ght not accept all Dr. Abbott's views
have received great benefit from his preaching, emphasising, as he
always has, life rather than doctrine.

In its ecclesiastical organisation and relations Plymouth Church was
thoroughly independent, scarcely even Congregational. Rule 1 of its
ecclesiastical principles says: "This church is an independent
ecclesiastical body; and in matters of doctrine, order and discipline is
amenable to no other organisation." It did not propose to stand
absolutely alone, however, as is shown from Rule 2: "This church will
extend to other evangelical churches, and receive from them, that
fellowship, advice and assistance which the laws of Christ require." In
its general customs, as to membership, ordinances, meetings, etc., it
conformed to those of the Congregational churches, with which those who
were its first members had been connected, and when it installed its
first pastor, as in each succeeding instance, it called in the
Congregational churches to assist. So also in its time of greatest
stress it recognised the obligations of its fellowship with the
Congregational churches by calling the largest Congregational council
ever convened in America. At the same time, if it seemed to it right and
wise to emphasise the broader fellowship with those of other faith it
did so, whether Congregationalists at large liked it or not. So in its
benevolences, it gave where it chose. If it liked to give through the
medium of what were known as the Congregational Societies, it did; if it
didn't like to, it didn't. Every once in a while from some source, near
or more remote, generally more remote, protest would come that Mr.
Beecher and his church were not carrying their full share of
denominational burdens; there was courteous attention, but a very
definite giving to understand that the church would do as it thought
best.

The independence of the organisation manifested itself in individuals.
Those who wished their gifts to go through a certain channel were
perfectly at liberty to send them there, and no one felt aggrieved
because others did not see their way clear to do the same.

Another effect, both of the ecclesiastical independence and the broad
humanitarian theology, was manifest in the social life, to which
reference has been made many times, not too often however, for it was
and is one of the chief features of Plymouth life.

In the northeast corner of what is now the Sunday School room were
locate