, 1860-01-03
CLERICAL SCANDAL.


tFrou the Springfield Republican. Dec s9l
TO TIE CHRISTIAN PCRL1c The following
statement Of facts and personal feelings. deemed
to be due both to myselfund the Christian pub
lie, has been Delayed till the present time, that
/ might be able to speak with more calnness
and selEpossesslon. Many things hare been
said, inferred, surmised, and taken for granted,
some correctly, others not So But have new
er authorized the publication Of aoy statement
which may have appeared respecting the offence
which has been alleged against me; 1t is, per-
haPs, proper to say that considerable portions
Of this communication were sent some days
since, to the Church Of which nm member.
Dcta,ls will neither be expected nor desired.
have admitted, aud do now admit, that there
were thrs= inst1aees in which was made ric-
:. tim: and that, whether foolishfy or otherwise,
/ I did pay certain SUMS of money from my own
stances and dangers into which l hud been
drawn. Exact dates arc unnecessary, but
the three instances referred to occurred sty-
cral years since, and ali came within the
compass Of. perhaps, fifteen months, pos
>ibly little more. Son1e Of the payments
,nore reccnt date. There is too much reason to
believe that the persons concerned in these
transactions, were in league with other, md op
Grated together for the accomplishment Of their
objecis. | am aware that these facts, and SOME
others which have been made public, present IN
suspicious. I do not undertake to exoueratc
myself from blame, Far from it. l ought not
to have zone there, nor to have done what did.
To have put in Jeopardy such nomentuus inter-
es.s was en- aggravated offence, and wholly
without excuse. This / confess with shame aud
deep establishment before God. At tic hanu
OF righteous God, have deserved all that las
come upon me, and infinitely more, At the
same time, / hare never admitted, und do lot
HOW admit the actual crime which has been 80
extensively alleged, or taken for granled. How
ever great my guilt in the Sight ni ueayen-ulId
that It was very great freely adnlt-still lave
denied, and do deny, the actual crime. It WAS
not committed, unu therefore 10 testimony can
prove It.
The brief "Card." published by the commit.
tee Of the board with which l ,;us connected,
! was based entirely Ill statcsnents myself had
i made, in peculiar circumstances, and without
CONSULATE n with others. There has been, te~
| lieye, no other testimony n the case except my
! own admissions. Whatever thoughts may
hare had respecting TINT official document Of
three sentences, they will not bc uttered here.
1t has :onc forth, is doing its work, aud cannot
be arrested. Its effect upon my character and
| standing anon. men regard az II part Of the
be overwhelmed. Tie hand Of God was in it;
aud desire to say always, the will Of the
| Lord be done" Twill only add, that have not
a doubt that the coGsmittee. in this matter, did
no moru tbun what they thought the emergency
demanded.
There Is another general view Of the case
| which would not overlook. Tire tempest
which has been beating upon uae for q month
past, las mt coma by chance, but bus been per-
| United by that Providence which governs I'LL
things, for Just aud holy purposes. Consider-
ipg the case in this light, and looking at tie in.
finite scandal resulting from i, rieel that the
hare been and a:e abundant reasons why He
! -iiouta nare dealt with me as Lie has My guilt,
in the premises, was greatly aggravated by my
Christian aud ministerial profession, the posi-
| ton occupied, my extensive acquaintance in
This anu other lands, aud By all the vast md
precious interests involved in my official charac-
| ter and relations. No Unite mind eau conpre-
hend the injury that las been done. i seems
| to me intipite. II an offended God and Sariour
should sec tit to exclude me from the sacred
office and from, the Visible Church; nay more,
| il LIE should leave me to uuutterab!e md eser-
nal despair, should hare no ground Of COM
complaint. God is righteous in all bis ways.
lie has done'me no wrong. lwould throw my
self upon !nfnIto and sovereign mercy, offering
| no apology, making no excuse, but pleading
simply that atouiug blood which has been shed
for sinners.
If i could address my former brethren and
friends in the Ciristisn ministry, one and all
woulI say to them: Dear brethren, forgive
me this great wrong. No words can express
brought upon you. aud the anguish Of which
hare been the occasion. For nearly thirty
five years have been numbered among you,
thougL most unworthy, aud cau nsver cease
10 love and honor you, whateEer my lot may be
ia time to come. When think Of the thou,
sands of Christian people whose friendship
hare enjoyed, and the many thousands more
whose esteem and confidence have shared,
feel as il I must say 10 them: Dear friends, ]
have srievously injured you, and the cause
forgiveness. You can nerer know what has
| passed within my heart during the days and
nights Of this closing month Of the year 1851
hut it has oil been known to One, who conde
scended TO be numbered with the transgress.
crs.,' That may harc some little share in Ilis
forgising lovp, intend to prar, God helping
| me, while life lasts. Thus much my heart
prompts me to say. aud here pause.
S. L. 1oARor.
SUNDERLAND, Mass, Dec 1852.