PLYMOUTH CHURCH                  115
 

CHURCH THOUGHT AND
LIFE

LAYMAN is ordinarily
not supposed to trouble
himself very much about
theology, but to leave
that as the special prerogative of
the ministers. This was certainly
true of the great majority of the
lay members of Plymouth Church.
At the same time they were by no
means indiff*erent to theology. They
could not be so long as Mr, Beecher
was pastor, and Dr, Abbott's posi¬
tive opinions on theological ques¬
tions, while not obtruded, were never
hidden. It must be remembered, too,
that the constitution, articles of faith