The New York herald., 1869-12-05
Letters From Citizens.

The following letters expressing the opinions OF
citizens respecting the actors In the tragedy have
also been received
BEEcHER BAsTED.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
As the late "unpleasantness,n in which Messrs
Mcfarland and Richardson were the principal
actors, Is creating such universal comment take
the liberty Of addressing you q few words on the
subject In looking over the reports Of the fun era
services, ''prayersn and s.sermonsn one must be
struck with the curious distinction drawn Dy the
Rev: Mr.. Frothingham. His belief as a "minister Of
, Cod, must m in indeed Iced be peculiar when he believes
minded" Does purity or mind consist In
seduclng. another mans wife from the
then bow many "pure minded" men frequent the
'hells" and bagnos OF the metropolis9 But the dis :
tnction alluded to above consists IN thts:-Rcnard-
require but thin veil OF charity to cover them,"
but as Is for McEaand et US spread over him the
fraction OF one portion OF the decalogue by "free
lovern should "requre but thin veil OF charity" to
cover II, while the nraction OF another portion OF
the decalogue 10y an outraged husband should re-
quIre the entire 'mantie OF charityn to cover 1t.
conduct of Beecber Is to say-as an nj Irshman wonia
say-"he has put hls foot in it.n His sermon, dis
sertaton apology or whatever his poor and peculiar
harangue on Friday may be called, needs no
ment. HIS sister outrages the dead and he outrages
ana Gar ne b,S model
performances snould command the reprobaton Ut
al who regard the sacredness OF the marriage tie.
FAMILY MAN.
THE WEDDING AND FUNERAL.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The Richardson tragedy becomes more con-
spicuous as it has advanced, for the that
spicuous persons have taken part In it, either first
or last. Every step shows the rottenness Of the
foundations OF New York society and the weakness
OF morality among some OF our eminent moral in-
structors. At MIR. Ricnardson's funeral Mr. Pescner
uAt.l tvno II AOLvn
eased:-"rhey have behaved In the main vlrtuousy
and rightly; tnat they did not violate these Chris.
as they always have been, dear to the Cnrstiani
heart OF the community" Mr.. Beecher be-
ieyes that :, they did not have carnal
behave otherwise "vlrtuously and righlyn and not
violate the christian canons of moralityfn Does
the marriage vow OF the Christian Church extend
only to 'carnal knowledge and does marriage
then mean only license for the gratdcation Of
lustfut appetites2 Is love and a1cction 'feen to
any other person from husband or wife Then,
indeed, II love is 80 free 1t Is not worth the having.
Can family be broken up and scattered at any time
At the Will OF either party-when "aIinityn is
dscovereds Is this Christian doctrlne9 Even
gardins marriage the same as any civil CONTRACT
constalcy ln 1t should be virtue and such Pro
mise Is made or implied by marriage. Confidence in
tho perInanency Of this social relation is the great
foundation OF the little communities called families
OF which our larger communities are composed
This doctrine OF free love s getting altogether too
common for the welfare OF society. II wife Ia
found accepting presents from gentleman or riding
out with hun, or "nirting" at u summer watering
pace ana accepting otner attentions that may be
proper for an unmarried lady 10 receive from an
unmarried gentleman, and the husband gently
chde her by looks or words. the reply is given ag
once "Didn't you have confidence In mef do you
think would do anything wroDgW The accent on
the word wrong means 'carnal knowledge" ali else
Is right In her estimation and the estimation OF
| some cergymcn). She goes on, step by step,
until her affections and her interest In
| her husband and family become cold,
and she demoralIZed and aduterated In
mind II not In body, and then divorce, which has
| by that time become acceptable to both husband
and wne, Is unawIully smugqed through the
courts, and the courts are blamed for IT, There are
many clergymen that TO sisters In the Church will
show attention by long holding OF hands and kiss,
perhaps, upon meeting, and husband or lover does
| not chide although he feels like 1t, because the
| ready answer Is. "There s nothing wrong in kiss
| ing Mr.. A. or b. or TO allow kiss from him."
Familiarity with one will lead to the same with
| another. THIS frallty OF the marriage rela
| ton tends to the discouragement or marriage
The census Of 1865 shows that there unmar
| ried women In New York over twenty years OF age
t0an there were married ones. There were exceed
ing many In this city from which Mr.. Richardson
could have chosen without robbng any one; but he
took Mr.. McFarand's only one. The moral sense Of
| proves OF Mr.. Richardson's course, what Nathan
| prides himself on being bold and INDEPENDENT but
he must remember that, although the entrance OF
ancient temple had inscribed over 1t the motto BE
boll," o nearer approach brought 10 view "Be not
| too Dold' as the motto. A. HUSBAND.
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