The New York Herald Newspaper, December 4, 1875, Page 6

—— : DETERMINED 10. FIGHT A Defiant Note Sounded at i, Church Last Night 1 THE PASTOR ON CONGREGATIONALISM, He Believes in It and Denounces “Pressed-by-gationalism.” A CONTEST FOR CREED'S SAKE, The Policy of Silence Abandoned by | “the Great Preacher.” HE WILL BE NO LONGER MEEK. | The announcement that there would be a business. meeting of Plymouth church after the ordinary Friday evening services last night had the effect of drawing juto the lecture room such a crowd as it bad not held Defore since the time of the great trial The Beecher family was well represented, Dr. Ed- | ward Beecher, in company with Deacon John T. Howard, occupied a seat upon the platform beside the pastor, while Colonel Henry Beecher and two or three enthusiastic young men sat upon the edge of the platform. The meeting was opened with s prayer by | Dr. Edward Beecher. He prayed for the elevation and reformation of mankind in “general, and in particular | for that portion of the race resident in Brooklyn. He prayed that the effect of the great revival might be felt in every individual church for a long time to come. Mr, Levi W. Hart prayed briefly, and the pastor gave out the hymn On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, which was sung with heartiness by the entire congre- gation, and at its conclusion Mr. Beecher delivered his usual “talk.” The subject of his discourse was the communion of saints. He repeated substantially the thoughts ex- pressed in bis Sunday sermon two weeks ago. ‘THE BUSINESS MEETING. Immediately on the conclusion of the religious exer- | eises, in pursuance with the call made by the pastor | last Sunday, a business meeting was organized, with Brother Edgerton in the chair, The dirst motion was made by Brother McKaye and was to the effect that all persons present not members | of the church should be forced to retire. It was opposed by several brethren apd by Mr. Beecher himselfand was nally withdrawn, Mr. Shearman read the minutes of the previous mevting which were approved. He then proposed amendments to several of the rules of the church. They were submitted to the proper committee, | Mr. Shearman then stated that he had received from Mr. William F, West the letter which bas already been published in the Heranp. On motion of Mr. Beecher, the letter was laid on the | table. The following resolutions were then offered by Brother & V. White:— THE RESOLUTIONS. . Whereas, while Mr. William F, West, » member of this @hureh. was bimnself under iuary ‘investigation, pur- enunt to the rules of this chureh, before its Examining Com- mittee, and ufter he had appeared before such commit- | tee to offer his excuse for prolonged and inten- tional absence from public worship and Christian | ordinances in this church, | Mr. West did, | 2d day of December, 1875, deliver to the this church # letter addressed to the church deman this church unite with Lim in the call of # council to gate charges which he says are made against our pastor; aud whereas, on the day before delivering such letter to any officer of this church and two days before any meeting of this church could possibly be beld, Mr. West furnished a copy thereof to the daily newspapers in the city of New York, aud kvowed in his letter his intention to do so; and whereus Mr. Wost, in this letter, demands the calling of a counci: to consider matters which he bas never laid fore the eburch or before any of its committees and demands that the council be called to investigace churges which be yi have been made, but which never nave been inade to this ehurch or to any of its committees by him, for which he has yr shown himself willing to assume any responsibility, snd in the truth of which he does not even now | amert his own beliet; and whereas | estion involved ¢ alleged charges was | ated by this church over twelve months ao at the | uest of its pastor, and with neither assistance nor ¢ pari pf Mr, West, and as the result of such jon at the hat business meeting ever held by his chareh. the principal eharze referced to by Mr. West was pronounced by # unanimous vote to be false and malicious (Mr. West not voting in the negative), and from that day to Shik, a period offfifieen months, Mr. West has never eom- inthed to this church that he was aggrieved by its action on nt occasion, por demanded any further investigation be- Resolved, That, irrespective of the contents of letters addressed ¢o it, this ebureti conwiders she publication of such letters by their authors, in advance of their actanl presenta- tion to the church In meeting assembled, as o it and presumptively intentional fpsult, and ite own self-respect Will not permit this church to consider any letters thus sept and published by one of its own members, except for the {oxercising suitable discipline upon the mei iue contents of the letter now received from Mr. xplained by him, constitute in the judgment of d aggravation of his seknowledged offence in yublishing i vance of its presentation to the ebureh, That “any demand by one member. of ehuron, of in: Yestigation into charges against wnother member, whi charges the member making the demand himeelf vouch for in any church 8 violation of (yp responsibility; while the demand that such alleged 08 shall be eabmitted in the first instance to a conneil bet the ebarch has bad any tanity to investigate them and Before they have been in fact made to the chureh is go plain & violation of Congregational usage and Christian decency - ‘ethane grave doubts of the sincerity and good faith of Buch a request. I That the Examining Committee are hereby instrueted to sommon Mr. William ¥. West before them at an early day, and to seek from him a satisfactory explanation of hix con” duct in these matters, and if no explanation is received from him changing the aspect of ane us prosonted by his own letter to advise bim to make forthwith a full and ample apol- oxy, and in case of his refusal to comply with the advice of the ‘committee they are further instrneted to take such Prompt action ae the good of the ehureh may require in the bremlses. ‘The resolutions were greeted with loud applause, in the midst of which Mr. Beecher arose, All eyes were fixed upon him, and in an instgnt the entire assemblage ‘was hushed into silence. MR. BEECHER'S ADDRESS. Mr, Beecher said:—I am sorry that Plymouth Church should be the occasion of so much news and excitement through the public journals as it has been; but we call | on every gentlemen who is at all familiar with the in- ternal iistory of this church to witness that this pub- hieity and " excitement e not been of ite own seeking. It has uot been developed by us in the church, but has been thrust upon us by adversaries standing outside of the church, (Applause.) | ‘We have sought to pursue the appropriate work of chureb organization peacefully, meddling with no other charches, living in peace and in charity with every one. and that ‘effort, in despite of assaulls that are unheard of in the history of ordtpary cburches, by the great goodness of God, and by the special indwelling of the | Xpirit—that work we have been enabled to pursue through good report and evil report for the post two years, abating not one whit of our labors nor our means, fAbating nothing in the attendance in the sanctuary or in our other meetings, living airpng of th in @ growing unity ourseives, amd having the Divine work | conversion of those not Christians to a pure and | fe going on within the past two years without | on, We have endeavored to make in all re- 80 far as we knew the mind of the Master, A HOME-LOVING AND HOME-SAVING CAMIETIAN CHURCH, ‘and most of the evils that have been driven forth like flames of Gre snto the newspapers has been brought upon us, I say this because there are some who ure considered and who are accustomed to bring it out as if it was eo, that “Plymouth is always showing her fing.” When Piymouth church {s assaulued in ber very life she always will “show her flag.” This announcement was received with the wildest ap- plause, which was manifested by the stamping of feet, slapping of hands, and, in some cases, by the waving of handkerchiefs, She seeks no other pndlicity—none of that merétri- tiousness. Bhe would fain forego that whichwe have been compelied to have; but it was not the charch's fault, And I think, jadging with ail allowances for the infirm- ities of men yet in the fiewh, that this church, by its Appeals, ite dehberations, its ‘sermons, its mfasions, fs compactness within, has done ‘more in the past two years to magnity Christian life out of the church thun It ever did in any other ton years in its experience. I wish to say, further, that in the administration of the affairs of Curist by human hands in this church we have sought out every ave ue and we have endeavored to discharge our trusts sccording to the radical conception which we Lave of « Christian church. We do not believe that THE CHURCH 18 A KINGDOM. ‘We believe that it 1s family. We do not deliewe tha: officers and managers of the church have any rights | bver its individual members other than those, whieh be. long torthe household of faith. Ithasno right in # ptber sengs to adjudge them than for their good and the purity of the church. And we have endeavored in the administration of our duty to ave leniently not to judge with severity. We have ht to cleanse the church of whatever seemed no longer to belong to ns im @ manner that — #howid bo just. While we have been atiempting w do thi re has been ramming, crouch ng over aAguinst us, eve at every avemic and at ftep vigilant, men who avowedly have thy with us and who bave watched our | rings and mistakes and hawp sought for (bein Men 00k for Bisldaw trassvren Thaw java por ov | devised by and resulted from experience, | count, E midst of fanit finding, of ings and evil counsels’ tor the period of three years ‘Aud now it ta supposed by some that we shall be forced by vexations and long continued that, for the sake of peace, we shall DRIVEN INTO ISOLATION AND DEPENDENCY. It is possible that Plymouth church may stand out- side of the 5,000 Congregational churches of North America, but it will be when they put us out and not when we go out (Loud applause.) We propose to stand where we are, In no spint of obstinacy; but we poreaations, and | believe that this church represerits the fundamental | idea’ of the Vathers better and unfolds them better than the churches consure it = (Ap- | ylause.) And we are standing for—first our | own rights, a8 committed to us by our Crowned Head, We are standing for this principle—the right of each church administer its own affairs ac- | cording to the light and wisdom that God gave to it, and we are standing under peculiar circumstances when it is being endangered by spurious doctrine of feliow- ship, which means, im terms, “fellowship,” but, in fact, government, A doctrine of tellowebip, which, as it has been explained to us, means the absolute surrender of local independence in the Church and substitutes the majority of the votes of the churches of the neighborhood. Now, ou that principle we stand with the Fathers and we stand for the churches. We say that while in the providence of God it has been made our peculiar dyty to stand for the lib- erty of this local cburch, we are standing for tbat a time when there is more danger than at any other in the churches; that there will be a doctrine of fellowship foisted upon us that, after all, Will be a poor, weak, base Imitation of Presbyterianiem. Presbyterianism as @ system is an admirable one, Itis the result of long experience, and those qualities it possesses, 1n common with every system, have been Presbyter- janism pare and sittpie is to be respected. Uongrega- tionalisin pure and simple has also, as the result of long experience, made Uself to bo.’ respected as ad- mirable, aud in some respects I judge it to be better than Prosbytertanism. Congregationalsm is good and Presbyteriauism is good, but PRESSKD-BY-GATIONALISM 18 MEAN. (Laughter,) While then we are attempung to main- tain our own integrity and our own right, I feel that we are culled also to battle for many, many weak churches that might not be able under unfavorable circumstances to bear up and do themselves justice. I wish to say more than that. {and we are informed that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent) has gone by, (Loud applause.) And that whatever is to be said, and should be said, will be said And whatever is to be amended, and whatever is to be proposed by proper parties in proper methods will be accorded. (Applause.) And ? pro- pose, and I gay to you and to the brethren who .are concerned, that when in association or in council mat- ters pertaining to this church are again in tssue I in- tend to be there. (Applause.) And now we are going vo consider the case that ts before us 1 wish to say that I have not seen any person who is connected with this church, and whose name has been bronght for cousideration before us, under other circamstances than those which a pastor should hold for the mewbers of his church, 1 have never entertained for them 4 feeling which 1 could not unfold in prayer be- fore God, and I bave not now. But this we do say, that when members so far disagreo with us that they cannot submit to the public and well ordered opimon of the majority; when they so far disagree with us that they cannot ‘any longer attend our public services or our private meetings; when they can no fonger attend with us to the performance of those duties which they publicly and solemnly promised to perform; when they lend themselves to those who are seeking the disinte- gration and disorder of this church, 1t becomes our duty to SEPARATE THEM PROM MEMBERSIUIP im this church. (Applauge.) We mean to terminate that connection as exsily as is possible for them; but we cannot stand responsible before the world, ani have watcb and guard over them when they take thein- selves out from our guard, It is ashame for us to be permit us to exercise any, influence upon them It is a shame, when we treat them with leniency, with every consideration that ought to be bestowed by Christian men | upon a woman or upon brethren, when we seek by every means in our powor to have the action of the church made as harmles@ as may be—as beneficial as may be—to take our very kindness as a ground of fresh offence and seek to condemn the charch and its action under such circumstances. I think that is the judgment of every thinking man—we appeal to the common sense, we appeal W the good {feeling of men, wheiher any honest reading, | B | te. J testified as I did, in view of all the penalties. of I wish t say that the time for silence _ | held responsible for people that wou’t come near us or | attempt to cleanse the church of that which it cannot | take care of any longer, and to do it without harm to these persons that are to be dealt with, whother it has any right, any Christian right, to attempt to investigate and entangle and trip up ‘the church on that ac- ig ot wicked? (Applause) | need | not say that these resolutions have my heartiest assent, and that itseems Ww me that they will have also the heartiest assent of the Christian public when it shall first read them, and if there was amything i these reso- E thet ho would se» to 18 Rimosit that I shoste sores OP 8 chure! hkely, Baows dot of you that as ate a June, 18S, be wrove about me to my busband words which at that time I thought were sincere, and which gave me pleasu though’ r"knew they wore extravagant and far beyond merita ‘Your noble wife has to me one of God's comforters, It is such as she that renew a waninj faith in womanhood.” This was afer he knew, as wel as he knows now, of my long absence from ehureh ser- Vices on his account. It does not seem to me m the least right that you should Bow aecuse me before the | public of five years’ voluptary absence from the church | and entire disuse of Christian ordinances, when, in point of fact, the disuse did not continue so’ long, and | was compelled by my conscience, on the one ban fusing to let me go to your church while | knew wi did about Mr, Beecher; by my unwillingness, on the | other band, to expose and harm him by going elsewhere, T really do not see how Sir. Beecher, knowing as well as he does the perfect truth of what I sax, knowing HOW Mk USED WH WEEP tour house, aud heap shame upop himself for his great sin, aud how often be spoke to my husband and myself of the utter despair in which he would be ex- cept for our comfort and help, Lcannot see how it was possible for him to stand up and read this letter to me in your presence without his very soul giving way. As to the other parts of the letter there are a great many things in it which are incorrect and injurious, al! of which it is not worth while to refer Lo, bub some | of which I may mention, You say that I might have brought acharge against the pastor, in consequence of my knowledge of bie wickedness with Mrs. Tilton. Perhaps I migut, but it did not seem my part to do it, when there were gentlo- | men in the church who knew the facts almost ag well | as I did, and when the knowledge which I had about them had come to me in confidence. It was right for | me, | felt, to use such kuowledge when the law required it, or im self-defence, or m Vindication of othera But I hover wished to make what he had confessed to me a means of attack upon Mr. Beecher, cruelly as he has treated us since we could no longer keep his secret, 1 do not know butl should have been afraid to do it in any case, since my husband's experience in one of your meetings showed how violent your anger might be- come, and I have not aman’s strength. You complain of me that I did not ask for a trial by the church, I did not know that it was my business to | do that I was not conscious of having done anything to mako atrial necessary or suitable. The cominitice | notified me that they should recommend dropping my | name, and J appeared and protested against it on what I thought were sufficient grounds, [ was at that tune | certamly @ member of the church; and it seems to me | | | tt | it was your busmess to pat me on trial if you thought I wag stating what was not true. I should not have shrunk from {t; bat I did not know that I was under | obligation wo ask to be tried, or that it would be con- sidered that I had forfeited a privilege if I did not. You complain that I would not answer questions tn connection With my protest against your proposed ac- tion, I declined to answer questious at that time and in that place, because neither of them appeared to me suitable, The Moderator of the meeting himself de- clared the proposal to put them out of order, But [ not only did not decline, but | offered at the same time to answer any questions afterward to be put by your officers or committee. 1 think no one can feel, -cer- tainly no lady, that I was wrong tn my UNWILLINGNESS TO KB SUDDENLY AND PUBLICLY CATE. | CHISED on so painful a subject beioro so large an assembly. But I was and am ready, asI then gaid, to answer any questions at any time which the proper committee may wish to ask, and to whieh I may give deliberate and correct replies. You almost make {t a point against me that I was rep- resented before you by counsel, I am a woman, en- tirely unaccustomed to reading or speuking in public; and, as my husband preferred not to go to your meeting with me, lasked my friend Mr. Pryor wo goas my es- cort, and to Tead my leter forme. I never supposed there could be any objection to this, or that it ueeded any stretched courtesy in you to allow ft, You say that, so far as the church or the committee knew, I had never made any statement impagning the | purity of Mr. Beecher xcept in acourtof justice. But in | that very court I had stated, under oath, that 1 had made precisely the game statement which I Rave gince made in my protest w you, long ago tor one of the leading | members and officers of your church, telling him that Mr. Beecher’s sin was adultery, and What he and Mrs, ‘Tulton had both confessed it to me. [f the statement was a slander, I had declared the fact of my uttering the slander before all the world, and might months ago | have been called to account tor it You say that I testified in the court of justice under compulsory process. Indeed I did; and nobody who does not have to pass through the same sort of painful trial will ever know how. hard it was for me to submit to the compulsion of the’court. But that compulsory process was one that compelled me to tell the truth and nothing else, however reluctant I might be to declare false swearing in this life and the next, There was no process of the court to compel me to testify what I did if it was not exactly und dreadfully true, I do not be- | lieve that any tortare could have made me do so; much | ‘Jess the just and kind face of Judge Neilson. | order to injure the minister whom I had loved as much Jutions that ought tw hurt the feelings of any right | minded man I think I wonla be as soon as any one to know it; but they seem to me imperatively necessary unless the church is going to give up all organization, and therefore I second the motion. As he Gintshed Mr. Beecher descended from the plat- form and took a chair by the side of Dr, Edward Beecher, The Moderator put the question on the | adoption of the resolutions and it was carned affirma- tively and afterward emphasized by a rising vote. Mr. Shearman said that he bad at alate hour in the afternoon received a letter from Mrs, Emma C. Moul- ton, which he would now read. Mr. Beecher | interrupted bim with a motion that it be referred with- out reading to the Examining Committee, Mr. Shear- man asked for tho reasons on which the motion was based, and Mr. Beecher explained that as the letter had been received 60 late no time had been allowed for {ts consideration. He suggested that the committce woula read itand probably would be in a position to recommend some action to the church 1m the premises. ‘The motion was adopted with great unanimity, and the meeting then adjourned. MES. MOULTON’S LETTER. The following is the text of the letter sent yesterday by Mrs. Emma. Moulton to Plymouth church, and which was roferred to a committee at the mecting last night at the motion of Mr, Beocher:— Brooxirm, Dec. 3, 1875, To rax Mruses ov Purwourn CHurcit:— On Monday evening of this week I received from the clerk of the church a letter addressed to me, which bad Deen adopted by you on the Friday evening betore, and | 114 church in she five yeurs past was the notifying me which was published in the newspapers on Saturday morning. I have read it carefully, and though not used to this kind of correspondence I would like to say some things in answer to it. Perhaps I ought not to be surprised at the character of it, but I confess I find it hard not to be, when I re member how fully Mr. Beecher and others knew about my past connection wjth the church and about the cir- cumstances which separated me from it There were ‘great many members of Plymouth church a great deal more oseful than I ever bat I do not be- lieve there was any one more faithinl to it or more fond of it than I was, up to the beginning of 1871, when I became acquainted with the great wicked- ness which Mr. Beecher bad committed in his relations with Mr. Tilton, 1 did not seek this knowledge, It came to me from others, as Mr. Beecher was well aware. But after that it did not seem possible tor me to go to the church and hear him preach, or to take the sacrament from bis hands, and I stopped doing so. But at the same wme and for years afterward he wus very often at our house, sometimes two or three times in a day; and though I saw him only o sionally, when I did see him he seemed to be in DRRADVCL DISTRESS OVER THE GREAT BIN which he bad commited, and full of remorse and an- guish on account of jt, and of what I then thought was true contrition. [always urged him to confess to the church as fully as he had done to my husband and to myself; and I felt that if he did, with as deep and heart-moving a grief as he showed before us, the church would forgive him Certainly I should have then gone back to it, and, as I shought, should have Lonored him all the more for such a noble act of con- feseion and reparation. But till he was willing to do that something within me, which it seemed right for me vo obey, would not allow me to be in his church as I bad been before. I could not with any sutistac- tion hear him preach of purity and Christian Joy while I knew of his secret agony and his acknowl edged but hidden sin. That I did not go elsewhere for yerehip: and the sacrament was almost wholly owing to im. Plymouth eharch and eaid it would comfort and strengthen him so much to sce me there; and when I said thas I could not till he had acknowledged his sin land so atoned for it as far os he could, he was sad and depressed, even to tears, Yet if wont away from Ply- Ho begged me again and again to come buck to | mouth chareh to any other while he was ali the time | coming to our bouse tt would, of course, excite atten- tion, cause suspicion and embarrass him very much, as weil as iny husband, who was then trying hard, andor Mr. Beecher’s constant urgency TO KEEP THR AWFUL SECRET FROM THE PURLIC. I should not know what to say if I was usked the rea- son for it, and it might be the means of doing grout in- jury to those whom I wanted to shteld and help. Mr. Beecher, too, had more than any other represented to me the Christian religion, and t bring reproach upon | him seemed an injury to it. 80 L abstained from going | euly bring to me to disclose, I think now that I did wrong in allowing my- self to be moved as much as I was by such consideration, I know that I lost much guidance and strength which I might have gained. But the circumstances were such as few have ever been placed in; and I did what I seemed to be constrained to do at the time, Certainly I did it from po motive bat one of kindness to Mr. Keecher, and to all concerned with him, My faith in the Lord was not interrupted, though I sometines wonder Uhat it was not; nor my habit of prayer; and as soon as the necessity whieh soemed to be upon me was removed I went again, gladly, to the services and sacraments of the Chareh of Chriat and have had great comfort and | e, ae well as atrength, from thein ever since. | Mr. Beecher svrely ought to'be the last man jn the World to bie me tor what T did in hia bebalf, He knows vy \d not speak the truth more perfectly then ¢ cre, HT were standing this mo- ment ne of julgment, When Mr. Triton F by you, two yours ago, I | tout was affuid you would som nthe sume way, and he then wer ig never bo down | | should unite with me in calling a council of churches, | Bxble from the public | should be used to bring soulsto Christ The Apostle never knew before that false swearing in a court of justi an offence which the Church of Christ 1s anwilling or unable to punish. And if you think that I lied in ‘hat public manner, and in that solemn hour, that I lied in as any of you, and whom I had done my very best to | uphold and comfort for three.disinal years, through the | time of an anguish which he was-carefully hiding trom you, you ought all the more, I think, to have tried and condemned me, instead of dropping my name. You say that the rule anger which my name was dropped has been applied in about fifty cases, with no remonstrance trom anybody, and you try to taake the impression that these cases were in substance similar to mine. I never knew before that in any single case the rule had been applied when the member aflected | protested against it, much Jess when he alleged THE ADULTERY AND PALSE SWRAKING OF THK PASTOR as the reason for his absence. I suppose now that in these other cases there was no remonstrance, aud no such agcusation, and that the presenting of my protest | and the declarations madein it, which was itself a hor- rible wickedness if it was not justifiable by the facta, make my case a plain exception, I will not poiut out other instances where you seem to me to state things incorrectly and unfairly. But [ ought, I think, im justice to myself, to say in general | ‘that in all the nearly five years since I have been ab- sent from your worship And sacramente none of you have ever admonished me or remonstrated with me or sought to use the shghtest inflaence to bring me back | to the church, unless your vastor’s coming to me in his beseeching distress, after I knew of his wickedness, is to be so regarded; and that, if I seem to you not'to | have been faithful to my covenant with you, yousurely | have not been faithful to your covenant with me, if that bad apy meaning. Yet your silence toward me must for years have been the effect of simple neglect and indifference, while my reason for my course wus the one I have stated—solicitude for one whom I had greatly loved and revered, wlidm I loved still, in spite Of his wickedness, because he seemed to me privately penitent, yet whose ministry I could not continue to attend while he showed himself to the public as an in- nocent and injured man, though I could not leave it without exposing what I knew of him. I had a heavy burden to carry; and am sorry to say that the first act of Christian attention which I have received from that my name was to be dropped from the roll the next evening. My proposal to you in my previous letter was that you before which you should state your reasons for your action and I should state mine, and which should im- partially judge between us. That proposal 1 under- Stand you have accepted. THE QUESTIONS thas coming up for decision ought, I should think, to be these:— First—Have my convictions in regard to the guilty conduct of Mr. Beecher been justified by the evidence which I have had? Secondly—If they bave been justified, ought I still to have attended hie ministry and received the sacrament from his hands, while kept, by the reasons which I have stated, from withdrawing from the church ? ‘Thirdly—When I had stated to the church my reasons | for being absent from the tervict ad had protested | agamst being dropped from its roll, oughtI to have been thug dropped, without further trial, and with | neither censure nor Tecommendation ? Fourthiy—If 1 was improperly removed from Plys mouth church, will the council give me a certiticate of | the fact, upon whieh I can enter another church ? 1am hot, perhaps, well able to judge whether the ix | questions which you propose to me to have submitted to the council cover the sume ground with these of mine. Yours appear to me lees distinct, perhaps be- cause Ido not understand thern so well; and mine to take up more directly the points of issue between us. | I suppose it is my right to have something to say about the questions to be submitted, and accordingly I pro- pose that youre be submitted as you put them, and that eae of mine be added to them. In this way, I think, the whole case between us will come up, and the ques- tions which I wish to pave answered will have an equal chance with yours, When you notify me of your acceptance of this Proposition will yon please aiso to send me the names of ten or twelve churches which you would wish to ine vite to the council, with two or three experienced and wise ministers who are not now in the pastoral office, as I am informed ts customary? Then I will add ag many more to the list, of such as may be known to mo to be of good standing in denomination and with the Christian pablic, and the letters of invitation can at once be sent out. Respectfully yours, EMMA'C, MOULTON. BROOKLYN TABERNACLE. Rev. T, Dewitt Tal morning, 5th Inet., on age will preach next Sabbath the proposed expulsion of the schools, He will also give his opinion on the moral character of the teachers of Brooklyn. THE UNION PRAYER MEETING. A large body of ladies and gentlemen met in Associa tion Hall yesterday afternoon for the weual Friday ex- ercises of prayer and praive, Kev. Dr. 8. H. Tyng, Jr., conducted the services and Mr. Weeks presided at the melodeon. The preacher gave out the 117th hymn, commencing :— My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary Aiter a prayer by Dr. Tyng he read the fifth chapter of the second epistie of Pau! to the Corinthians and called especial attention to the eighteenth verse—“All things are of God,” kc, Ho dwelt earnestly on the reconciliation of man to Christ, urging that, ae we had not inherited grace we must seek it, Personal effort teaches us to get down on our knees to beseech and « persuade sinners to accept God at His word ‘Alter this exhortation brief prayers and addresses were made by those present, all tending to urge upon euch Christian to uge persouul persuasion to bring lana tw the jold of Chay Key, Dr. Armitawe of the Fifth | Godwin im the chair. YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1875.—WITH SUPPLEMENT: PRINCETON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, The second regular meeting of the Princeton Alamni Association was held last ning at Delmonico’s, Fourteenth street and Fifth avenue, President Parke ‘The attendance was large, and much interest was manifested tn the proceedings Mr. J. W. Alexander reported the workings of the Ex- ecative Committee and what it bad im view—the keeping alive and stimulating toa greater degree the interests of the graduates in the college, Pro- fessor Brackett addressed the gathering upon the importance of greater attention in the parsnit of scientific studies in Princeton, and adverted at length to the necessity of experimental research and the means desired to prosecute such, The Treasurer reported $493 as being on haud. The boating interests of Princeton were briefly alluded to by Robert Nicoll, member of the University crew of '%5, and Wilham Allen Butler, President of the Navy. Twelve men were in training for next summer's Uni- versity crew, and a like number for the freshmen's crew, Class ‘races had been held during the fall, and the prospects wore encouraging. Mr. H. L. Cole, by roquest of Dr, Woolsey Johnson, submitied the tollow- ing resolution :— Resolved, That a committce be appointed by the Exeen- tive Committes of this association to couler with the trustees ‘of Princeton College as to the propriety of removing the Pao of the so-called Gropk letier societics in the ge. Mr, Cole presented the meeting with the reagons that seemed to favor the passage of the resolution. He went over the whole ground of the attempt made by the authorities to rid the institution of secret societies, and riddled it so thoroughly with facts and argument that he wag heartily applauded. Mr, HL M. Alexander also spoke at lengti and ag one of the Board of ustees said that if the students, graduates and Faculty would be pa- tient he thought the whole trouble would be satisfactorily settled at the next meeting of the Board, to be neid this month. He favored the passage of the resolution meanwhile, aud upon its being put to vote it was adopted unanimously. ‘he business meot- ‘mg then adjourned aud several hours were passed in social intercourse, THE FOUNDER OF RAILWAYS. At Association Hall last evening Mr. Willlam Parsons delivered a very entertaining lecture on the origin of our steam engines and the lile of “George Stephenson, the founder of al! railways." CHARITY BAZAAR. On the 14th inst the managers of the Ladies’ Direc- tory will open at Masonic Temple @ fair whose unique attractions are expected to bring large returns for tho benefit of this excellent charity which secks to put women in the way of self-support, Among tha prominent features of the fair will be a fairy case of Santa Claus, where tho little folk will be able to reassure themselves of the existence of that beneficent Christmas visitant, andto verify the im- mensity of his stores vf articles adapted to gladden the hearts of the juveniles on the auspicious morning when stockings in chimney corners are expected to burst with blessings for them, Most generous arrangements are being made for the success of the fuir, MISS MYERS’ DEATH. Friends of the late Miss Alice Myers, whose suicide was announced on Tuesday, state that her mental ab- erration was caused by physical disease for which she | had been for some time under medical treatment by | eminent practitioners, withont cure. While suffering intensely from this cause she was driven to the des- perate act of self-destruction. A PAINFUL RECOGNITION, ‘The man who was frozen on Wednesday night, at tho corner of Broadway and the city line, turns out tobe William P. Olcott, a carpenter, of No. 183 East 109th street. He has been identified by his brother, Mr, John N. Olcott, of the same address, who states that his | brother was not perfectly sane, and thaton Tuesday night at eleven o’clock deceased left his bed, and, put- ting on bis clothes, went out of the house, and had not been since seen by any of his family until yesteraay, PLAYING WITH FIRE. Emma Quenin, ten years old, while playing with fire at her residence, No, 189 Greene street, set her clothes on fire, and was severely burned’ about the body and hands. A MATRIMONIAL BROIL. Annie Septerwich and her husband, of No. 178 Suffolk street, yesterday morning made such a noise in one of their broils that some of their netghbors went into their room and there saw Mra. Septerwich lying on the floor in an insensible condition and badly bruised about the head and body. remoyed to Bellevue Hospital. severe, but not necessarily fatal. A GRACKED SKULL, John Brown, aged fourteen, residing at No. 87 Murray street, was struck upon the head yesterday afternoon by a piece of falling timber, in an alley between Cham- bers and Warren streets, near Greenwich, which frac- tured bis skull. A THIEF CAPTURED. Mrs. Mary Williams reported at Police Headquarters, on the 6th pit, that her stable bad been broken into and robbed of a horse, wagon and harness by Thomas Gallagher, who sold his plonder to James Martin, of Seventy-fourth streot and East River, ior $20. A’ do- tective arrested Gallagher last night and recovered the stolen property, which is valued at $120, ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. Sergeant Gregory, of the Tenth precinct, Brooklyn, narrowly escaped death at the hands of « rufflan on ‘Thorsday night last. The Sergeant, in company with Officer Kenna, heard a noise proceeding from a grocery store on Washington avenue, near St. Mark’s avenue, and on entering the place saw three men standing by the counter, Oneof the party, Michael Kano, of Bar- lngton, N J., attempted to shoot the Sergeant, who with considerable dificuity disarmed and arrested him. Justice Morse commitied the accused to await examina- tion. FATAL EXPLOSION. ‘ August Wanke, twenty-six years of age, a laborer in the employ of Charles Nelson, manufacturer of pyro- technics, at the junction of Eldert and Baitic avenues, East New York, met his death yesterday by the explo- sion of torpedoes which he was making at the time. His body was badly mutilated, The unfortunate man was a German, and leaves a wife and two children, The building was damaged to the extent of $160. A TRAIN SMASHED. An eastward bound freight train was thrown from the track at Greenwood, on the Erie Railway, about half-past eight o’elock on Thursday night, by an iron rail, which had been placed across the track by some malicious person, Fortunately but little damage was done, and no one was injured. JERSEY JUSTICES. Justice of the Peace Charles Gerlich, of West Hobo- ken, was charged yesterday with using threatening and abusive language to Justice Burns, also of West Hobo- ken, and thereby breaking the peace, The evidence was very explicit against the accused, and Justice Croseman, before whom the case was tried, fined his brother justice the sam of $5, which Gerlich promptly paid. MEMPHIS BONDS. DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF TEN- NESSEE AS TO THB LEGALITY OF THE MEM- PHIS CITY BONDS. Memruis, Dec. 3, 1875, In the case of Bondholders vs. the city of Memphis, the Supreme Court of Tennessee has decided that the $1,000,000 bonds issued by Mayor Leftwiteh in 1868 waa logal, but the excess of $135,000 was fllegal, ag he was only authorized to issue bonds to the amount of $1,000,000. Second—That though the bonds had been sold at a greater discount than six per cent, the transaction was neither illegal nor usurious, and the city can neither plead usury nor seale the bonds. Third—That the city is compelled to levy taxes to pay interest on the bonds used prior to 1875, notwith- standing the new charter limits the amount to be levied, POST OFFICE CLERK, Rocnmsrer, N, ¥., Deo, 3, 1875, Nathan Sprague, colored, who has been a clerk in the Post Office here about two years, was arrested this morning for stealing letters, Fourteen letters were found on his person. He ploaded guilty, He is sup- posed to have carried on operations of this kind for wome Line A DISHONEST Septerwich ran from the | room and has not since been captured. His wife was | Her wounds are very | | THE SUNNYSIDE DISASTER. INQUEST ON THE BODY OF MES, WALKER, ONE OF THE VICTIMS—HER DEATH CAUSED BY THE CONDUCT OP MESSRS. GANFORD, M’KIBK AND DUFFY, PASSENGERS—THR STEAMBOAT OFVICERS EXONEBRATED—NO MORE BODIES FOUND. Kinastow, N. Y., Doo, 3, 1875. Coroner McKenzie, of Port Ewen, commenced yes- terday afternoon to hold an inquest in the case of Mra. Walker, one of the victims of the Sunnyside disaster, ‘The body was taken from West Park, whore it was ro- covered, to Elmore's Corners, a small village three miles distant, where the inquest was held, The following jury was empanelled:—John G. Griffiths, foreman; Wilham Atchinson, Daniel L, Dubois, Jesse De Groff, Joseph Kay, Norman Cole, residents of the neignbor- hood. The first witness examined was John ¥, Machey, who identified the remains of Mrs. Walker; ho Is a brother-in-law of her son, Mr. Frank Walker; Mra, Walker was fifty-six years old on tho 6th of September last. Joseph Cornell, sworn, testified as follows:—I am Superintendentof theCitizens’ Steamboat Line, located atand doing basiness in Troy,N Y.; the steamer Sannyside belonged to that company; we always considered her in good condition; she was heavily coppered, and in addition to that was heavily sheathed with spruce boards above the copper, on the bow; she was put on the dry dock about two months ago, and upon examination her timbers were found to be in the very best of order; she seemed to be tn good condition when she started out on her last trip; the boat left Troy at two o’clock on Tuesday afternoon; she left there as soon as the freight was taken off on ‘her downward trip; we left there earlicr than usual on account of the weather; we always have employed careful and reliabla men; Captain Teson has been in our employ since 1872; as fur as I know he has always been & careful and reliable man; we valued the boat at $125,000; the freight on the down trip was very light, probably thirty or forty tons; the usual load is 200 or 250 tons; there were about eight or nine passengers aboard; we did not expect to have any, as we meant to go to Néw York and lay up; the Sunnyside was built in 1866; she was built for | the lower Hudson and was afterward remodelled for the route on which she has latterly run. VRANCIS TESON, sworn, testified as follows :—I live in Lansingbarg, N. Y., and follow steamboating on the Hudson River for a business; I have followed that business exclusively dur- ing my active life; 1 have been captain of the steamer Sunnyside for aboutftwo years; I have been in the em- ploy of the Troy Steamboat Line for about forty years, in the passenger business; I have been captain of a steamboat for twelve or thirteen years; the Sunnyside was in perfect order so far as I know of: she was put in good order about two months ago, and I had supervi- sion of the repairs while she was on the dry dock; on the day when she started from Troy we ordered extra attention to be given as the tco was heavy, and we had men moving through the hold during the trip up to the time we sunk, so as to seo that no accident should happen by the floating feo; the 1 intimation I had of anything wrong was that ono | of the men had been chopping the ling out of the boat and putting blankets m a hole which had beea made by the ice; the water gained on us very fast and we ran the boat ashore THR HOLE IN THR BOAT was through the copper on the stein; I directed the pilot. W run her up on the west shore of the river, which was done without striking a rock; I ordered the mate to lower away the lifeboats, which’ was dono, and Lordored him to run ahawser from tho bow of the boat to the shore go as to keep ber from sliding off the mud back into the channel; after ‘this was dene I ordered that all she lady passengers and female employés of tho steamer bo put in that boat; I helped four into the boat myself, aud I know that three were already in it; the lifeboat was about twenty feet from the steamer when it eap- ‘ized; the men I ordered to the stern of the steamer, which order they all obeyed except three passengers who had already jumped into the lifeboat; the mate aud two of the walters were In tt before these three men jumped in; after the Iifeboat —cap- sized, “ther three’ passengers succeeded in reaching the steamer in salcty; the mate swam ashore; there were sixteen in the lifeboat, and there were five saved—one ludy and four gentlemen; the remainder were missed; Mra, Walker was one of the ladies in the lifeboat when {t turned over; I first discovered aman hanging on the bottom of the life- boat whon it was upset; myself and Jerry Deyo, the second gengineer, took another Mfeboat and went out after this man, and was coming back to the steamer when I heard a noise resemblinga groan; I commenced searching for the cause and found THE BODY OF MRS, WALKER floating in the ice; I took hold of her, and in lifting her into the boat the Jacket which she wore slipped from her person and she fell back into the water; L auccecded in getting her into the boat again; she was taken on the hurricane deck, and from there into the wheelman’s room and was wrapped in blankets; afterward she. was taken ashore; sho lived about two hours after being taken from the water; I did everything that could be done by mortal man to save her; I was nearly frozen myself when I got ashore; while in this trouble two boats. us—the Wee hawken, a sidewheel towboat, and the Walter Brett, a passenger boat; we hailed them, blew our whistle until we nearly ‘exhausted our steam and rang our bell for assistance, but tho signals were unheeded by either of these boats; the three passengers that jumped into the lifeboat were James Sanford, one Duffy and one McKirk; Mr. Walter Dumont rendered ua Valuable assistance, herolcally rescuing nearly every ‘one that was saved, and had it not been for him the loss of life would have been more serious; there were about twenty-five passengers on board, and'l am positive that ONLY ELEVEN PERSONS ARE MISSING. Jacob Burhans, sworn:—Reside in Troy; have been mate of the Sunnyside for the last three years; have followed river life for abont thirty-five years. ‘This witness corroborated the testimony of Captain Teson, and said the engineor first dix covered that the boat was leaking; rashed be- low and tore one of the waiters’ from the side of 1, pullithe waiter out of it before doing 60; I tried to the leak, but wae driven away by the foroe of the wator as it came through the hole; the water was up to my ‘waist before I left the hold; by that time tho stexmer was headed for the shore; | used my best endeavars to prevent the three passengers spoken of from getting into the lifeboat, but could not, Abram Parsell, sworn:—I live in Port Ewen, Ulster county, and am an engineer by trade; was first en- gineer of the steamer Sunnyside at the time of the dis- aster, and was on heeg Sorel might; one of the men in- formed me of the fact that the steamer was sinking; we usually keep one watchman on deck, bnt owing to the fact of the river being full of tee and dan- gerous we kept on a larger number that night, so ag to guard against accident; the steamer commenced leak- ing about twelve o’clock, but of little consequence, not enongh to prevent the pumps from easily keeping her clear; when wo reached Esopus Island we discovered that she was MAKING WATER VERY PAST and the freight was removed to the after deck, 80 as to raise her bow further out of the water; the moment I discovered the water was gaining on the pump I noti- fied the captain. This witness corroborated the statements of the Cap- tain and mate so far as he knew. Watson Dutcher, the pilot on duty at the time, and Theron Moore, one of the watchmen, gave substantlally the same evidence. Walter Damont sworn—I reside at West Park, in tho town of Esopus; about two o'clock on the morning of the disaster I was awakened by the ringing of bells and cries for help comtug from the river; I went to tho river, wok my boat and went to the steamer; the ‘boat was lying south of my dock, i about twenty-five feet of water; I went to’ tl pilot house, and took in the first load six asnen gers; there was a great deal of ice, and the steamer was about 250 feet from the shore; the boat had slid back from where it first lay; I made a second trip, and succeeded 1m rescuing six oF seven more; one of the colored wait ers accompanied me on the second trip: after landing theee 1 went to the Captain and helped him to lay his rope ferry to the shore; I then went to steamer with my boat and with two of its lifeboats and rope; we succeeded in getting all the rest ashore; I did not see the lifeboat when it upset; | saw Mrs. Walker while going to the shore the last time and I thought she was alive, at least she was warm; I brought the baggage off the steamer after the passengers wore brought ashore, THE VERDICT, This was all the evidence offered for the consideration of the jury. After a short consultation they returned, last night, the following vordict:— “That the said Charlotte A, Walker came to her death by and in consequence of tho capsizing of | @ lifeboat while on its way from the steamer Sunnyside to the shore, near West Park, on the morning of the lst inst, and her subsequent exposure to the inclem- ency of the weather, the capstzing of said boat being ewused by the reckless acts of the three passengers, viz, Sanford, MeKirk and Duffy, who jumped from the life 'boatwhile it was moving away from the sunken steamer, laden with female passengers, contrary to the orders of the captain and mate of the steamer, and not otherwise, and we exonerate the officers and crew of the ill-fated steamer from all blame." ‘Thore is nothing new of importance from the wreck to-day, No other bodies have been recovered, the ico interfering with the search, Only part of the hurricane deck and the top of one of the wheel honses remain above the surface of the water. The forward part of the steamer has sunk out of sight, THE STEAMER UNFIT FoR usm. To tne Eprron ov Tie Henaty:— As by the articles appearing in your paper I see | you are determined to use your influence in calling for a thorough investigation into the causes which pro- duced the sinking of the steamer Sunnyside and the terrible loss of life occasioned thereby, I was a pas- senger on board the steamer James B. Schuyler, which left Albany at two o'clock on the afternoon of the 30th of November, The Sunnyside was at that time coming through the lower draw on her way from Troy to New York, making her about 200 yards astern of the Schuy- Jer, She then stopped and’ took im tow the steamer Golden Gate, belonging to the same company. The ‘Weather was intensely cold, the thermometer ranging about six desroes below zero. rivéwiull of ice and make caused her to rub over the bars nearly eve well kpown by every freighter aud’ merchont’" Pid business on the Hudson; and further, so badly was she strained and her bottom worn that in the month of September she was obliged to keep her main at work while at the dock to prevent her from % She was hauled out, and, instead of having a repair, was patelicd up for temporary use. I agroo. with you, Mr. Editor, that the catastrophe causing the: loss oe ot so many nnooant ruons demands a thoror and searching investigation, pub- lic will duly appreciate the influence of the HxpaLp tm their bebalf, A PASSENG: THE OWNERS OF THE LOST STEAMER DEFENDETX To rue Epiron or Tux HeRALD:— Permit me to offer a fewremarks in answer t¢ your editorialon the Sunnyside disaster this morn ing:— have been acquainted with Joseph Cornell, the Viow President of the ‘Troy line for wwenty-tive years, He was brought up from early boyhood in the service’ of Major Thomas Cornell, of Rondout, N. Y., who is well known to be onc of the largest steamboat owners: on the North River. Joseph Cornell was for many Ebaript the outdoor manager for Thomas Cornell and jp babi of his boats while in active service oF Some six or seyen years: in company with twe other young men, who phy son steamboat business for many years, bought out the Catskill line of boats, and afler the “lapse of three or four years they bought’ the Bunpyside, and in connection with the Powel) rau her in the Catskill line until they took the Troy line. Now, ist possible that a man with the exper- ience of Mr. Cornell in steamboats would deliberately invest all he was worth in a rotten and worthless boat, besides inducing two other steamboat men to join him to the extent anny doliar they possessed ? The suggestion you make that it was ‘one of those ghastly crimes by which a slup’s bottom is prepared for destruction wiih a view to the insurance’? is en- tirely out of the question vw those who know bg ys Cornell as weil as] do. There was no insurance on the boat except against fire, and if she is a total loss the owners must pocket it. Beside this the roy line is known to be prosperous, and hasnow a pair of boilers, pew, lying at Rondout which were to go in her this winter. 4ixperien men would hardly build new boilers for a roen and worthless craft. The general idea of steamboat men see! 0 be this:—The thin ice, about two inches thick, against which she was forced for a distanve of fifty or sixty miles, gradually cut a long hole~in her sido, per- haps both sides, but, owing to the tce keeping the hole filled, the water did not show itself, but, as soon as the boat got into comparatively clear water, the ico left the hole and the wator poured ib, This idea accounts for Captain Teson keeping his mate below in the bow to waich for water. Captain J. A. Dumont, Government Inspector on pier 13 North River, an old steamboat Tan, lost the steamboat Saratoga in 1859 in Loge | ' the same manner and at about the same place. He tol me that po water showed itself until the boat had run entirely out of the ice It is doubtful whether the Sunnyside is broken in two, The hurricane deck was broken up by the water, but there is nothing to show, thatthe hull w broken. The comp: will raise the boat and bring her to New York if the weather will peat Until the Coupes. has had a chance to be eard from I ask the pablic to suspend its opinion. Respectfully, THOMAS J. SAWYER, Jr., ‘118 East Fourteenth street, New York. THE SUNNYSIDE’S COPPER. Naw Yors, Dec. 8, 1875. To ras Eprror oy tx Heraup:— Can you inform me what was the thickness of the copper on the Sunnyside, near the water line? Per- haps ite thinness may be one of the causes of her sinks: ing. OLD SALLOR, ICE IN THE HUDSON. Ronpout, Dec. 3, 1875, Navigation ts closed from this point north, The ferry track is still kept open by the steamer Norwich, but the river ts full of heavy ico, ‘The government light- house steamer Geranium, which haa been overhauled hero, accompanied by the Norwich, passed down last evening Tho Norwich helped her through the tee and returned. There are still a number of boats on the Delaware and Hudson canal, and a propeller ts there helping them through, and expects to get all to tido- water to-morrow. ‘The weather ls somewhat milder to-day. A FIVE-HUNDRED-DOLLAR REWARD. A SON-IN-LAW OF THE LATE WILLIAM B. ASTOR SENDS FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE NEW- PORT FIRE DEPARTMENT. Nuwrorr, R. L, Dec. 8, 1875, Jobn Carey, Jr., son-in-law of the late William B.* Astor, of New York, whose summer residence at this place came near being destroyed by fire last night, hag sent to Chief Engineer Henry W. Cozzens a check for $500 in testimony of bis high appreciation of the scr- Vices rendered so promptly and energetically by the Fire Department in saving his house and furniture, In his letter he suggests that he sum might form a nucleus of a fand in aid of firemen disabled or injared while in the discharge of their arduous daties in behalf of others THE COLLIERIES CLOSING. DULL TRADE THE CAUSE—MINERS DEPRIVED O¥ EMPLOYMENT UNTIL SPRING—UNEX- PECTED SEQUAL OF THR “LONG STRIKE,” Porrsviiz, Pa, Dec. 8, 1875, To-morrow the unwelcome intelligence will be spread throughout tho Schuylkill region that a genera! stoppage of nearly all the collieries has been ordered. It was expected that before the old year went out the greater number would be stopped temporarily for re- para, but it was boped that work might be furnished the men, more or icss steadily, for a month or more. However, there has been BUT LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT for the production of coal The retail yards in the cities are full; the large storeyards of the companies are taxed to the uttermost to hold the stores on hand; the fron trade is dull aud there are no orders coming in. The Reading Company, which operates som rf collieries in this county, have ordered all but the fol. jowing $0 cease shipments to-morrow :—Mernaim, Boston sig Bon Tunnel, Julian Rtage, Mahonoy City, 1, Pine Forest, Mine Hill Gap and tho Mammoth Vein shaft, Those will be worked to supply tho line trade and the company’s engine works and. shops, and to fill sach orders as may come in. ‘The Schuyikill Coal Exchange did not conte: shutting down for s fortnight yot, but it is likel 01 that the action of the Reading Company will precipitate the closing of their collieries, especially as they, too, com- piain of DULL TRADER. The Ex meets in Philadelphia next week and will then probably decide to close until some time in tho spring. ‘It cannot be stated how long this suspen- on will Inst, Individual oporatora may or may not start up here and there afer the holidays. It may, however, be aceopted as a fact that the Reading Com- pany will not again begin active shipments until navigation opens next asprin, Owing to the long strike at the beginning of the year the ship. ments of this region for the year show a falling off of 800,000 tons as compared with 1874, ‘This, however, was from individual collieries, as the Reading Company mereased their shipments 60,000 tong, having taken advant of the strike byt their mines in the best of order. nsion following #0 close on the heels of the strike will necessarily canse a groat deal of dis- tress among the miners aud their families. FAILURES IN NEW ENGLAND. Bostox, Dec. 8, 1875. The Boston Commercial Bulletin’s reports of failures and suspensions give the following particulars :—At the meeting of the creditors of the firm of Warren, Ellis & Son, provision dealers of Boston, statement was mado showing abilities to the amount of $216,000, With the exception of about $10,000 owed to New York houses the Liabilities areal! in favor of Boston parties, | though the New York creditors in number exceed those in this city. No New York creditors were present at the meeting, . ‘The Kabilities of Thomas Flaherty, piano manufac tnrer, of Boston, failed, are reported at $30,000, in favor of New GD ocd Robert W. Dresser & Co., deaters in and importers oj ‘woollen goods, of Franklin street, Boston, arc reported as having failed. No statement of their assets or lia. Dilities has yet been made, Lewis Rice & Son, of the American Houso, have been adjudged bankrupts. Tho first meeting of their credi- tors will be held on the 16th inst. M. L. Mason, roprievor of the Sunset Pavilion, at North Conway, x , is reported to have failed, with $16,000 liabilities, At @ meeting of the creditors of Charles Durham, ot Chetsed, Mags., claims to the atnount of $70,000, wore submitted and approved. Messra, J. Monks and Andrew K. Johonnot were chosen assignees. In the case of Charles H. Glynn, claims to tna nount of $170,000 were approved, and Henry P. Kid- ors was chosen assignee. » Glynn's liabilities are mostly in favor of New York parties. 8. J. Colby, dealer in fancy goods, of Chelsca, Mass, 1s reported 16 have fated, Pewingill & Brother, fish dealors, of Salem, Mass., are reported to have failed, ‘Their total liabilities are some $63,000, and assets some $41,000, but outside of the secured claims the liabiliiies are $52,000 and assets $21,000, A FAILURE IN PORT JERVIS. Port Jervis, Dec. 3, 1875, 1, E, Bevana, a prominentmerchant of this village, recently failed. with liabilities amounting to $12,000