Year: 1876




600. .0Go.is .A---n'sVn-


he Gets Up and Speaks Ont in Meeting


About Councils and Ihinss--His Bitter


Condemnation Of the Action ofths Recent


rssIssiastieal Assembly. l7-H


Special Dispatch 10 De CSica9o Trb,me.


NEW YoRk, March l2-Dr. r. S. Storrs
spoke his mind fo-nisht, and it may be con-
sidsEsd csftain that the whole Congresa-
t;oaal Church n to be convulsed with the
scandal. His church was crowded in every
part by an audience which was evidently
nervously interested in what it was under
stood he was to say, for it had been an
nounced that he would review the late Ad-
visory Council and explain his reasons for
retiring from the Presidency of the Congre-
gational Union, and it was natural to cup
pose that his criticisms would involve in
some form, and greater or less degree, the
question of the scandal itself.


THE AGITATION OF THE AUDIENCE


was absolutely visible before the Doctor
began, and the interest manifested in his
utterances was positively painful. His de-
clarations, of which only synopsis can be
sent you at this late hour of the night,
were of the most positive and sensational
character. The Advisory Council received
the most OF his attention, and he was pro-
nounced In opposition to its rulings in
every regard. While conceding that the
Council was fairly representative in Its per-
sonnel Of Congregationalism, he declared in
unequivocal terms that many OF the MEM
bers had been selected because of their
known sentiments favorable to Beecher's
case. He reviewed the findings of the
Council one after another, criticising each
unfavorably and declaring them inconsis-
tent with the findings Of the Council Of 1874,
and subvesive of Congregatianalism in all
its important aspects. 1t was because the
result of thesr declarations must cause a
split In the Congregational Church that he
he had retired from the responsible position
he held. There was


No POSITIVE AND DIRECT DECLARATION


AGAINST BEECHER


personally, but in the application of par
ticular terms to his case, no doubt was left
IN the minds OF the hearers of Storrs' opin-
ion on that subject. He spoke once of in





Plymouth In such connection as to make it
applicable to Beecher only. Among other


SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS


was one to the effect that the Advisory
Council had investigated Plymouth
Churchs action, while it was the pastor
who should have been, and who ought still
to be investigated. Abiding to the break
ing up Of the mutual council asked by Mrs.
Moulton, because his own and Dr. Buding-
toms Church were included in the list, he
said no Church had a right to break off
mutual council on such a plea, and then
call an advisory council of friendly pas
tors. According to their rulings, various
oppositions might be made, and the real
effect of the council be destroyed, from the
fact that il would be known to be partisan.
Referring to the Investigating Committee
of 1874, he called it partisan, because


INFLUENCED BY sHEARMAN,


the pastors attorney, who. in one instance
with his (Storrs0 knowledge, had shaped
the evidence OF a witness before the witness
appeared to testify. This was an allusion
TO Bessie Turner, whom Shearman is sup
posed to have tutored and tortured into
saying what she did.


10 the Associated Press


A GREAT AUDIENCE.


NEW YORK, March 12.-The Church of
the Pilgrims, of which Rev. DIR. Storrs is
pastor, was crowded tonight by a congre-
cation anxious to hear the views it had
been announced that he would deliver in
regard to the recent Advisory Council, and
its decision. The usual Sunday evening
sermon was dispensed with, and, instead,
DIR. Storrs read his statement on the subject
IN question. As il had been said he was
not in sympathy with Congregationalism.
it seemed proper he should give his reasons
for his Withdrawing from the position OF
President of the American Congregational
Union, and membership in its board of di-
rectors. In regard to the troubles of Ply
mouth Church, he had never taken any
part in them and would not do so now. He
characterized the recent Advisory Council,
although composed of a very intelligent
body OF men, as one Of


NO GREAT MORAL WEIGHT.
1t was large in membership, however, and
represented a-constituency of 3i6,1 He
thought the previous Congregational Coun-
ell had much more weikht, because it was
not composed Of delegates known to be
favorable to Plymouth Church. He knew
there were in the late Council very many
delegates favorable to Plymouth Church,
and this TACT would throw some light on
the strange results arrived at. He referred
to the fact that, while here, the delegates
were


SPECIALLY CARED FOR
by Plymouth Church. He condemned the
rules laid down by this Council for the ad-
mission Of members and guidance of Con-
gregational Churches He condemned the
construction of the manner of communion
which opened its doors to all who sought
admittance, and


EXCLUDED EXAMINATION
by the church of the forger, the adulterer,
and the maligner, merely dropping their
nsDe from the roll on account OF their abb
se0ce from the church. He thought the
recent Advisory Council improper, as it
tended to cause innumerable councils to be
called. He thought the Council had, with
ont intention, heaped dirt on the great doc
trines of the Lord and had spread pro-
tecting wings over the pastor of Plymouth
church.


FoRE-AND-AFTER.
According 10 the doctrine OF the Catho-
lie Church, the unchristian character of
the priest made no difference to the mem
ber In so rar as the efficiency of the sacra-
ment was concerned but it would be hard
to make Protestants accept such view
Such q council as had been called would
have about as much effect as brush of
feathers in clearing out mine. The re-
quest from the church in Andover to Ply
mouth Church was perfectly proper, and
the Council went out of its woy to deal
with the matter. The Council had no
more right to deal with the matter than it
had to conduct the trial of Gen. Babcock. |