New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-26
A 1jTcHIGdN IOVE- FEAST.

The town of Hillsdale in Michigan, has re-
Gently enjoyed scene of hysterical interest,
which affords q singular mixture of French
sentimentality and Yankee mysticism. The
Rev. E. III. Whipple, who bears the honorable
titles of clergyman, father of family, and Pro-
fessor of Bellies Lettres in the College at Hills
dale, has been relieving the monotony of his
collegiate and sacerdotal functions by an init
macy with the wife of one of his Deacons, to
whose honorable name we will give no further
publicity. OF course, the liaison could not long
be hidden in little town where there are tired
eyes at every window, and where every visit Is
carefully observed and estimated by neighbors
across the way. Circumstances favored the
busy research Of malicious eyes; the relations
between the Parson and the Deacon's wife be-
came the subject of remark, and the secret sin
seemed intoerable to the Professor when set
in the light of his townsmen's countenances.
So one Sunday evening, after services were
over, he asked number of the prominent
church members to remain. and read to them
a confession which would have been impossible
to any man not crazed with morbid vanity
and constant brooding over his own mental
processes. He acknowledged his intimacy with
the unfortunate lady he had misled, and said
he made this confession in the interest of his
imperiled salvation. He then invited three of
his parishioners to go with him to the house
of the outraged Deacon, and there repeated
the humiliating confession. The injured
husband received the avowal with Chris
tan equanimity. The whole company joined
in prayer. The wrOnger and the wronged
shook hands in token of forgiveness, and the
next morning the Deacon and his wife left
Hillsdale. The penitent Professor remains, and
receives large share of public sympathy for
his humble truthfulness.
There are people who seem really to admire
this sort of exhibition, degrading and unwhoe-
some as it is They say it is better to act in
this way than for husband and seducer to shoot
and stab each other. But, in admitting this it
is not necessary to say that these shocking
and deleterious scandals are needed or
laudable. There is danger to the character
of excitable young people, in elevating
into an attitude of moral heroism this
unsavory performance of Mr.. Whippe. 1t
was an act of intense and irredeemable self
ishness. He had pOndered upon his sin until
he feared the flames of perditiOn in case he
did not confess publicly. lie chose to blast the
character and the peace of a respectable family
who had shown him great favor rather than
put his own salvation in jeopardy. manly
man OF an honest friend would not have
yielded to this spiritual cowardice. He would
have forsaken and fOrswOrn his crime, settling
his account with God in earnest penitence, and
trusting to true repentance and good works to
blot out his sin. He had no right to destroy
the innocent man who had befriended him and
the erring woman who had trusted him, on
any such pitiful plea that only in that way he
could escape hell. The fear of physical death
is no excuse for finching from earthly duties,
and the fear of damnation will never excuse
an act of meanness and ueachery. Mr..
Whipple may learn some day that his craven
confession was as bad as his sin.
The most singular detail of these attacks of
mystical sensuality is the unhealthy craving
for excitement and desire for publicity they
eyince. 1t would greatly shock Mr.. Whipple
and his sympathizers to hear that the Parson
was guided in part by the same motives that
induce tho bar-room loafer to tell Of his