Wilmington daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1872-1874, 1874-08-12
Letter from Rev. Or. Edwar d Beech
or to Mrs. hooker.

BROOKLYN Dec. l6, lS72.-My Dear Sister -
In your interview with me you stated your belief
that Henry is guilty as TO Mr.. Tilton, and thai
you were endeavoring to induce him TO confess
the fact as means OF his salvation.
To this reply that 1t he is guilty confession
will not save him. He v III fall in all the Chris
tian world, as Luciter, son of the morning. To
hope otherwise Is the merest delusion. His own
people would not forgive him. and ought not to
do 1t. The Church universal would not forgive
him, and ought not 10 do II. On what grounds
you hope otherwise 10 think 1t could be overruled
for good, or be part of agreat onward move
ment, cannotlconceive.
All the Churches take Christ as their lawgiver,
and He condemns divorce except for one cause
Mrs Woodhuips movement will sink into perdl-
tion all who indorse 1t, and the views stated by
you to me as your own would meet with univer-
sal reprobation. There may be now aud then AN
exception, but they are few. In TACT, then, you
are iaboiing with all your might to iuin Henry
and YET You make professions of peculiar love 10
him, and of hope tor him, il he will only follow
Fyou. much greater deluson is not possibl.
1t is also very true that II Henry Is guilty he.
ought not 10 lie by DENYING il, and TO practise
hypocrasy But II he were guilty, and it for the
sake OF avoiding these sins ho should confess, 1t
would not at all avort Lis fall. His only hope OF
salvation and influence is in the assurance OF the
Christian community that hs Is innocent and
pure.
have carefully looked into the matter, and 1
fully believe that he is innocent aud pure-as he
has explicitly declared to me repeated And i
have watched his spirit IN prayer, III preaching,
and in social lie, and believe he is In commu-
nion with God, and that God sustains him, and
do not believe God would thus sustain a liar,
hypocrite, and iibertne, and be is all these il
he is guilty.
Still iurthcr--I have carefully considered
what could be done il any attempt were to be
made TO prove him guilty, and firmly believe
he would be fully and thoroughly vindicated.
know what testimony there is, and how II
would stand, and am suie he would be fully vim
dlcaied. This is The opiuion OF an eminent law
yer who has thoroughly examined the case, and
Of other competent Judges. l have no time TO go
info full detail, and you may he sure that do
not speak carelessly nor without thorough ill.,
quiiy.
therefore think you not only injure Henry Y
the course you persue, hut all those who are
influenced by you to believe him guilty. Aud
yet you his sister aud profess peculiarly to
love him. Now, you may be sure OF this, the
universal csaviction, not only of Christians, but
OF men of honor AMI refinement will do that If
1t were necessary to bring Henry to trial. or to
bring him to confession, 1t is not a sisters part
to volunteer to be the accuser and prosecutor
and you are preparing to come into collision
with con, .ctiops and emotions of which God is
the lite, before which you cannot stand Oh defend
yourself q moment.
If any one should ask, Why not meet the case
and develop IL at oncep the reply is that it would
fc6uit ih u Fciy Rfout moIhi anu INVERSION
from spiritual good 10 go into the inquiries iu-
volved, and TOR Henry to live near God and man
ifest the graccs of the Christian character and to
labor Tor ell good things, and to produce an alb.
sorption in God aud heavenly things in his best
Defense and will cause all siauderous attacks to
die away.
When we parted you asked me to pray over
the subject, and have done 30, and / have
prayed for you. l do not assume you mean TO
do evil In your own conception you are aim.
ing at good. But If you act in fact against the
great laws of God, implanted in tho moral ma
turc Of men, no sincerity nor seeming good inten-
tion will save you. II man throws himself iu
the fire, it will burn him, and sincerity OF be-
lief will avert the circumstances. The course
you have pursusd towards Henry cannot result
in good to you, to him, or to any one, and it may
be fearfully injurious to yourself. 1t is, there.
fore, because love YOU have spoken earnestly
and plainly, and hope you will accepti as u
proof Of my love, for do not cease to pray for
you that the dear Saviour may deliver you from
all eiror and lead you into all truth.
4 au, as ever, your atfectionate brother,
EDWARD BRKCHER.