Connecticut western news., 1874-09-25
Henry Ward Beecher.
A MINISTER'S DEFENCE OF HIM.

A MINISTER s DEFENCE OF HIM.
 The Rev. J. F. Clymer of Pittsfield, in the Eagls of that place gives his opinion of the great scandal as follows:
 The new M. E. Church was packed witE an immense congregation last Sunday even- ing to hear the discourse of the Rev. Mir. Clymer on Henry Ward Beecher and the islander and scandal that have grown out of his relations to the Hilton family. Every pew was occupied and the aisles were full, attesting the large interest the public still has in this subject.
 The text was the 18th verse of the 7th chapter of Matthew and the 9th verse of the srd chapter of James, Do men gather grapes of thorns and figs of thistles ? The tongue IS a fire, world of iniquity,' etc. We give synopsis of the sermon: Henry Ward Beecher, one of the greatest preachers in America has been charged with one of the greatest crimes. If he is an adulterer he is also liar and hypo- crite. Either he is innocent of the crime charged, or he is one of the blsckest hypo- critics that ever came before the American people. ...--.
 The dubious course of many good men in their relation to the great scandal has been dishonorable to them and unjust to the great preacher. Coi0mon justice demands that the accused be regarded as innocent until proven guilty. And if the accused has had reputation for goodness, the i'm pulses of all good men ought to spring in stantly'to his defence. The possibility of innocence insured by hitherto good char acter puts all good men under obligations to stand with the accused, and not with hls accuser. ..--f ...~ z.
 The character and life.work of Henry Ward Beecher puts every moralist and christian in this nation under obligations to believe him innocent until pos6tipe facts prove his guilt. To Henry Ward Beecher, more than to any other one man, we owe the liberation of our slaves, and the lifting up of this whole nation into higher civil life. His great influence has always been given to the best social reforms of the day, especially the elevation and ennob!ing of American womanhood. To him, more than to any other man belongs the honor of liberating religious truth from the bond age of ecclesiasticisms and scholastic theo- ries. If you cannot believe him innocent in the face of the dubious testimony against him, ask you to belive him innocent fol his seork's sake. Is it probable that man whose life has been fuU of such marvellous worksef righteousness would commit the deeds of. which he is charged? Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles i?
 But the great and little divines of the country have questioned bis orthodoxy fol years. We do not knoao tue man. His na ture is SO full, emptying itself unrestrained into every truth he presents, that his words seem for the time to ignore every othel truth, while his spirit keeps itself in harmo ny with the whole system of truth. Men who are true to the spirit of the gospel feel and know this, but men who are more con. cerned for the letter that kills do not know it, hence the cry of heterodoxy against this great man. Ecclesiastical poodles for years have stood in the gates of their theological castles snarling at this magnanimous New Foundland, while he has been plunging in- 10 the streams of moral corruption saving his thousands.
 Phrenologically it is improbable that Mr. Beecher is guilty. His physical nature ii full of moral richness. His sense of homo, naturally is very high. With his great love for home, you can explain the extravagan expressions in his letter of apology, unde the thought that he had i'll advised, broker up the home of his supposed friend, Hi physical organism is the frame work of magnificent character; large cerebrun showing large perception and high orde of taste; small cerebellum, showing small animal nature. By the science o phrenology the current of his vital fore does not run in the channel of lust but to- ward his brain and heart: And his weak nesses show themselves 1a0t in his lower na ture but in his higher being, in mental des pondency. No man would put licentiou picture from the Police Gazette in beauti ful frame neither do we think God woul, put lecherous soul in such a magnifcen body as he has given Henry Ward Beechel
 But is it not morally improbable that thi crime should have been committed by sue a man. During the years this vile repol has been in the air about this man, his ser mons, his books aud his paper have bee replete with moral junction that has bee marvellous. I can understand how hyp, crite could deal in moral truth and deceiy many, but no man can have the nor. poacer that this man has except God be wit him. If he had been wearing religion as cloak under such corruption as IS charge to him, it would have been routed to ra, long ago. If there be any certainty in mo als, any security in principles, then is th man rooted and grounded in love- and
 joined to Christ that municipalities al powers, things present and things to com life or death, or any other creature will n be able to separate between him and l God A jealous scandal monger came
 Lincoln during the war when Grant was
 the height of his success and said 'Grs
 was drunk every day. Very well,' ss
 Lincoln, I would like to have the otl
 generals drink some of Grants whiske
 If Beecher is devil and can do the we
 he does, l should like to have more of
 possess his spirit and power.
 The fact is, Henry Ward Beecher is
 greatest puipit-light in America! The gral
 est representative of the glorious Gospel
 Jesus, and the devil is bound to kill hin
 he can, hoping thereby to strike de,
 blow to Christianity. Hence he has
 rayed his best forces against worldly c