Year: 1876

terchange Of selection Of ats memberss


COUNCIL Announces


TO be the former and ihereupon proceeds 10 say that
Plymouth church had right TO object two OF the
churches named by her who had demanded the Coun-
Gil and to make the objection at meeting subse-
quent 10 that at which they had been named and 1t
had been agreed that they should be notified. II the
definition Is generally accepted Il will put an
end To mutual councils in all dangerous
and in all cases IN which they are needed II either
party have right to object 10 a church ministers
selected the attempt to constitute such tribunal must
be about as hopeful as the attempt 10 get any fugitive
IRON justice to beg judges to give HIM trial more
dangerous blow was never gwen at that church order
winch has guaranteed To ministers right TO be heard
To give TO each party the right select half the council
would be the proper way. When the proceedings or
council are public, neither one can afford TO be repre-
sented exclusively by partsans. The public would


find out and they would be discrcdited at once II they
gave wrong decision The Council of 1874 was emit
ncnty non partisan one The weakness OF THIS last
Council comes largely from the fact that the majority
supposed TO be in sympathy with the action TO be
scrutnizcd.


Fi7h-The Council assures the public that il finds no
call in question the method by which the In
vcsgating Committee OF Plymouth church constr
tutcd or the integrity with which the proceedings
were conducted.


It has not usually been the case that an investigating
committee Is named wholly by the party accused 1t
does not generally consist exclusively OF his
personal friends business associates does
II usually appoint us influential members OF that
Committee those who not members OF the church.
1t has not, either been customary TO appoint the attor
ney OF the accused as legal adviser to the Council,
and instances will rarely be found in
which that attorney witnesses beforehand
and arranged with them To shape his question TO
to examine them while keeping from the com
mittee


DAMAGING TESTIMONY


which is known TO have been done in the instance at
least IN the case OF Mr.. Richards. A
about effective for Calculating obscure and
complicated facts, especially Tor evolving nimical
facts against its nominaor as bushcl OF feathers for
excavating mines. A minister must be exacting ia
the extreme who would not be satisfied with
such artistic and comprehensive arrangements for
a threatening Since
Council ndorses the constitution and conduct of the
famous committee, II looks as though precedent has
been established OF a most dangerous character


Siru-Lcst, however, even this arrangement should
not give wholly sufficient protection to minister
cuscd Of whatever crimo, the Council in another way
his security nearly perfect This is one the
most remarkable things connected with this remark
able result


THE CHURCH oP AMDovER


sends letter expressive of regard to the
injury TO the cause of religion and asking Plymouth
Church TO appoint n mutual council to investigate
the matter aud settle the question for others. The
Council goes outside the letter missive and adopts
series OF resolutions on this matter In doing this IL
showed It's revolutionary principles An er pdre coun
ell ought not to be convened until mutual council
had been refused According to the vehement deliver
discharged or investigated by his church 1t
only call council to say whether the action OF
the church has been in order not and whether
the pastor Is graceess sceptic and criminal Ger
tainly pastor be safe long as he is
sustained by his personal followers and they
adhere TO him. and while the Council throws
the council is an invitation to any plausible rogue TO
enter Congregational church and there get safety
which outsiders would not be willing TO offer.


Serenh-Having made the Mutual Council of the
Church impossible by giving tho parties the right
to veto, the Council proceeds TO invent new
instrument for It's purpose. 1t appoints
committee OF three, who TO select council of five,
10 whom shall be referred all future questions.
The council of five has the power to Nil
cances in any OF the members refuse
TO serve. There ID quorum, and 1t would be easy for
them to determine, in case charges we're prepared,
what the result should be They might
mine, in case charges were presented to them, that
they have been investigated before and close the matter
finally The Council says that demand must be made
by the party to the charges, who must be responsible
but does not TO whom. IL they are not presented
ganzed II they and the Committee OF the Church choose
SO 10 decide.


THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE
10 no one and governed by no rule. Plymouth church
is not advised to accept the result only publish
it, The result arrived at by the committee is sup
posed TO be n nnality beyond which no examination
Shall go. Is II not humlating that all ancient and
honorable methods OF mutual councils set
aside by body not convened TO consider
pastor OF his pulpit even II they should find him
guilty OF crimes worse than those charged II result
like this be accepted what is left in Congregatonas
under the original panY


What basis remains for any rules whateverS why
contend when the only result Is to heap sand Tor
the next pun of wind to blow 1t DOWN.


Dr. Storrs here in reference TO the And
over letter gave iorcible illustration of
the scandal using the Initials "a" and 'B" In putting
the Of the Andover Seminary and Mr. Beecher.
He then on to describe his reasons for leaving
the positions from which he has lately re,
presence or the thoughts above referred to-
as declaring purpose to leave at once the communion
IL have claim TO influence others, but
for myself | want TO see what others
say what the general mind OF the church says the
cent extraordinary proceedings Such revolution may
will create revolution in the general scheme
of government which appears now to threaten


NEW TERN OF LIPE,
with of stability order and strength. II n
less such comes do not sec how any man abide in
a house so nall in Its foundations and
bic In heaps around him ut any moment
cannot give any large portion Of my remaining years
to rebuilding the platform which am TO stand.
caDnot be always unavangy trying to get the primary
rules OF the church established


Dr. storrs here gave sketch OF the history OF Con-
gregationaism aud said it must ut least assure the
world that 1t provides established rules which will
the members OF churches which may be formed
that they canuot be removed from their memberships
by simply absenting themselves from the sacrament
Councils should be assured to the humblest member
who feels aggrievcd


phass, that method must be found, If
does not exist, by which can be secured preach
ing ihsroh III TN the n pulpit. In the case oi Plymouth
the roll alter the pastor had been charged with adul-
tery, and when complaint on account
lent standing and repute, had formally lodged
aeans. HIM the peculiar appointment and peculiar
OF which their verdict wholly Jailed TO


RESTORE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.


The cutting OF OF another member without trial or
consure in spite OF her protest and in face Of
her terrific declaration that the pastor
who for years had opened TO her the secrets
OF his confidence was TO her knowledge a perJured
adultercr; the denial to her of mutual coun-
cl under OF objection to
two OF the churches named by her
which made Il imposs BILE for them TO appear and us-
titled others in equally declining; tho repuse OF the
gentle and noble overture OF the ADdover church;
every one Of these proceedings is cmphatcally
endorsed. The last suggested by this large and
body. Dr. Storrs concluded by saying, II
would almost recall, II 1t were possible the words |
iet constrained to write but rerd DroOratis Is as
good rule In earlier time, and IL is as true OF the
government OF the churches Is OF their worship
That ''God Is not the author OF confusion"