Year: 1875

NEW YORK, December 1.-The fol.


lowing letter was addressed to-day by


Deacon West to the members OF Plym-


outh church:
NEW YORK, December /, 1916
To the Members of Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn:


DEAR BRETHREN-I thank you for
your promptness and unanimity in re-
considering the vote by which my name


was dropped ftom the roll of the church.


At the request of the examining COM


mittee 1 appeared before them this


morning, and stated the reasons for IN y


absence from church. While they gave


me no advice, in the technical sense of


that word, understood from them that


they thought it to be my duty either


to withdraw from the church or in


future to attend its services. l
do not see that 7 can honestly
and conscientiously take either course,
and as said to the committee that I
should not make any further commune
cation directly to the church, will now
state to you wherein differ from the
views expressed by the committee, and
propose plan by which think all diff.
culties that exist between US may be set
tied. In the first place, believe that l
am right in the request which / have
made for complete and regular investi-
cation of the scandal which has go long
troubled the peace Of our church; and l
believe, moreover, that it is still my duty,
as the minister Of the church, TO obtain
such an investigation, if it be possible,
by any fair and honorable means. There
fOre,N cannot consent to Voluntarily
sever my connection with the church
while q way is still open for the per-
fOrmance of this duty. As regards my
attendance at the services and sacTa-
ments of the church, / can only repeat
what / stated in my former letter to you,
that / cannot conscientiously attend
them until regular and impartial in
vestigatiOn of the charges against the
character OF the pastor shall be made by
q properly constituted council. Such
an investigation at the present time
is especially imperative, because our
church is not unanimous in its belief of
the innocence of orr pastor, and this
feeling of doubt and apprehension is
shared by thousands Of christian men
and women throughout the land; there
fore, inssmuch as charges of adultery
and perjury have been made against
our pastor, and, as in my opinion, a
regular investigation is necessary for the
vindiestion OF the innocent, and for the
preservation of the peace and purity of
the church, l hereby request you to
unite with me in calling a mutual coun-
Gil, to which shall be submitted the fol-
lowing questions:


First-Is Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
guilty of adultery?


Seconds Henry Ward Bsecher
guilty Of perjury?


make this proposition with the hope
that it may be the means of vindicating
the character Of our pastor, and should
this be the result no one will rejoice
thereat more heartily than I. nope
the church will meet me frankly and
affectiOnately in the spirit in which
approach them, and will unite with me
in referring this whole subject to coun-
Gil which will be able to compose
the differences that now unhappily exist
among US. As this matter is of such
greatimportance, l solicit immediate &C
ton on the part OF the church; and that
no time may be lost, besides sending
this letter to the clerk l shall cause q
copy of it to be published in the morn
ing papers, in order that it may the
sooner reach the members Of the church.
Yours fraternally, WIN. F. WEST.