Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-07-24
BEECHRR AND TILTON.

10 with great regret that am compelled to
wnie on This scandal. The first IL 10 defend
Cnristnnity from the disgrace which some mIahl
nadvsftently attach to 1t because Of the charac-
t1 and conduct OF these two men. Get out with
!ne smrmation that it 10 not because Of religion
ont for the want Of it. Christianity, like al
otnet things, 10 to be judged by its own princi
pies man cannot rise superior to his own
prinsiPles The orthodox friends of Mr.. Beecher
nave been looking for years towards his fall. II
!. well known by those who are not superficial
observers that Mr.. Beecher for years has been
holding lax views OF the very first foundation
principles OF reigion-the fall Of man. his views,
100. have been vsgne as to the atonemsnt OF
Chnst, ana Ar. Beecher has made light of future
punishment, and, a. Paul would say, has preach.
Cd another gospel which Is not the GOSPEL. Take
aaso the matter and the manner OF his pseaching.
In addition TO the above he has preached tia
mahhood OF man. And what is the manhood OF
man bat the devilhood Of man? As il is saId
'the whole world lieh in the wicked one that i
the devil and IL he rises 1t must be above him.
sell and in the strength Of another, to man in
Christ Jesus. Take away the divinity Of Christ
the atonement Of his blood, the influences OF IA,
Holy Spirit. and the motives Of rewards and nnn.
ishments and what have We left of Christianity
renovating, assisting, and to make us watch ana
pray and follow after holiness, without which
no man shall see the Kingdom or God. lool.
and theatrical. Instead Of the teacher-deyo-
tional, plain, solemn gospel truth-we have the
orator, the theatricals, and instead of winning
soul excites smile and laugh. What sincere
Christian was not panied with his political life
his preaching, his church to send Shapes rides
his contradictory speeches and his presump,nous
acknowledgement that he did II to pleasey AMI
then his running with those women's rights wo.
men? Who that looks at all this can be surpris.
cd at what has taken place? We have for years
expressed our fears that all would not end well.
Neither should We allow Mr.. Beecher's character
rs genius or great versatility of talent to operate
against Christianity for talent 10 not religion nor
does It secure grace. Lucifer, the son OF the
morning, was more intelligent than any man on
earth; nor should his high talent hinder our con.
demnatlon. In our eyes, vile person must DO
contemned, therefore we pity him. The fall
irom sacn an eminenee is great but the greater
the talent the greater the condemnation. and We
must sound the note, "kowl for trees, for the cs.
dar has fallen; and great was the fail thereof,
and let the lesser trees lament and beware. and
Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lsst
be fall, and let none fall crushed beneath others
Nothing has beialen religion but what is com.
mon, ior all are warned against spostatizing from
faith, against being backsllders and hypocrites
and making shipwreek of faith and 9 good con.
science. had designed to notice other phsses OF
character and the evidence of this case and
Theodore Tllton In contrast-far the best OF the
two. Poor Ward Bsecher l wonder with eth.
srs whether he, in his hour OF anxiety, ever
thinks OF his fellow countrymen Of the South
where be and his (for on this head the Beechsrs
were very united famiiy) so persistently slan-
dered as dealers in human flesh, and by force of
circumstances immoral In the tenderest relations
of life. Does he, when Titon, his fellow abo.
litionist, is accusing him darkly OF gross immoI.
alty, remember these things, and how he hound.
ed on civil war, and when 1t was over went down
10. Fort Sumpter to exult over the fallen! These
arc questions which Just now II is not generous
10 press too far, and we forbear.