New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-22
TO HAVE ONE CONFERENCE.
NETWORK AND BROOKLYN CONGREGA
TIONAL CHURCHES TO BE UNITED
REPORT OF DR.. ABBOTT RECOMMENDING THE
UNION OF THE TWO BODIES TO DE KNOWN
AS THE MANHATTAN BROOKLYN
CONFERENCE-AN OLD QUAR-
REL RECALLED

CONFERENCE-AN OLD QUAR-
REL RECALLED.
The spring meeting of the New-York and
Brooklyn Association Of Congregational. Churches
was held in the Park Church. Seventh-st. and
Sixth-ave yesterday afternoon and last even
Ing. The meeting was called to order and opened
with prayer by the Moderator, the Rev. ID. Butler
Pratt. After rollcall and the reading of the
minutes of the last meeting. the committee went
into session for the purpose of examining cand-
dates for licenses to preach. Professor w. c.
Webster a fellow Of Chicago University, and
late professor of history in Cornell College Mount
Vernon, Iowa, was the first candidate. In re-
Spouse to questions by the members of the Ex-
aiming Committee, he said that he had made
no special study Of theology that he did not be-
leve In either the atoning death Of Christ or the
doctrine of eternal punishment He believed
that the Scriptures were inspired as the great
thinkers of to-day inspired
Dr. Douglass, a Presbyterian clergyman of
NewYork here arose to ask some pointed ques-
tons and was called TO order by Dr. Wilton,
who said that as the candidate was to be licensed
by Congregational body. he failed to see the
propriety Of a Presbyterian clergyman asking
questions. The moderator held that as DR..
Douglass a member of the association, he
might ask questions In that capacity, but not as
a clergyman The examination then sus
pended till the close of the afternoon session.
when the committee went into executive session
and voted to license the candidates for one year.
The Rev. C. T. Weitzel. assistant pastor of
Plymouth Church. and the Rev. Dr. j. ii.
Ecob, were then elected 10 membership in the
body The most important matter Of the session
then came up for action-the proposed union OF
the Manhattan Conference and the Association.
These bodies were united and separated
not long after the troubles in Plymouth Church
at the time Of the BeecherTilton trial. The
primary cause of the separation split was
the refusal of Plymouth Church TO discipline
Mr. Tilton. That society fit to drop his
name from It's roll without the Formally Of
trial To this action the churches Of Dr. Storrs
and DR.. Buddington took exception, and finally
passed a resolution that they would decline 10
attend all councils TO which Plymouth Church
was invited The breach thus made had existed
despite all efforts to heal 1t, until the meeting
yesterday afternoon
REPORT OF DIR. ABBOTT.
The scribe Of the meeting, the Rev. Horace
Porter, first read the report Of Dr. Lyman Abb
bott chairman Of the Conference Committee OF
the Association. The report was as follows:
The committee appointed on June 8, 1885, to CON
fer with similar committee OF the Manha.tan , con"
union of the two bodies in one conference submit
the following report: - ... .,,..,u,o,
by the Manhattan Conference. the two committees
met together. and have agreed to reconsnd
First-The adoption of the constitution and stand
ing rules o. the Manhattan Conference Tho Man.
Second-The name OF said body 10 De the Man
haitian Brooklyn Conference .
this agreement py the adoption OF the following
resolutions. Similar resolutions WI De recon- com
mended by the committee of the Manhattan Con-
fore fCra
mSs, ha1sas The result, Of the conference of the
joint committees of the New-York and BROOKLYN
Association ard the Manhattan Conference has
S SSfo OF Of the two bodies under constitution and
standing rules Of The the ccn
enee Of n5 raoEyn asso
ciation cordially adopts said RECOMMENDATION and
designates the audieneeroom OF the C3nsresapo o
May a. 1896 as the time when this union under the
shall be formally effected by simple response to
rollcall OF al the churches now constituting the
brooklyn Association.
Resolved. That the name Of the conference shall
be the " 'tan-Brookyn Conference OF tongre-
Resolved. hat when we adjourn. we adjourn
he can ascertain from the officers OF me Man
the perfection Of this union ne notify the ministers
and delegates present at this meeting ana all the
Resolved. That the Scribe call together the minis
teria members Of this association In october. 1896
for the purpose OF considering what measures. u
any shall be taken for the organization o purely
ministerial association. and that he be and hereby Is
authorized 10 grant any interim letters Of dismssion
to any ministerial member who may apply for them
LETTER READ by MIR. PORTER.
Mr.. Porter then read the following letter from
DR.. Abbott:
Rev Horace Porter, Scribe New-York and Brook
Ign Association. -. 49,
special committee to be presented the meeting
OF the New-York and Brooklyn Association Owing
But am sure no words OF mine can be necessary
commend this result Of negotiations Tor a union
set on foot as such negotiations were by our as,
ISOLATION. at least three years ago we must al
unity OF all the disciples OF Christ apparent to
ourselves and to the world. Y9Irs sincer syorr
After the report the Rev. DR.. William Lloyd
was the first to move It's adoption. and in 50
doing took occasion to refer in eloquent terms
TO the late pastor OF Plymouth Church. Henry
Ward Beecher. He related an incident Of the
bitter controversy which led to disunion. and
said Mr. Beecher had remarked TO his wife on
one occasion: when / am gone, the brethren
will understand me-" After meeting In the
PARK Church. at which he had defended the
Plymouth pastor with all the power he could
command, ne had received letter from Mrs
Beecher thanking him for his course telling MN
God that some Of the brethren understood
Henry before he died"
For ten years he had striven to reconcile the
differences between these bodies. He was fer
vently thankful that his labors were about to
be rewarded, his prayers answered, and he hoped
that never again would there be divided councils
in New-York and Brooklyn Congregational
churches Congre gationalism In New-York was
weak. in Brooklyn 1t was strong. with Brook
ivn's assistance New-York in twenty five years
would present as strong Congregational front
as Brooklyn.
ALL FAVOR THE REPORT
DR.. Lloyd was followed by DR.. Ingersoll, Dr.
Wilton. b. f. Blair and A. F. Newton, all OF
whom spoke In favor Of DR.. Abbotts report.
L. AZ x,ai., itaa Of the scrlle