New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-01
TIE CASE REVIEWED.
WHAT MR.. BEECHER's PAPER THINKS OF THIS
CHARACTER AND HIsTORY-THE CHARGES Pre-
PosTERoUs-HIs WORK NOT ENDED.


MENTION in very few instances OF Official poceeinys.
editor chief now IN active control OF mo
ained. But in the OF Mr.. Beecher for mum
the present of his official relations with the paper, bis
associates take the responsibility, without MS consent
or knowledge of treating tie subject as II ne had no
connection with this Journal They make apology TO
their readers for dong 50: The question OF Mr..
Beechers character is one OF profound interest 10 he
whole American people but TO great constituency OF
those VINO have followed aud loved hin IL mas an III
pOrtsnce which is simply Vita. For this Journal 10
leave il untouched under present circumstances, would
sacrifice uanscendent interests to serupe oi ell
Henry Ward Beecher is arraigned before the world
hbertine and hypoerite. lie Is charged WIN YIN
having long sought the ruin OF his friends wife and HE
own pupil in religion; with having lived In adultery
with her for months with having covered MS CUNT ny
wears OF falsehood and last by sanderOus charges
against the he had wronged and the man VINO hai
saved hm from exposure Ia other words It charged
his whole life for years has been monsirous ne,
aud that having constantly on ms Ups tne esp.' %,
sanity purity and holiness. he has been hVlng IN
reachery ~ every obligation OF religion and oil personal
cations of Mr. Tton aud Mr.. Moulton-Mrs. Tutons
alleged confession Of adultery rests wholly on Mr..
lions OF certain letters OF Mr. Beeebers, TO when no
assigns wholly different meaning Inc weight OF tnis
nroof we shall presently consider Before dong go 10
il right to consider what must be established by tho
proof On the accuser rests tne purden Oh *
the accused Mr. Tltons charge Is no less than that
Mr. Beechers whole character is rotten He alleges not
merely single offense, such as might consist with
general right intent aud purity OF character MS aee-
sation covers not only ligrant sin but deueraton,
PERSISTENCE and such aggravations of meaIsess and
hypocrisy II the accusation be true, ought to sink The
And who is the man against whom such charge is
| bronghtl For many years Henry Ward Bcecies has
lived in the sight OF the American people. NO publo
man of our time has stood in greater blaze OF pub
hcty. His lifework as an orator has kept hun under
the constant scrutiny OF great public. No man has
poured himself forth ~ more constant ana prousc stream
@ Tg no foe man ana 'i no Srn nS as
more freely revealed his own interior te TO All VINO
choose to read With the true oraorical temperament,
ardent open selsdiscloslng. Mr. Beecher has had in
peculiar degree tho power and the disposition TO take
his hearers his confidence 10 the workings OF his
ow mind and feelings. Thus through the fO:ce Of ma
ture and circumstances be has lived for more than
lave ever done-even his private conversations and
most trivial remarks being caught up and repeated ~
the newspaper press, constantly, daily 10 an extent
almost incredible.
And What has been the character Of public ministry
thus known and read OF by all men IL we were 10 Sc
ect single characteristic as most prominent aud most
certain. it would oe tho helping men to hisner me We
do not Mr. BeecAers genius nor the s0undness
Of his theology. Bat We say, and We appeal 10 tie
whole community 10 bear US OUT III H. mat preemnehty
his teaching and his Whole public work has tended 10
make nOber purer more unselnsh better citizens,
could be taken OF the men and women whom he has
helped out OF weakness and sin aud despondeney,s
would be such record as tue world has seldom read.
Thousands and tens Of thousands Look gpon nm as
beneath their feet their worse se.ves-ther
animaism, their pride; theIr seln,ahe's aId
through lives Hs ms'" purify scsacFee and
conservation to God ana man. Reading these words.
highest earthly debt to Henry Ward Beecher. And,
looking his work in its more public aspect We appeal
been the helper OF thar which good Has ms iu
dnenee been great force steadily exerted in aid OF
PATRIOTISM, OF education, OF good government OF poll-
cal social reform, OF every good causef HIS whole
work, wrought 10 the eyes OF the Whole people Tor 40
wears has been morally beuehcent. Be bis genius
greater less than have Thought, be hl> thinking
shallow Profound his theology better or worse this
is sure he mas been all things mora! helper VI
men. DO such waters flow IRON corrupt fQuntaiut
Look al M BeeoheI's work daring the last four years
years in which, according Mr. Tltou's statement
he has convicted Villain In daily dread ~ pnhlo
exposure seeking to up one baseness by another
his pulpit Sunday after sunday he has uttered words
that moved deeply than his woat the highest
nature his hearers. BY tue testimony OF b., coDgre
CATION his sermons for the last two years especially,
have had spiritual power and rutfuness transcend.
ing all that had gone before. His week day sermons,
the Lecture Room Talks" have been LAM before the
readers of this paper 10 they were delivered How iu
they have been OF Instruction and comfort OF closes
Int into strength ana peace ana nope we do not
need Innumera0e letters have borne testimony
Thing else that the paper has contained Within this
same period have been delivered the three courses Of
yale Lectures Preachlng" IN which. with power
sttested by the warmes tributes won rom critical al
dience composed Of the professional teachers well as
pupils in the Theological School Of New-Hayeu-he i'm
parted SO il could he impaired tbs his
own strength. Never in modern times, believe,
a .'' conception Of the Christian ministry as IN
these lectures and in no uninsred writings can there
be higher Impulse anu wiser guidance IA the work
of helping out OF stu into holiness. Ira tins same
period, also, has been manly written aud gwen to the
public his Life OF Jesus, the Christ" DANG that
period The Christian Union has been established and
conducted under ls guidance, and from him nave been
received its best inspirations. BY these agencies bis
illustrations have reached parish which !. literally
word-wide his books, sermons, talks and wrltiDgs
have been published TO tue great elgious reading puD
lc OF Great Britain well as America. Ana Il 10 tDs
record could add the private illustrations which the
knOaCne consolation ~ broken hearts,
the helping hand extended 10 ruined lives, generous
pouring forth OF his means 10 and the destitute the hight
those In dalkness-we should only ddd 10 picture
whose outlines the world has seen, and which VIII
never die or be forgotten This man a dcpaLchee and a
hypocte Then there nothing IN human character TO
trusted and all faith OF man IN man Is deuson
Let however, fully face aud fairly consider what.
ever can SAID The moral rejects the charge
a monstrous impossibility; but We willingly before
the tribunal OF the calmest intellectual inquiry. What
the real evidence brought forward by the accuser,
discarding the OF rreevancies In which the
| has been buredf There Is an alleged confession by
Mrs. TltOn; but IL Is said TO have been destroyed aud
for It's real confession have only her
husbands word circumstances as well as direct testi-
pointing to its having been accusation aud not
a confession. And, In nne this poor woman has been
shown weak, wholly subject 10 the strongest
outside influence OF the moment that the general public
give but little weight to hef testimony either Tor or
| against Mr. Beecher.
| Then we have the allegation by Mr.. Tlton ard Mr..
Mouton Of Mr. Beecbers alleged confessions TO them.
or these we have simply to say that there Is 10
OF their evidence why the word OF either OF both
should weigh against the word OF Mr.. Beecher Mr..
Tlton Mr.. Moulton and Mrs. Tfon have EACH on thee
admission. on ample and tncontroveru0ie proofs
told two wholly different stories OF the whole matef
Mr. Beecher alone has said aiwsys the same thing.
The remaining evidence against him. ana the ony real
strength which the accusation has ever had with tho
public. consists In Mr. beeehers own Letters Of these
ment TO the Committee and bis crosse mination ba
has told what he by them and with what feeling
he wrote them. A large part OF the eommunity-in.
cudiug we believe. <rest majority Of the intelligent
and hlgh -minded-have fully accepted his statements
and on the strength Of IL formed the judgment OF tie
---------- -