Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-03
BEFCHER's OPINION OF srORRs

rom me SpFtnlttSl1 hSpU6lICGn.l
Mr.. Beecher's next friends are never weary
of depicting him TO the public as a singuIarIy
SIM minded, warm-hearted, unsuspiciOus
generous, impulsiVe, outspOken man, utterly
incapable OF double dealing or treachery, or
even of polite Discrimination. 1t is simply in
Conceivable, they urge, that such a man should
be guilty or the crimes against truth and
frieDdshlp-tO say nothing OF the stili biacker
erimes-now laid at Mr.. Beecher's door by Mr..
Moulton. The Openness OF his nature affords
OF itself a sufficient refutation OF these wicked
cslumnies.
The force of this argument is somewhat
weakened by the fact that his own letters 20
Mr.. Moulton-letters the authenticity of which
= as yet to be tmpugned -cOnvict Mr.. Beecher
of having not only connived at but tively and
earnestly assisted in policy of hushing mp and
saving on which smseks good deal more OF
III achiayel than of Nathaniel.
1t is still further weakened by his treatment
OF Dr. StoTrs, his brother minister and intimate
personal friend for more than a quarter of a
injury. (His friendship with Mr.. MouIton il
will be remembered, only dates from the win.
ter OF 1o.l.) In any thorough trial of the case
the whole story OF this treatment will be very
likely 10 come ont. Meanwhile, there are GER
tain facts already of record which seem to
bear directly upon the point now under consid
ration.
On the evening of November 26. 1873. at a
business meeting OF Plymouth church, Mr.
Beeeher used the following language:
" II anybody supposes that, by ANYTHING that
has happened or by anything that is likely to
happen, can be moved from the confidence L
have had for more than twenty-five wears in
Richard StoTrs, he is utterly mistaken. =
No man In the world laments so much as L do
that mans unrecognized talent SO
Tar rs his character is concerned, / have never
ser, IN all these twenty-five years, one single
thing that looked to me disbonorsble, or to be
the slightest variation from the truth. | lean
my whole confidence upon him, and il is I'M
shaken now; and if he shOuld be called upon TO
follow me to the gallOws, my last testimony
would be That he was acting under what he
considered TO be his duty, and not from auy
mean motive or selfish influence whatever.
l am as sure that these men (Drs.
StCITs ana Budlngton) love me and do not mean
TO hurt me, as am that love them and do not
mean 10 revile them or hear them reviled, or to
lift up my voice against them"
This was Mr.. Beecher's public opinion of DR.
S'oIIs, as expressed to the people of Plymouth
church and the listening New York reporters
lot yet quite year ago. Four months later
We md him expressing his private opinion of
tie same clergyman in a confidential note TO
Dir. Moulton' We reproduce this note in ex.
tsEyO.
expression. St0Tr's course has been an unspeak-
able outrage. After his pretended sympathy
and friendship for Theodore he has turned
against him IN the most venomous manner
and il is not sincere. His professions of faith
and affection for me are hollow and fathless.
They are merely tactical His object is plain
de ls determined to force conflic., and to use
one Of Us to destroy the other, if possible. That
i his game. By singing Theodore he believes
that he VIII be driven into a course which he
ropes VIII ruin me. II ever man betrayed an
other be has L AN in hopes that Theodore.
who has borne 80 much, Will be unwilling to be
a nan In Storr's hand to strike at a friend.
Ihtre sre one or two reasons, eInph attic, for
waiting until the end Of the council before TAX
ing any action.
/. That the attack on Plymouth church and
The threats against CODgTegatonalsm were so
violent that the public mind is likely to be alb
sorted in the ecclesiastical elements and not in
the personal.
. II Plymouth church is disfeIlowshiped II
VIII constitute blow 1T me aud the church,
far seyerer than at him.
8. That il the eOurcu does not disfellowship
fymOuth church, then, undoubtedly, StOrrs
will 60 of into PresbyteTisnism, as he almost
without disguise, threatened in his speech, and
10 that ease the emphasis win be there.
4. At any rate, while the fury RACES in the
council, 1t II not wise to make any move that
would be one among so many as to lose effect In
degree, ard after the battle is over one can
more exactly see what ought to be done. Mean
time am patient as 1 know how to be- but
pretty nearly used up with inward excitement,
and must run away for day or two and hide
| and sleep, or there will be funeral.
Cordially and trustingly yours, H. w.B.
March %, 1874.
the effect Of such speech will be. 1t ought to
The speech here referred to is the speech be-
| fore the Congregational Council, March 25 in
| which DIR. Storrs, while sharply arraignine Ply-
mouth Church for its laxity OF discipline, had
used this Language:
against the pastor, against the church, goes
| out Of that church, whose reputation he is al
legged to have injured, whose tenderest feelings
| TO have outraged, without reflection upon him.
We, who had never uttered an ipsinuatiou
/ against thst sstor, whose lips would have been
| blistered ifit had passed them, standing after
4 wards TO maintain principles which TO us are
| vital, have reflections raining upon us thick
as snow fakes and singing as Indian ARROWS
think Of him whom loved 30 long
| who buried my child, whose children have
helped to bury-of all the fond lsve and admira-
ton OF the vanished years-and vow within
| myself with row that shall not be broken, tina,
! my hand shall ever add, intentionally and OF
| malice, any SORROW to that Whitening head a. Il