
Council lie dld not come as representative of the
Church of the Pilgrims, a. the counsel of Mrs.
Moulton but a Christian gentleman, 70 give in
formation which had come within his knowledge.
He responsible, he said, TO God and the Council.
and to nobody else. lie then began to talk of tho
misrepresentation which had attached TO almost
every question raised, but was stopped short by
DR.. Wolcott, who reminded Mr.. Van Colt that tho
Council must also not be misunderstood. IL wished
of him only statement of the facts of the confer
ence. Mr.. Van Colt received the interruption
quietly but protested that he must not be taken as
present but as former counsel OF Mrs. Mouton. His
statement did not vary materially from the state
ment of the Plymouth Committee but he said he
thought the protest u written paper and
not an oral protest, and that upon his
honor and conscience man he thought
Mrs. Moulton desired a Mutual Council
and that he desired it. When Mr. Sherman was
asked if Mr.. Van Colt had misstated the fact when,
in the letter sent to the churches Mrs. Moultons
list it was stated "twenty churches had been de-
cded upon,' he said that such construction might
naturally be made by Mr.. Van Colt, but it did not
necessarily follow.
MORNING SESSION.
THE DISCUSSION on INVITING Mr.. VAN COLT TO
CONE BEFORE THE COUNCIL-PREsIDENT sTUR-
.Sr'a "