Year: 1876

ANOTHER CHURCH CAUCUS on THE MUTUAL


CoUNCIL-wHAT THE CONGREGATION INSIST


UPON


The close Of last year saw the pastor of Ply uouth
church entering upon the great trial which consumed
the time OF a court and engaged the attention OF the
entire nation for than half the year.
The opening Of the year would to be
cOincident with the reopening Of the troubles Of the
church and its pastor The prayer meeting last night
well attended aud among those present Mrs.
Beccher and her daughter in-law Mrs Colonel Henry
Beocher. The pastor INDUCED in of his peculiarly
subdued, peace inspiring and consolng talks" He
referred TO the doctrines Of the minstaons of angels
and the communion of saints in both Of which he said
he believed By the communion OF saints he explained
that be did not simply earthly COM
munon, but also the sympathetic connection
between the souls which have gone before and those
that are yet lingering upon the earth The man whose
soul was fixed upon heaven no compared to the air
plant of the tropics whose roots fixed to
teral earthly substance below but whose life and IN
spration were drawn from the atmosphere above


Immediately after the prayer meeting a regular
monthly business meeting was held with the result
gwen below. An adjournment was moved and carried
ten minutes after the meeting was organized, and


ADJOURNED BUSINESS MEETING
organized with Brother Edgerton in the chair
Prayer was offered by Brother r W. Raymond, and Dr.
Edward Beecher, chairman OF the Consulting Commit
tee reported that the latter body had held a meeting
with Mr. Van Cot counsel for Mrs. Moulton at which
the form OF the letter mssive had been agreed upon
Mr.. Van Cott had however demanded on the part Of
his client that the council should be held in other
building than Plymouth church. There had been, -
continued Dr. Beechor ian objection the holding OF
the council IN this church, and Il Withdrawn.
but this evening, at the meeting formal request
or desire presented from Mrs. Mouton that The
council should be held in some other building or
church than this inasmuch II would not be pleasant
in her clrcum stanccs to have a council held here Sho
gave no reasons why would be disagrceabe and she
did appeal TO have elsewhere upon tho ground of
right but upon the ground Of magnanimity; upon the
part Of one who was weak, and who had feelings in
volved in the issue"


Dr. Boecher stated in conclusion, that his committee
bad declined to comply with her request without con-
suting with the chufoh and therefore he reported the
point for consideration.


some discussion ensued between s v White r W.
RAYMOND and Mr.. Shearman, N which the prevailing
sentiment that the Congregational usage which
decided that mutual council should always be held in
the church by whose members was called should be
adhered TO In this case. Mr.. Beecher spoke upon the
question as follows


There is no person In this church who does not in.
stantly respond 20 chivarous appeal. and
OF courtesy would weigh with us as much as with any
body Of people in the world; and If this simply
matter OF courtesy l would be foremost myself
desires but there Is something more than
that and il ought 30 be taken into consideration. |
think the brethren are right in the remarks they have





according 10 usage, but according to every
consideration. and that there are reasons in tho
peculiar position which Mrs Moulton occupies
in her relation TO this church which, through
me she sustains and the fact that either she or must
be peurcd and that this church is asked on account OF
her feelings to 20 out OF this church for earthly
than that OF her sentimentlsl to concede that
which the church cannot concede without harm. 1t
enters into the question OF justice Now, II Il were
the custom 80 hold councils anywhere and II II we're
simply question proposed between this church and
anothcr-any one being proper-I should say, Let
I them choose" But this Is her former homei
this Is the church out OF which she has
/ been dropped, aud this Is the church which
now calls The mutual council In order shat
they may judge fairly whether we have dealt Justly
with this former member and this church owes IL 10
ndoity 90 its CONVICTIONS It's ddelty TO It's
pastor that the council should be held here In its home
and not In ny foreign home (Applsusel


After some further talk the moderator put the fol.
loving resolution, which was carried unanimously


Resolved That the Committee be Instructed not 10 CON
sent call the council place save She buildings %
Plymouth charch


Assistant clerk OF the church, Talmage. resigned
and MI Henry r. Howard elected IN bis place
The meeting then adjourned TIL Friday night next