New-York tribune., 1874-08-01
THE BROOKLYN scandal.
VIEWS OF THE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
RELIGION UNHARMED IN ANY EVENT


Whether the Committee will have the single
ness of purpose to make thorough exploration Of this
singular affair may well oe ,or bsy are hs
avowed of their pastor; and though there Is
70 push the defendant to the wall the
inclination OF the examiners to weaken the testimony
ouhtless prevent the presence OF parties whose test
mony would prove OF material value. "A court or law
y nS which can bring the whole truth to the surface
For the sake Of justice and the cause OF morality
for Beecher and it certainly does it Is not on account
of the positive assertions OF TltOn His childish, vac-
heory and practice his relations to the most
abandoned Of women-woodhull-and the causes which
dishonored home TO bring his church. his teacher and
his wife TO public shame-al these conspire 10 render
guilt Is shadowed in the paper OF Tton Is due to the
contained in the letters and declarations OF
with third party produce the papers In their orig
ina FORM with the most deeply interested TO give
explanation OF them which VIII SATISFY every canuu
But what the Christian public is not SO much
Rrookiyn lady as the honor OF religion and the evil
which this scandal will produce so long as Its agitation
To say that the guilt or Innocence or Beecher
will affect the credit OF Christianity. or influence tAe
Judgment OF intelligent persons for or against s claims,
Il nor only admit the weakness or human Judgment
but the worthessness OF religion. Hero,worshp has
been the OF the world in every age 10 attach TO
instead OF the Scriptures iand the Divine Master the
guide of life, one OF the nirmtes OF thumao hatnr
Christian ~ vydy reminded or the startling narratives
OF the Old Testament and the fearful hypocrsles OF the
first century; and feeling greater distrust OF human
nature cngs closely TO the Cross and the simple
doctrine OF Christ.
MIR. BEECHERS ACQUITTAL PREDICTED.
TA< North Western Christian Adoocdx lCheiyol'
The Beecher case Is yet on trial, with pros
poets that the defendant viii be acquitted Thls guess
OF ours based upon the alleged expression OF one OF
the Committed the fact that Mr.. Tlton has not pro-
dueed witnesses aud quito clear belie tha aceuser
Tton animated by bitter spirit, not lustlned
even by the detection OF his wife. PENDING the tra
we do care TO fully discuss the question, OF
after trial. reproduce the dirt But We DO wish
the church to remember both that Is Interested In the
seyerest OF all such scandals and that the
conviction OF even Beecher Is not blow at religion
King David and Judas settled that point long
ago. While have been almost exasperatea
his yised silence, aud his later mismanageinent
OF the case yet look his final acqutal Dy vrtue
OF insufficient testimony aud even just presuDp
Proper courts do not deal In presumptons Iuo U1.
head and honest heart will not only honor
when Virtue summons Henry Ward Beeeher 70 a p ne
they will also demand that he or M.,ou O
properly tried In ordinary indctmene .nS t,
OF proof is the accuser. but since ion ~ nls
ment last week manesty made out MS case. gpanthg
the eennineness OF the cited written by Beeeher
and Mrs Tlton the defense must impeach that Rehu
ineness or, granting the genuineness must harrae
history which the letters WIN ht cocreny
and innocently There Ia pain In heaven ana In the
Saer parts OF the when the simplest soul goes
and by the token Beeohers cloudfor even
an ACCUSATION s cloud-brings darkness both TO the
nnre and the depraved. The trial now pending
should sauarely acQut convict and should as sqaarey
ooaYinGs ayaxybQdy that taeSe nobody " us church