Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-04
MIR. Spencer,s Last Letter.

Our friend Spencer seems to be persist
emit in the discussion of his view OF the
Rev. Mr.. Herbert's case. We do not pro-
pose to 60 into any discussion OF the doc
trines of the Methodist or any ether
Christian church. This was not our IN
tent at the commencement, bat believing
the preaching of Mr.. Herbert Yves not
liable to the construction attempted to be
placed upon it, and that an attempt had
been made to persecute and malign man
for the free expression of his religious
views, and upon trial had failed to con-
vict him of anything more than an I'M
trammeled expression of his religious
views, with no intention or design to work
injury to the church of his choice, but as
a faithful follower of Christ, who is the
chief cornerstone. he gave utterance to
his own sentiments, with the fear of none
but bis Master before him. From such
view, which we fully believe to be the
true one, whatever his accusers may allege,
the arraignment of this good man was
uncalled for and unjust, and, as defender
of an independent press, we deem 1t
duty to stand by the advocate of a free pull
pit, because the sphere Of the press, in
many respects, is parallel with that of the
pulpit. We have not attempted to discuss
creeds, or particular points of doctrine,
and shall not, for it is our impression that
neither Mr.. Spencer or the writer are fitted
for such discussion, and fear we should
make a sorry figure before the public ere
a conclusion was reached. Such a con-
troversy would not be profitable, nor inter-
esting to the public. We have only adj
vocated the freedom of the pulpit, which
we shall contend for as public journal
ist, because the times demand it.
Mr. Spencer does not in any of his let
tiers reach the point made, but goes fut-
tering around some particular doctrine.
We have advocated principle, he, so far
as he has advocated anything, point OF
doctrine, at the came time admitting that
he makes no war with independent men
Why then criticise Mr.. Herbert? Yet
after all this acknowledgement Mr.. Spen'
Ger, with peculiar and unexplained per-
sistence, follows Mr.. Herbert because he
does not preach by rote and rule the doc
trines of the Methodist Church. This is
strange consistency.
We again finally reiterate our senti
ments upon this particular case. We ap-
prehend that Rev. Mr.. Herbert endeavors
honestly and earnestly to preach the
eternal principles of Christianity, in a
simple common sense way, according to
his best convictions of the demands and
needs of our times, rather than in the
technical language of creeds and theolog
les. He wou Id be voice not an echo-s
man, not a maohin e; and in so doing be
is not disloyal nor untrue to all that il
vitality Christian in the Methodist Epis
copal Chuech.
The day is coming when manhood will
be more than any oficiallty, and con-
secrated impotence will not be mistaken
for the voice of God. The most pitiable
if not the most censurable object in the
world, very soon, will be tongue-tied
and braln-tied man in christian pulpit
Men are going to demand more and more
everything manliness, rather than proxies
and substitutes in religion. The world is
weary of traditions, and thinking people
cannot be held for long time yet to con-
secrated cribs of straw threshed for the
thousandeth time.
Lampooning of mems views and mis-
interpreting their motives will ere long
be reckoned more terrible infdelity
than deviations from dead creeds. The
best things are not behind, but ahead.
Men are hungry for better things. and
there are plenty coming. Men and women
who know the sound of the everything
Oracle and are daily under the fresh
amounting, can afford to be calm and have
sympathy for those who live among the
tombs.