Year: 1876

invited not to decline attendance because u
any unpleasant impressions or suspicious,
since that would be sure, If anything cou'1
have that effect, to make the Council one
sided affair. This would seem to Indicate
that be means to attend in good falth' as q
representative Of the true interests OF
religion, to give to Plymouth cnurcn
the exact advice which in this grave
emergency it needs. DR.. BACON under
stands that the Congregational denom1-
nation, as well as Plymouth Church, IS VIZ
tually on trial before the public, and LIE "ln
be bold to defend general as well as special
interests It would not then be surprising
were Dr. BACON to succeed in impresslng
even this carefu1ly-culled body with Inc
gravity Of the situation, and in leading 1t to
give wise and discriminating advice or'
failing in this, he might see fit to head
determined minority in protest against any
false principles or evil measures favored by
the majority,


It should not be hastily assumed that this
Council can accomplish no good. Though it
labors under the disadvantage Of the e1-1'aTte
principle (beneath proper outward method)
on which it was called, aud though the man
case in which the public is chiefly interested
Is not to come directly before IT.
yet it will have abundant oppor-
tunity for offering good advice to
Plymouth Church, in answering the ques-
tons submitted by the Letter-Sfissive. 1t IS
indeed too large and unwieldy for any proper
purposes of examination and deliberation.
Common sense indicates that few able and
impartial men would be more thorough, calm,
and judicial in their action. Yet the solemni-
ty of their position will do much to abate
the usual sensational temptations OF SO
numerous body. For, in addition to the
serious aspects Of the BEEcHEn case prior to
the sending ont Of the Letter-Missive, and
the importance of the points which that letter
raises, the Bowen development has since oc-
CURED, and the Council will sit under the
shadow of the fearful Indictment which he
brings against h1r. BEEcHER as being ''guilty
Of the awful crimes Of adultery, perjury, and
hypocrisy" That fact will not come Off
cially before it, perhaps; but the power OF
it will be felt, and the thought Of it will 60
far to neut1alize the eloquent pleadings Of
the pastor of Plymouth Church. Then the
action of the Church of Andover Theological
Seminary in directly requesting Plymouth
Church to unite with it in calling Council for
the express purpose Of trying A1r: BERcHEn
will have influence in suggesting the final
advice to be given. It may then be expected,
with reasonable probability, that, after max
ing disposal of the questions Of mere
church-order propounded. the Council will
proceed to discharge what is really its main
duty in the circumstances, viz: to assure
Plymouth Church, in the name Of the whole
Congregational brotherhood, and of on-look-
ing Christendom, that this scandal must be
investigated, until "t the bottom facts shall
be disclosed; and that it cannot do better
than to accept the proposal of the Andover
Church. Public sentiment is now SO nearly
unanimous to this effect that the Council
cannot fail to represent md enforce it. This
secured, the Council will have justified its
own existence, and Ar. BEEcHEB, if really
innocent will have occasion to rejoice in an
act Of true friendship.