New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-26
CLERGYMEN NOT THE BULwARKs o.

WHAT WE EXPECT OF MINISTER'S OF THE GOSPEL
NEWSPAPERS MORE IMPORTANT LEADERS OF
OPINION.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR: About fortnight ago, when l was IN
New-York, you allowed me, under the heading VI
TEMPTED Clergymen" to make some observations on
The letters of two elergymen which had appeared III
your columns. Apropos of the apparently sneerins
remark of one of these gentemen- perhaps ministers
are expected 10 have more grace than other men II
replied that aymen did expect this in sober earnest
Since then have read the further developments OF the
scandal agiating all Engishmen, wnethei Oh lnl'
side of the Atlantic the other ILLUMINATING III MI
Tiltsns last statement which have just read In your
impression of yesterday. aud have been Leu 10 ASK
myself why we should expect ministers 10 nave more
or rather why we should expect them to be more
free from foul and mean sins than ourselves David
who committed series OF sins the ouiest ana neaneS
ON record Is yet called in Scripture "the man after
Gods heart;" and We may be quite sure that fau
others next to ITS Founder has done most u
enforce Christianity was not playing with words "heh
he called himself great sinner aud miserable man.
Why is it thenl 1t is, think. because we know that
ministers must necessarily from their calling be con-
stantly praying to Almighty God to make them ana
keep them good and exhOrng those OF who go TO near
them TO lead honest and truthful and ceany hves; anu
because many of feel that difficulties in 50 living
would much greater If we could not believe that THESE
men generally practice what they preach.
believe from my heart that they-Chr1stlan minis
ters with very rare excepuons-io practice what they
preach. that nowadays any irrerieva-
Die happens TO society when 1t Is proved that
one OF Them however eminent, beloved, aud yenerated
has not hitherto done 50. l far from saying that
this is proved In the OF MIR. Beecher
Z agree with what you say that "a strict
legal investigation" has become necessary"
and that will result in the utter ruin OF one OF the
two par les :" and think hat OF any fairness
Will presume TO say which OF the parties is guilty TIL
such an nyes CATION been made. But what wish
now TO urge that suppOSing Mt Beecher 10 DC
found the most guilty OF all concerned this would no
more permanently affect his. any other MANS Life
OF Christ" or any true teaching based upon it, than 1t
would affect the life OF Mahomet or Confucus Such
verdict would deeply grieve all good and true men ana
women and IL might seriously shake some OF those who
have had their prayers led by him and have been taught
by him. but say boldly 1t would not in these days
have SO pernicious an effect society IN general as
would the conviction of editor OF OF the leading
New-York newspapers OF taking a bride to betray a
good cause For my own part the best sermons meet
with are to he found in the newspapers Il am not HAT
tering you when instance the article headed Portia
and Bassano," when is a sermon and an dyl In one
and appears side by side with the last OF these msera
bic satements, and inclined to think that when
I have PRAYED "GOd bless ali men, and help me to DC
true and brave and kindly and clearly. and Keep me
sound enough to earn daily bread" have no need to
say any more IL 50 much. That much prayer does not
require a minister lead it, and would continue 70 be
said and said heartily. by millions Of plain everyday
men and women, with the same result, though all
the ministers III creation were to 90 to tue bad.
Cleveland o. Sept. 90 1874 DAVID malcolm.