, 1873-12-07

| NIT him to wear tllo livery of IIcavcn to eorvt
tho dasi| In. "No ono eau dony," says Mrs.
SwiBsllom, I" that tho Lord Inns endowed him
with special gift Of toacl,lng," otc. Bto )iltots
him to cup, aud his cloquonco and religious
fervor to precious dra,1ghts with which ho ia
ovcriiowiug. "glnll wo break tho cup
because there Ia . flaw In it?" alle
anlte. If nil Ibis fs apolson iu earnont,
1t noano that, 30 long ay Mr.. Dooc,ers pulpit
attcrances arc OF boaclit 10 tho community, II
should maku no d!rorouos what Ills personal
morals a,o. It means that alr. Doochcr may bo
llbcrtino in private. aud still 10 Of such great
good to mankind by means Of hts public toach-
ings that Ills viccg should not be exposed nad
puniBliod It means TINT AIr. Deccllor as hypo.
critic is too much OF blessing to tho
world to bc sacrificed on tllo altar OF truth,
AL this sounds very strange. It raigos
tho question wAothor hypoorsy is virtue, or
tho oprosfto. We cannot limit tho application
of this ncw 1aw Of mora!u to 1lr. Bcccl,cr.
Other mon aro eloquent i'll public. Other
mon glow with religious fcryor in tho pulpit.
Other mon arc uhininE lighta iu society, bright
oning. chocrfng and purifying In all thoir out
ward seeming. Other men nro permitted under
tho cover Of t,oir clorcal robou, to ottor freely
Into tho domestic circles of their congroga-
tions. Husbands truat their wivos, brn,l,ors
their sisters, anl fathers their daughters
moro conAdingly IN tho companionsl,ip Of mon
who preach religion, cxtol virtue, and oxclto
holy thoughts iu public. Aro no nu.od to sdmit,
thon, that all men, in proportion to their ntcl-
lcctuaE power and personal magnetism, shall bo
granted immunity from all inquiry into their
private morals7 Is 1t con!ondod that mon whose
position has identified then, to homo oxtont
with tho good namo Of the Church Hhall DO
froo from tho moral restraints which tho
Church itself has imposed upon all por-
Sons? Shall lIonry Ward Deeclcr's clo-
quonce. influence, aud fame ontitlo him
to general abEolution for MI prigsto sins,
30 Ions as they ORC not opon aud baYcfacod II
re have not greatly misiutorprosod AIRS. Swiss
holnl's philosophy, slo hints an Affirmative
answer to MI thoso questions, and thereby sota
up codc OF morals that would produce chaos, ii,
very short order, II generally accepted. It would
bc @ work Of superorogation to point out that
auch system would bo subyoraivo, not only Of
tho safeguards OF society, but Of the fouudatlon
OF religion.
We havo said this mucl, In anBwor to tho siu-
gnlnr theory that Mrs. swlsshelm'y lostor scoms
to Suggest, md without any reference to tho
u1erita OF tho Dcecher-Dowcn controversy "a it
now slands. Iu Bpito Of tho wldo discussion
which this matter las elicitcl, .horo las boen
nothing doanite enough to warrant M nufavora-
bio judgment Of AEr. Deccllcr, but much to
authorize tho auspicioa that ho has boon foulIy
sln'sdered by I1onry g. Dowea. Indoed h1r.
Bowen seoms inclined to atlrnit that much. At
tho sanao tmo, We hayo nn opinion that tho
treatment Of tho matter by all tho parties con-
corncd, including tho congregation Of Plymouth
Church, has been Of the character 10 create tho
boliof in many quarters that something is with
held. Wo beltoyo, also, thai III honest, ettaight-
forward investigation, which shall ascertain tho
character Of tho charge and clear tho atmoa-
rhele OF The hazo TINT nov onyelops tho wholo
arAir, is the proper course to adopt.