Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-09


influence been a great force steadily excrtcd
in old Of patriotism, Of education, Of good
government, Of political and social reform,
Of every good cause2 His whole work,
wrought in the eyes Of the whole people |
for forty years, has been morally beneGcent.
BE his genius greater or less than men have
thought, be his thinking shallow or pro-
found, his theology better or worse, this is
sure he has been above all things moral
helper Of men. DO such waters flow from
a corrupt lountainl
Look at Mr. Beecher's work during the
last four years-ycars in which, according
to Mr.. Tilton's statement, he has been a
convicted villain, in daily dread of public
exposure, seeking to cover up one baseness
by another What has Mr.. Beecher been
doing in those yoars2 From his pulpit, |
Sunday after Sunday, he has uttered words
that moved even more deeply than his wont
the highest nature Of his hearers. BY the
testimony Of his congregation, his sermons,
for the last two years especially, have had
a spiritual power and fruitlulness transcend |
ing all that had gone before, His weekday
sermons, the Lecture Room Talks" have
been laid before the readers of this paper
as they were delivered. How full they have
been Of instruction and comfort, Of closest
sympathy with human wants and troubles,
Of power to lift men into strength and peace
and hope, we do not need to say. Innu-
merable letters have borne testimony to the
moral helpfulness Of the Talks" beyond
anything else that the paper has contained.
Within this same period have been delivered
the three courses Of &" Yale Lectures on
Preaching" in which--with n power at
tested by the warmost tributes won from a
critical audience, composed Of the profess
sional teachers as well as pupils in the the
illogical school Of Now Haven - he i'm.
parted, so far as could be impaired, the SC.
cret Of his own strength. Never in modern
times, we believe, has there been presented
so noble and fruitful a conception Of the
Christian ministry as in these lectures and
in no unuspired writings can there be found
higher impulse and wiser guidance in
the work of helping men out Of sin into
holiness. In this same period, also, has
been mainly written and given to the public
his 4" Life Of Jesus, the Christ" During
that period the Christian Union has been
established and conducted under his guild
ance, and from him have been received its
best inspirations. BY these agencies his
ministrations have reached parish which
is literally worldwide; his books, sermons,
"talks" and writings have been published
to the great religious reading public Of
Great Britain as well as America. And il
to this record we could add the private min
istrations which the public can never know
the consolation to broken hearts, the help.
ing hand extended to ruined lives the gen
erous pouring forth Of his means TO aid the
destitute the light to those in darkness
we should only add to picture whose great
outlines the world has seen, and which will
never die or be forgotten. This man a
debaucheo and hypocrite ? Then there
is nothing in human character to be trusted
and all faith Of man in man is delusion
Let US, however, fully face and fairly
consider whatever can be said. The moral
sense rejects the charge as a monstrous i'm
possibility; but we willingly 60 before the
tribunal Of the calmcst intellectual inquiry.
What is the real evidence brought forward
by the accuser, dlscardlng the mass Of IT.
releyancles in which the case has been
buried There is an alleged confession oy
Mrs Tllton but 1t is said to have been de-
stroyed, aud for its existence as real con-
fesson We have only het husbands word,
circumstances as well as direct testimony
pointing to Its having been an accusation
ana not confession anu IN nue. TINS
poor woman mas peen SHOWN as so weak SO
Wholly SUBJECT 10 the strongest OUTSIDE ih-
huenco oil the moment, that the general
pubic can give but llttle weight TO her
testimony, either Tor or against hr' beecher'
Ihen we have the allegation by MT. nv
ton ana Mr.. Moulton oil Mr.. Deeehers al
legged confessions to them. VI these men
we have SIMPLY to say that there IS nc
reason either 10 their general character OF
IN the nature OF their evidence, why tht
word OF either or oi both should welgi
J against the word OF Mr.. Beecher' Mr.
J luton, MT Moulton ana Mrs' luton nave
each, on thelr own admission, or on ample
Z ami lncontroveruble proof, told TWO wholly
. ! =. 49, -
J beecher alone has sald always the sam'
5 ming
Inc remaining evidence against MIN
ana the only real strength when me aecu
t saIlon has ever had with tue puolic' con
e slsts IN Mr. Beechers own letters U
these Mr.. Beecher has offered an explana
ton. In his statement to the committee
; and his cross'examinatlon he has told wha
he meant by them, and with what feeling hi
f wrote them. A large part OF the commu
B nliy--ineludIng, we believe, great major
hy OF the Intelligent and high-mlnded--
a have fully accepted his statement, and OF
the strength OF 1t formed the Judgment o
T. the whole case. Yet to many there re
= mains diihculty ana perplexity. IN
! explanation, 1t may be sald, seems made
= quate. Why, after all, SO much seli-re
o proach 2 Why such expressions OF humili
alton aud remorse? How could an innocen
b aud deeply-wronged man so aoase himself
!, Besides, 1t must be frankly said, MIR. Beech
/ er's statement astonished every one, an
n staggered good many, by the weaknes
# and the mistakes which he attributed
S himself, The public had believed him l
a be man OF immense practical good sens
rl Of gattroua aanaaifv anA axaallaut india