New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-03
TEMPTED CLERGYMEN.

70 the Editor OF The TrIbune.
SIR: For mercys sake, and for the sake of
good cause pray keep the clergy out of print in this
miserable controversy.
We're Mr.. Beecher, reading your paper OF this morn
ing, should say: Defend and my cloth from such
friends DR.. Leonard Bacon and B. C. APP One OF
these gentlemen tells in effect that Mr. Beecher H.
by his showing goose but that all things con-
sdered," his story IL not Incredible" the otherwel,
this Is what b. C. A. says First he is amused with the
communications that have appeared in your paper In
regard to the danger arising from too great intimacy
with clergvmen." 1t seems TO me that amusement is
about the last feeling which any clergyman ought to
have with regard to the present controversy or any
matter connected with IT, and that is just because B.
C. A. clergyman himself that he should not be
permitted to speak with authority the matter" b. c.
A does this however and what does he tell usi 1t is
not as a general thing much the women VINO are in
danger from the clergy "a 10 Is the clergy VINO are III
danger from the women. By this mean that the women
frequently the tempters." am bound TO say
that this must be deuson on the part OF b. c. A. and
that had a LAWYER OF q merchant written the
thing OF women in their relations with lawyers
and merchants he would have covered himself with
contempt and derison Had b. c. A. said simply that
cergymen were from their professional POSITION more
exposed { temptation in this particular than any
others. medical and military men not excepted, should
have agreed with him. but when he deliberately SAYS or
implies that women are constantly making improper
advances to Of his cotn he seems TO me To DO max
ing himself his cloth ridiculous. And when he goes
talk Of his experience In matters OF this kind
and Of the great deal OF talk" which be has had with
clerical brethren upon the subject and OF the III
he could adduce where the most insidous plots
been laid and the bOdest advances made even by
respectable respectable in the sense OF keeping gig
or II NOT in what y respectable women 20 In
veigle into siu he becomes 10 the lay mind
not only ridiculous but nauseOus What follows about
told To b. C. A. by one OF the most eminent
lights OF the Presbyterian Church in this city, and by
other clerical brethren" would lead one 20 suppose
that clerical talk be pretty much OF muchness
with barrackrOOm talk, which is not generally consd-
cred improving. It the old story; Is old as Adams
stOry-and AS sneaking
After this b. c. A. proceeds apparently with sneer,
Perhaps ministers are expected 10 have more grace
than other men," L reply, Yes, Sir We laymen do
expect them TO have more grace than ourselves,
lust as women have virtue in sense than men
have but at the time do see that Just a.
women when they not vrtuOus are more abandoned
than men in like easel when ministers are without
grace they graceess than We are; for indeed
soldier wyer OF business would say or his
class that they required very supernatural supply or
grace to resist temptations which ne had known
sprung upon" them by women layman too, how
ever proud might be or the particular guild 10 which
ne belonged would be chary OF saying las b. C. A IN
effect says) Of himself and his brethren, that their
bcatr yer much more killing, and their per-
sous aud conversation much more attractive than
those Of people, tnat women in general could not
help setting their caps at them even when 10 was
naughty in them TO do SO. DAVID MACJoHS'
YORK, sept. . 1874.