Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-29
The "Frntcrniiy" md Mr.. Bccchcr.

The "FrEfcrniiy" md Mr.. Bcccher.
In the congregation mnstered to by Theodore
Parker, at the Music Hall in Boston, known as the
Twenty eighth Congregational Society,"" there is
& literary & assoS''fiap $50 ap styled the "Fraternity. -
Lectures" )" an avowed object of which, If news
paper announcement may be credited, was to give
to the ''deas' Of Mr.. Parker freer scope than
the Lyceum platform allows. But whether that
the purpose not, it is manifest that the eff
feet would be, so far as any impression was made
on the public, to give increased popularity to the
man and his "church." If the lectures prove, as
has been claimed, "the most successful course of
the season." they will reflect certain luster upon
the "Twenty eighth Congregational Society,"" and
upon the man whose inhdety is its pervading spir-
it. Such an effect, we should suppose would be
deprecated-at least, would not be even construc-
lively aided-by sincere friend of evangelical re-
ligion. But the pastor of the Plymouth church in
Brooklyn has appeared upon Mr.. Parker's plat
form, to lend to it his popularity. Mr. Beecher
has asserted his right TO do in all things what is
right in his own eyes, and we not disposed,
even if we were able, to abridge his liberty. But
it is utterly ncomprehensible by us, how he recon-
Giles with his love for the Gospel such open aid and
comfort to its bitterest enemies. To appear with
Mr. Parker, contemporaneousy or successfully,
upon platform which represents neither him nor
his 'deas, is thing; to assist in giving eclai
to an nhdel enterprise is a very different thing
everv nurcboscr of Fr.,,r,j,y ,;cle, hss dona
OF course we believe in newspapers, and in
editors. Yet, even an editor may be mistaken,
aad a newspaper may ial into mlsstatements
And Ihe Examiner has in this instance been
misled by too coniding trust in religious or
secular newspapers.
II is true that the Fraternity Course was un-
der the supervision Oh menbers OF the Twenty
eighth congregational society OF Boston, but il
Is not true that 1t was got up for the sake OF
giving Mr. Parkers ideas treer scope than
the Lyceum platform allows"-if by ideas, The
ETdmher means Mr.. farkers characteristic re-
liglous views On the contrary, it was known
that Mr.. Parker was preparing four historical
discourses, on washington, John Adams, JEFF
ierson, and 1--WE beheve) Franklin But such
was the Ill odor in Boston OF Mr.. Parker's re-
liglous notions that studious care had been ex-
erclsed to keep him from Boston lecture plat
forms, though history, art, or beles lettres were
his theme, lest the influence OF anything that
was good IN HIM should "reiect luster' upon
that part OF him which religious men so much
dePrecate.
But on the other hand, the attempt to sup"
press a man, and to silence his speech, on the
great topics which are common to men of all
religious views, must produce, not only among
his personal friends, but among honorable mer
who utterly differ from him in religion, deter
mination that he shall have chance to speak
at least; and then, if people did not wish tC
hear an "iniidel," on secular topics, of course