Year: 1876

exists in regard TO the power Of church
in relation 10 scandal supposed to exist in sister church.


whereas this subject falls within the general scope Of the
matters brought before this Council this Council hereby
l. That any church deeming that sister church un-
reasonably negleets 10 investigate public offence affect
ing the common cause may suitably atmonlsh thA,
% SeressPa o. day & and in case case ss sister church b
church may requant other churches with that offence which
the offending church lies under. and may unite With
% ss GsSres 5 and 10 case hs further R %
monition may forbesr communion with the sdnonished
church and may then call council Of churches consider
q inquire consider only whether he offending
IL That this liberty gives 70 no church the hight or power
80 claim 20 take part in the investigation Of the alleged
called Tor the poe ao on hs s
by sister church to call pa council for the same
fl That the assertion such claims these named
tonaisn down the Cambridge platform and that
S sas SsSna o ion Council OF s and T0n be mot only S


dangerous nngemen on the liberty Of the local church
'"'''N - - LEONARD )" BACON, '''


IW}rI TIiMWq}THY pwIGHL gNIG6rS


GEORGE B sPAULDING, fOomin'''ee'


r. W. wELLMAN,


BRADFORD r. WOOD.


The reading OF the report was received with utter
The choir and congregation next sung the hymn
Of Massachusetts,: Dr. Sturtevant OF Illinois; Dr. Por
ter and Dr. Leonard Bacon delivered congratulatory
addresses


Mr.. BEEcHERs SPEECH


Rev Henry Ward Beecher then came forward on the
invitation of the Moderator and said:--lt has como
pass that for many years have read and heard
much OF my self that have ceased to recognize my
individuality, but am projected before my
own mind as an idea. have seemed to
myself like the hero IN novel, and have thought is
II possible for to have lived so long and openly
and to be at the same time so msconceivedr II is
true usually given to much reticence and am.
know.
have been misconsrued but at the same time. i
fancy have been able at times to convey my meaning
and make myself ineligible have love OF being
hero and still less such an one as have been made to
appear To hear men talk about me and
entered into TO whether l guilty
or not, makes the very mother thought Of shame
blink within me- Still have knowledge OF my inno-
cence and am willing TO wait / have sat six long
months before jury which was to determine whether
was tho cuprt some would make me appear, out that
and all things willing TO bear But will say
you have not been hunted like the eagle hunted,
/ have not been pursued as the wolves and lions and
foxes are but # was a maggot IN rotten corpse.
DR.. Bacon and others have spoken OF my sadness Do
you suppose such being the case, II is possible for
TO 20 through months and years and not feel in
II IL should please God for me 10 60 through
the Red sea, God is my judge, and II He
is willing, ] will go through another nve years
by faith In Christ and the help He will give me viii
do The life now live issustaned by the power Of
the Son OF God II may be, at some future
s.apta,inr nv ssseverations with dates and
facts; but for the present must still
abstain from doing so. am the son of noble father
and a noble mother, and inherit their qualities /
brought up with reverent love for duty and love-
and If my nature is such am not ansyerabe for It,
You may rebuke for loving where | should
not but / have loved on the right and
on the left, and am not ashamed OF it,
If had TO live my life over again with the warning
and caution to mistrust every the side and
the other every step with the choice TO love every
one should choose the latter. was always brought
up In household where the name of woman
was revered next to a saint, and with good too
and have always thought 1t should be My mother
was to me like the Virgin Mary is TO Catholics She
has been my guiding that has led me- even IN the
presence OF God. All that have suffered at the hands
of those who were taught In another school
has not e1aced or deadened the feeling have for
women When see what has been done, but when l
feel what might have been, think still II is better
me stand do and TO be misunderstood than that
there should be suffering in wide q circle as
believe there would be II l to speak
1t might seem my duty to break the silence I have
thought best to Observe but might say that which, II
allowed TO break out would raise such a storm as
never could be stayed. The determination | made to
the policy pursued did not turn out as wished
But now ask you, Has my suffering
misanthropists9 Are you sound2 Are you sound in
chest, sound In hearts Do you trust menH Do you
honor wornenf Do you trust them, honor them and
spirit of God and not man on the face of the earth
would harm did


HAVE HIM IN MY POWER.


There is not creature in existence that would not
willingly suffer for II thought could him from
a greater suffering While mean TO convey in every





say bave been wise or that | would advise
others to walk In the same path that ! have
done ! do condemn myself that I have
been rash aud may have said IN the heat of the
ment things ! should not have said, but which may
have gone forth like poisoned arrows and hurt other
hearts If | have said anything against any OF the
members brethren Of other churches would re-
call the words and would willingly fornet
them and wish that they would do so
likewise beseech OF every one only to remem-
Der as am like unto the Lord Jesus Christ and
TO feel that have done as He has directed Allu-
has been made my sadness and my past life
That you know nothing about, andI do not. now pro-
pose TO talk OF II except TO refer TO the
fact that you may remember | have often
remarked that l thought my life was near
end. ] now live IN the shadow of that feeling
feel that there is but the breadth OF hand between
and my entering in through the gates Of
the New Jerusalem" Mr. Beecher here referred
to his efforts In the cause Of temperance
and for the abolition of slavery. He then
continued and aid:-"I do not for my reputation
after am gone but II have been able inject into
the literature OF the country something that will cheer
the and comfort the weary the thought have
done this will cheer me, for shall know 1t will 90
down 70 posterity. shall be satisfied That which
have done will stand. What am God knows alone
Mr. Beecher then thanked tho members OF the Council
for their attendance and wished them farewell the
hahn acloco ~