Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-07-24
The Alleged ''Heresy" of Rev. Ch0rI eG
Beecher.


The ecclesiastical council called by the
church in Georgetown, for the trial of its pas
tor, Rev. Charles Beecher, accused of preach
ing heretical doctrines, adopted d report on
Wednesday, fully sustaining the accusations,
that he 'does not preach the faith of the
churches of our order in New England on the
points specified, to wit; The pre-existeuce uf
the Human Soul, the state OF souls after
death, the At0nement, and Divine Sorrow. :"
The report says:
by the doctrine of the apostacy of the
race III pre-existent state he denies the Scrip
tural doctrine of the Fall of Adam, a doctrine
which, however interpreted by the different
schools of New England Theology, is never
theless held by them all in common. He
weakenS and undermines the doctrine of tu-
lure punishment by teaching that the offers of
salVatlon are made to men after death that
Uod, TO AFFECT men, overstates the reality of
future punishment in his threatenngs of it as
the cannonier eIevates his piece above the
mark IN order to reach it, that the faculties
and sensibiities of the lost are so weakened
and blunted by their circumstances as to much
dlmlnlSh their sutferngs; that they do find
some pleasure III their degradation and sor-
row even as wicked men here and that all
Gods vlsitati0ns on them are for their good
''By defining the Goldman as having an an
gelic nature, being own and younger brother
OF Lucifer with the divinity of the second
person in the trinity added, and only human
BODY gwen in the incarnation; and by max
ing his sullerings suasory and argumentative
rather than vlcarlous, he has SO distorted the
nature, persons and work Of Christ as to fun.
damentaily derange the commonly received
doctrine of the atonement. By his manner of
teaching that God suffers and sorrows over
the sins OF our race he presents to us a God
deficient IN his nature and imperfect and finite
III his hlessednessi doctrine having painful
variation from our common faith.
1t is IN evidence that much of Mr.. Beech
er'S preaching has been in accordance with
the scriptures and with standard New Eng
land divines. Yet this is so interviewer with
preaching of an opposite and erroneous char
acter as dangerously, if not fatally, to neu-
tralize the good effects of his teachings With
some things on these doctrines that we think
truthful, he has INDUCED in much that we
consider wholly irreconcilable with the arti-
Giles OF faith OF this church, which he himself
has adopted as Il member, and of the Ortho-
dox churches generally in New England.
Therefore we are clear and decided that the
objections Of the petitioners are well taken
and well sustained, not only by their own wit
nesses, bat by Mr.. Beecher's declarations and
concessions of his defence; and that the petit
TONERS ought, on the principles of honor and
of right, to be relieved; and as most pain.
full duty that we owe to Christ and his church,
we do hereby advise the termination, without
delay, of the pastoral relation between this
church and the Rev. Charles Beecher."
The Christian spirit of Mr.. Beecher, shown
in this case, end his rare ability to present
rrLo bo b.,lia L.. Il .I,o
to very different results if we could be per-
suaded that he simply holds certain notions
about pre-eXistence as academic theses, schol-
astic questions, or philosophical speculations,
which he could and would conScientiously
keep in allegiance while he breaches Christ
and him crucitied. But these notions are held
by him as eternal truths, vitality related to his
entire theological system, so far as we have
examined it.
This system he believes is destined to sup
plant the common theology of our church, and
is essential to conviction Of sin, and the high
est type of christian character. Therefore he
feels solemnly obligated TO unfold and propa-
gate it. So we find that his peculiar views
permeate, and from his estimate of their i'm
portance must of necessity permeate his
public teachings, so far as the wit
nesses on both sides, his own lengthy and able
defense, and his written and printed sermons
have exposed those teachings to us.
While, therefore, he affirms that he has not
given his peculiar notions Il prominence in his
public ministrations, we are able to see that
in some way such views have come before the
minds of his people, disturbing the religious
feelings of some and unsettling the religious
faith of others.
This council, therefore, cannot in any way
ordegree commit themselves as apologists for
Mr.. Beecher's peculiar views on the subjects
mentioned by the petitioners, nor as counte-
nancing his publication of them in the pulpit
or through the press. We feel constrained to
make this our public and solemn protest
against them.
In these troubles, running through five
years and more, the parties have all had
great trial of their christian forbearance; and
if we may judge from the excellent spirit gen.
orally shown during the hearing OF the case,
they have endured well. We do fervently
commend them all to God, and to the word of
His grace praying that He will give them the
guidance they need, and work in them that
which is well pleasing in His sight.