, 1874-07-29

7b tn Editor WF Tie Chicago 1rtbt,ns:
SIN: a few days ainco, folt tempted to protest,
through your columns (it pcrmissiblo), against
tho prominence given to one phase Of tho exist
ing topic Of tho day, namely: that tho prosperity
aud purity of Christianity woro necessarily in-
volyed IL tho lsauo Of tho Bcoohcr- rilton inyos-
tigation. While hesitating about tho utility Of
saoh action, I was agreeabsJ surprised by seeing
In THa TRIBUNE editorials Of Saturday uoll-
deserved and scsthing criticism OF comtnuni-
cation coupling Beeohar and Christianity as viz
tualiy Identical, ,-eyidont1y for tho purpose Of
exciting md enlsting the projud1cos Of tho
Christisu public against tho acouser OF tho groat
preacher, As my object in writing thia article
is to speak p1ainly for the truths sake, will
fully own that have for years regarded both
parties as birds Of a foather, engaged in ono
common obtoct that OF undermining tho great
truths Of tho Bible, ,-TAton as tho outspokcn
scoffert and Doocllor MS the rampant hyfocrto
aud traitor 10 tho cause ho haa so long professcd
to advocate.
lily object ia not, however, to advocate or con-
boon capsivatcd by tho wild aborrationa Of tho
ona aa Bocial reformor, nor by the intlatoa
reputation Of tho othor as religious
teacher; but wish to Improve tho opportunity
this ease proaonts Of repaaiating, IN Ito name
which plymouth Church is the exponent, md
denouncilig Horny Ward Boochor aud Ills alliea
~ tho worst enemies Of Christ and His ca,lRo
II tlta be not 80, how comics it that tho open ad
rooate Of in1jdelity is found among tho
Is this not duo to tho truo intuitionR OF tho
natural hcatt athoistical1y Inclined Prove
Deeehor guilty, and that spurious rollgion which
consists in tho form OF goalincHs without tho
sclences of men, and 1cayes them FREQ, at ieaat,
to reootyo the truth, should soIaa blesHod oppor-
tunity present it to them.
Faith Ia dying out for want Of boule one to
of those who preach tho opposite. Hence the
enemies OF truth rojOtce In the Buccoss Of oyerY
doluaion which induces mankind to believe q lie.
It Is ono Of tho characteristics Of the ago to
hoap to itaelf teac!ara hnYlng itching ears, and
to 10 over learning aud noyor ablc to como to a
knowledge OF tho truth. And why ia thia2 Be-
cause no ono Wil receive tho trnth in all its mo-
1nautous aspectH. Every ohurch throughout the
lani-naY. throughout the worll-has departed
from the simplicity Of tho Gospel. and has Taught
tho confident expectation Of tho churches to
conyort tho world by tho appliauces now in use,
! by tho efforts nov ,nakiDg2 And, by conBo-
queace,, do "o not lay tho tlatteriug unctlon to
boiinoss aud knowledge Of lho trnth, III tho
face Of al universal anl palpablc. aonsoraliza-
tio11 Of which this Boocler business IL
only an ineidont9 Whore is tho proacller
who will take Into the pulpit tho 8orlpturo-
doctrine, that tho leayen OF form. una eoremouy'
aud Discrimination, aud hypooriay, which oorrupt-
cd tho Church even In tho Apoatics' daYs, haa
boon spreading from that day to this With silro
md ssoady progroaa, until tho whole ho'ty Of tue
come woll-nlgh wholly loayenod, aud haa become
otronsiyo to tho Holy pelng We profess to servo;
Yot II is this great faet, which tho Church and
tho world ignore, that constitntos THO mystery OF
.niqutty, and We hayo now bcen driven to tho
ot a. al nil fH rnHn1rn1 far
this ninotoanth caatury. On osery hand wo hear
moral and intellectual gantB, as vol as abor-
tons, aoacsntt'g uqon tho progroHH Of scionoo
and moral culture, of tho neccasity OF 6randlng
tho jewish Scriptures AZ tho production OF i
brutal and ignorant ago, and substituting Tor
these yenara6lo oraolas human pcryerHlonn OF
Gods wonl LII accordance with rational pIttloH.
ophy and tho wants Of tho age. aay. theu, that