Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-08-15

WILMINGTON DkAsF NAY NAAf AoiHs
Guilty or Not Guilty.
Two letters have recently been pub
llshed by relatives Of Mr.. Beecher, going
to explain the decidedly peculiar attitude
toward that preacher occupied by his
sister, Mrs. Isabella Hooker. It seems
clear FROM the frst that Mrs. Hooker Is
On Intimate friend Of Mrs. woodruff,
and not only has an enthusiastic admir-
alton for her, but shares her opinions on
the subject Of the relations Of the sexes.
That abe think, In short, a marriage
only holds good so long as both parties
are satisfied, and that either party has
q right to annul marriage at his or her
pleasure, and enter into another. Her
nephew says this lie not belief In free
love, but we confess ourselves too iguor-
ant Of the nicer distinctions in the nasty
philosophy 10 understand or comprehend
wherein Mrs. Rockers doctrine differs
from Mrs. Woodhull's.
II seems further, that Mrs. Hooker,
believing fally in her brothers guilt,
though she did not deem 1t guilt, was
determined to force him to ascend his
pulpit and confess his transgression with
Mrs. Tilton, whsreupon she would
make an appeal In his behalf to the con-
gregation. The result was to be that
they would either pardon or approve his
conduct, and be would go on preaching
and become the leader of a great new
movement, in advocacy, We presume Of
principles In accord with what Mrs.
Hooker believed to be his practices.
The whole family seem to have set 10
work to get Mrs. Hooker TO hold her silly
tongue and 20 home. Mr.. Edward
Beecher, another brother, wrote her a
most earnest letter, from which the
following 10 an extract;
In your interview with me you stated
your belief that Henry is guilty SO to Mrs.
Triton, and that you were endeavOring 10
induce him 10 confess the fact as means
OF his salvation.
fession will not save him. lie will fall In
all the Christian world, as Lueifer sou OF
the morning To hope otherwise Is the
mereat deluslon. Ills own people would
not forgive him, and ought not to do IL.
The church universal would not forgive
him, ond ought not 10 do II. On what
grounds you hope otherwise to think II
could be oyerruled for good, or be a part of 8
great onward movement, l cannot conceive
All the churches take Christ as their law
giver, and he condemns divorce except FOL
one cause, and denouncea even looking al
Awoman to lust after her ~ adultery. Mrs
HnH Naart IL nsna
tiou all who endorse It, and the views stated
by you TO me as your own. would meet vita
universal reprobAtien. There may be now
and then an exception, but they Will ht
few. In fact then, you are labOring viii
all your might to ruin Henry, and yet You
make professions OF peculiar love TO him
aud OF hope for him, II he will only follow
you. A greater delusiOn is not possible. II
IL true that II Henry is guilty, he ought
not TO lie BY denyiug it, and 10 practice
hypocrisy. But IL he were guilty, aud n
for the sake OF avoiding these aina d,
should confess, II would not IT all aver
his fall His only hope OF salvation ant
innuence is ia the assurance OF the Chris
tiAn community that he is innocent ans
pure.
have carefully looked into the matter
And fully believe that he Is innocent an
pure-aE he has explicitly declared 10 nj
repeatedly. And have watched his spiri
IN prayer, In preaching, aud in social Life
aud believe that he Is in communion will
dOls Auu kAht Aruu A4utaiuh ilAAt AuN Z ul
not believe that God would thus sustain
liar, hypocrite aud libeftine, aud lac /
all these II he lie guilty.
We commend this extract to The at
tentlon OF all those who have followe,
the course of this miserable controversy
"a one Of The few clear and raiiona
statements which have been made BY Al
one really interested in the affair Til
one question at issue il, Is Henry War
Beecher guilty Of the criine with whic
Tilton has charged him If he is moi
then the question OF 1lltons objects AT
aims, OF bis motives and animus in mai
ing such charge comes up for discus
sion, but the one question at present
that Of Beecher's guilt or innocence A
questions as TO the character or coudu'
Of his aecuser, all considerations OF II
effects OF bis guilt, if proven, on mora
or Christianity, arc side issues whic
should not be thrust in to turn aside Ii
direct line OF this investigation from il
one legitimate and proper oblect-th
sseerlalnment OF the exact truth.
Beecher ia not guilty, that fact can doub
less be established clearly, and he is II
most wronged man OF his day and gene
alton. II he lie guilty,he is,as his brolh'
says, - liar, hypocrite, and libe
time" and il will not lessen his guilt
Tnton Is all these, and more, too.