New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-03

| vboev ~ brings derogstory cnhee,s ne 80 81 The
IA character Of another. without prooi o. 'n9
taOdsned GU" ,'soever eircuLates such improved
rame, - euRtv of Islander, ana 10 10 DC oe11
cnsis a,oie.ia,ticaly for the purpose Oh securing
ar,snce acknowledgment and repsrstion;
rtP Tb,t IN obedience 10 this principle, the ii
oeutiate 10 question, and all ootn min,s.s
.;v.te Christians who have circulated slanderous
rrh.rges against my friend, be subjected to sucn
Tb,t the Association affirm the principle, that
| .fter any gentleman renders public AMI eIctHs.De
| s,tentions 10 lady, such charges, maze oy nun
against the lady, are vlo alton alike q, suJ
~ honor and the rules Of the Christian Church and
| IN sucb case can never be recognized as OF tne
na,ure of "self defense :" so that the LicenAate,
| by bis own showing, is guilty oil uncnrisuah anu
| dishonorable conduct
That the Association recommend to It's mem.
hers IN preach on the natLTe and Sfnfafness 81
Jan5er and then that they use their personal IN
! ananca and if need be, church discipline, TO bring
| oil The Members OF their churches who have oeen
n;I,y Of circulating the slanderous charges reer-
SSed 70 10 repentance, ack acknowledgement and rePara
| ton. -. A.. H. ,x;,c;,la that
:: a. sdoini,terjng of church discipline, those
noeubers of the church and ministry who stand tne
biebe.t in position and influence, are especially
| hound 10 be examples to their brethren In number
no.itions in receiving and submitting 70 sucn dls-
rrioine And that this obligation is still more en-
bdnced in the case OF such as are called TO admins
ter discipline in institutions where pupils Tor wrong
| doing are REQUIRED TO make Acknowledgements IN
order to be restored to forfeited privileges
1.-THE Association affirm these principles and car
~ them out consistently, then my friend, so Tar as
remains possible, will have her wrongs redressed,
shall be relieved OF my embarrassment 10 my con-
nection with her, and tire clerical character Will be
relieved OF the stain and odium which now restsupon
il on account OF the nsactlOns detailed IN the
book. Many ladies Of high character and standing,
who understand the measures ! am pursuing and
their relation TO the most sacred interests oil our
sex, will await the result Of this application Win
the deepest interest.
Should these measures ofredress be denied, there
would still remain direct resort 10 the lnh0-
ence Of the clergy of New England-next wider
and more direct appeal 10 my own sex 70 cooperate
with me in prosecuting this eHort-and hnaly, there
would remain the refuge Of public sentiment sought
by every method and avenue within our reach.
should be led to these measures, not soiely Tor
the redress of individual wrong, but chiefly with
reference TO general principles. Ii the foundations
be destroyed what can the righteous do 7" Is the
motto of my book. and it expresses the sentiment
which has long been bearing heavily upon my sPlr.
it. In the multiplied discussions of opinions aud
systems which now perplex and agitate the rei-
gious world, the mass OF common minds must re-
vert to the grand maxim of our Divine Master,
"by their fruits ye shall know them" And guided
by that maxim, many other thoughtful pers1ns as
and are anxiously bordering all these things Ia
| their hearts.
The final chapter of that book is not yet written.
! Time only can show whether the events 1t will re-
cord shall aid to retrieve the honor of those whom
/ have been taught the most to respec. and admire
or add vet more to the disastrous consequences OF
| what has already trauspired.
Respectfully yours CATHERINE e. BEECHER.
In regard to the transactions referred to, con.
slider it as a case similar In Importance to the one
which has recently sgitated the Episcopal Church
In the one case the question has involved the prn
ciples that protect the person OF woman; In the
other it involves those which protect her character
and sensi6iitieS. Both cases involve the honor aud
purity OF the Christian Ministry and their relations
of confidence and influence in regard TO my sex.
The respect and regard won for The office of the
Christian Ministry in New England, by the high
character OF the men who have held 1t, furnish 70
bad men, who may steal into It, opportunities OF
abusing confidence with which few other men are
tempted. At the some time, the warm attach
ments secured by those who fulfill those sacred and
endearing ministries, frequently render 1t more di'
fcult to enforce ecclesiastical discipline on Minis
ter than on any other man. This is especially true
of those who hold high positions OF influence, and
whose past character has secured respect and con-
fdence And yet these are the men who, If they
do fall into SIM produce the most evil by their ex.
ample, and most fatally shake the confidence OF
mankind in the reality of religion.
The history of David in the Old Testament and
of Peter in the New, aches mankind that God
does not expect that his peculiar people" shall be
so regarded because they never sin. But their
| more distinctive mark is a humble and contrlte
! spirit" which sometimes is never attained but by
| the deep humiliation Of some public and con-
| spicuous failure in righteousness. And when such
painful cases occur, IL is by the fundamentally oil
faithful brethren that the fallen are to be restored
and the compromising good brought out OF the sore
evil. The struggle for honor, truth and justice,
which is now impending, must be an earnest one,
for great talents great official and personal In.
fluence, great wealth, great pride of character and
the power concentrated around an ancient and
cherished literary institution. are all committed, al
least in feeling to up this monstrous out age
and to shield its authors. Bot if this matter ends
| as / hope and believe il will it will greatly raise
the standard Of honor toward my SEX it will in
| crease an hundred fold the restraints that protect
private character from the multiplied evils OF false
hood and SANDER, and it will yet more increase re
spect for the ministerial character and confidence
in the beneficial influence OF the church and 1t:
healtbiu discipline.
1t is with the hope and prayer that this may be
the result that have taken the liberty OF thus
bringing this subject to your attention The book
being published on my own risk and in this pc
culiar manner, | am unable to furnish presentation
copies 1t is in paper covers and can be seat by
mail The price is 62l cents, 296 PIP. and 1t Is fo
sale at the principal book stores in New'forh Dos
ton, Hartford and New Haven.
Very respectfully yours,
CATHERINE +. BEECHER.
PISA copy of this commuuica alton will be sen
to two clergy men in each of the Congregations
Associations of New. England, leaving them 70 d
the judges how far it is important to call th'
attention of others OF their brethren to this subject