New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-11

will work with you and VIII not 20 our ~ Ie cru VI
another sect; but take the responsibility from you
aud take It to myself With thanks Tor
very much kindness. am no LONGER ine ZEN pro :"
but q Der OF the body OF Christ In iuh Ieho"9nP
with you In the love or Goa
MIR. Beecher spoke with much feeling, and ut
times with deep emotion. His views on severai
points were elucidated by questions asked by the
Rev. Messrs. Storrs, Virgin Stiles, Crafts and
Malcolm. After Mr. Beeeher descended from the
platform the Rev. Dr. II. NJ. StOrrs was called upon
10 pray. and he did SO with so much feeling th@t
tears stood IN the eyes of most OF those present.
POSITION OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
After an adjournment for luncheon the associa-
ton recony ened with Mr. Beecher absent. While
the topic of Spiritual Barbarism" was still before
the body for discussion no one seemed inclined at
first to undertake it in view of Mr.. Beechers
statements. The Rev. William Lloyd tried
to make motion to request DR. Beecher
to Withdraw his resi- QnatiOn, but was
ruled ont of order Thomas G. Sherman,
who was present as delegate from Plymouth
Church. then made statement OF the position OF the
church. He said that the withdrawal OF MT.
Beecher from tho assOca ion did not necessarily IN
yOlve the withdrawal of Plymouth ChuTch. WINE
| he thought Mr. Beechcr had done wisely IN reley-
| ing his friends from their responsibility Tor MS
views Plymouth Church was IN the main lar more
orthodox than Mr. Beccher, and he was certainly
orthodox enough. II the 1000 or more members OF
the church called upon to vote upon tho tneO-
logical questions involved in Mr.. Beechcrs state
ment, not 400 of them would side with
hun; all the others would support the the
association was more orthodox than plymouth
| Church. For tMrty-ve years it HAD been built up
around Mr. Beecher ana the result was tnat IL nau
| as many orthodox members as any large church IN
| the city. While Mr. Beecner had drawn in some
heretics by his liberal views, the clear result OF ms
| preaching had been to strengthen orthodoxy. -
In expressing his views, the Rev. Dr. j. q.
Roberts, of the Rochester Avenue Church, said that
| while he differed from Mr.. Beechr upon the doc
trim nf LIE
and in regard to evolution, no regarded HIM rs
dear brother" IL was n great mistake for Protes,
tants TO be separating every time their beliefs tailed
| TO coincide. The Rev. William Lloyd, of the Central
Church. in tins city, then offered resou ion set
ting forth that Dir. Bcccher had announced his with
drawal implying that 1t was consequent upon an
intmatIon that certain brethren would not be held
responsible Tor his til, oOgIca views, and declaring
that having heard his Vows set FORTH the socia
ton find nothing in them TO render such
action necessary, and earnestly request Mr.
Beecher to reconsider his determination.
ACTION on THE RESIGNATION
The discussion over this was prolonged for some
time. Nj. Lloyd said that he had come into the
association for religious freedom. If he had known
that orthodoxy was to DO the test of membership
he would not have joined it, He fully agreed with
all that bIr. Beecher had said. The ASSOCIATION
should Judge for itself and not listen TO on side
camor. Mr.. Beecher could afford to withdraw
from it but could it afford have Dir. Beecher go,
with the understanding that II he remained other
members wOul depart.
The Rev. ). II. Virgin, of the Pilgrim Church in
this city, said That the resolution nd not agree With
tho constitution of the body which required agree
mems with ecclesiastical standards by all the
ship. if the body body had no cohesion
it would better disband at once. The
Rev Mr. Whttemore wanted Mr. Virgin TO
state what tho objections TO having Mr. BeeOher in
the body were but MIR. Virgin declined 10 do so.
After further discussion ar Lloyds resolution
was referred to Il committee. consisting of Mc33rs
RrQl q 1911
through Dr. storrs, reported "a resolution
and Westervelt. was amended, and finally read as
follows:
Resoircd. That the members of the New York and
BrooKyn Congregational Association receive the Rev
II. W. Brecher's resignation OF his membership IN the
body with, very deep pain aud regret. We
minity when has led MIN to volunteer this ion
lest re should seem even indirectly TO make his brethren
responsible before the public Tor the support or phil
osop.ical and theological doctrines wIeren he IS pop
Inc esabsncd ana current cvdngc fam The full
and procred exposition OF COctrnal views That he
continued Memb rship In this or any other
COngr gat0a!l association, and We therefore hereby
press the nope that lie may STE his way clear TO win
Ills resignation. We desire 10 place record,
Inc result of long and intimate acquaintance win Mr.
Bee her and II familiar observation OF results OF his
life well his preaching aud pastoral work, that
cBcriSn him evcrgrOwlng personal ATTACHMENT
IA brother beloved and deepening sense Oh mis- worth
a Christian minister. We cannot nov contemplate the
out depressing OF tne loss to suffer- and
unitcdy peege MN the hearts OF tne association aud
the hope that the day Tor his return may soon
Mr. Lloyd said he would accept this resolution
bus he wished Mr.. Bcechef might be distinctly
asked to Withdraw his resignation. No one he said,
ought to feel Obliged to 60 QUE from the association
M. Virgin said that Whilc ho regretted Mr.
Beechci'S withdrawal. hc mad felt responsibility
Tor his views whlle he was III the association. ana
he would like to be relieved from II.
The Key. w c. stiles said that Mir Beech"r. with
his views ought to remain IN tDe association. Tie
MT tin hat si4prl
womb b. welcomed back. The R5y. j W. Malcolm
said that it looked as The ssoca had squeezed
out a man who tried t. draw fail Drcata. IL |
looked as II great man Deiaosthenes or Socra-
tes mad yelled 10 "a great public clamOr. lie hld |
rat there IN tne morning and taught them mas |
ter cXpOundlng the truth. ana thrn hd yieiucG up
himself. Ia truths lie proclaimed were beyond
the present age. The Rev. Mr. BrOadhead
sand that II was a grea5 mistake TO close the |
door upon Mr.. Beechcr. / he Rev. Mt Yves cryclt |
OF jersey Cay, SAID tnaJ he did not agree WIN 4iT
B.echors III O!Ogy, and 1t must b. changed if he |
came back III the association.
A TINS Me5sIs Lloyd aud BrOadhead sprang to |
their feet eXcIieuIy SAID that il that true
they would DC Kept out oI the ASSOCIATION aSO a |
notion was next nado by one OF the lay members 10
ask Boccuer TO Withdraw his resignation Aiter
It hau been pressed for some time IL Withdrawn
in favor of Dr. StOrrs's resolution gwen ABOVE Mr.
Stiles Appealed to the association TO say squaroy |
whc ther II wanted Mr.. Beecner TO go stay. He
had no idea that Slr Bcechcr would cone back ,
or. Lloyd SAID it was due to the construction !
put upon Mr.. Bcecners article in The North Amer- |
can hcUiei0 mat ne had Resigned.
DIR. EDWARD BEECHER HEARD.
At this point DR.. Edward Beechrr was called
upon TO express his views. lie sad that he had re-
trained from speaking account of lis personal |
interest. He had recently carefully read all his
bro hers and had listened to him for ten
years in the pulpit, and his conclusion was that |
Henry" was evangelical as any one in the as !
ISOLATION except in theory. There ought to be |
room i'll associations and ill theological semi |
nares for men TO grow. AT Andover the |
attempt had been made to keep men in |
the Old, outgrown limits DR.. Beecher said that |