National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-29
HENRY WARD BEEOHERs CASE.
ACTION OF CONGREGATIONAL MIN
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NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-The Tribune has the
following: There were rumors yesterday AMER
noon in Brooklyn to the effect that some Of the
Congregational elergymen had determined to
call another council for the purpose Of trying
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher upon charges
which would be formally presented against him
OF conduct unbecoming clergyman Of that de-
nomination, and to decide whether it was ut and
proper that he should remain in the ministry. A
Tribune reporter cOnVersed on the subject with
an Oficer in the Church Of the Pilgrims, and
that gentleman said that he had heard that the
subject Of trying Mr.. Beecher before council
had been spoken Of, and he had no doubt before
the end Of the week the matter would take
tangible shape. He said that the subject came
up as follows: Some members Of Plymouth
church, who are strong friends Of Mr. Beeeher,
drew up an address expressing the confidence
Of the dgners in Mr.. Beeeher's purity and fnno-
eenee, and intended to obtain the signatures Of
all the Congregational ministers in Brooklyn,
and present it to him on next Saturday so that it
might be gratifying assurance that he had not
lost the confidence Of his Acknowledgement
Some of the persons to whom it was presented
refused 10 sign it, remarking that the serious
charges against Mr.. Beeeher had not yet been
satisfactorily met, and that in their opinion
HE SHOULD REFRAIN PROM PREACHING
until the subject had been iudicislly decided. It
was then suggested that it might be long time
before the suit of Mr.. Tilton could be brought to
trial. that it would be unjust to let Mr.. Beecher
rest under the charges untried during the inter
val and that the proper course TO pursue was to
make formal charges before council and have
the matter settled by the high court Of the Con-
gregational Church. 1t was urged, further, that
If it should happen that while Mr.. Beeeher was
continuing TO preach Jury Of his fellow men
sho guflkW of the PFfrna
by BIr. Triton, it would place the Congregational
Church in very humiliating position-the posi-
ton of retieenee and inaction in regard to q man
whom Jury had convicted before the Church
had even inquired into the matter. Preliminary
steps had been taken to held q council, but the
gentleman said that what had been done he could
not state, but he had reason to believe that the
council would be held. He could say nothing
further upon the subject which thus far had been
kept very quiet. He said that an impression had
been created by q pamphlet written by the Rev.
DR.. Fairfield, a Congregational preacher at Mans
field, Ohio. This document is entitled Wicked
ness in High Places" 1t is a review Of the Rev.
henry Ward Beeehers case, and is freely eircu-
lating throughout Brooklyn. 1t is pamphlet Of
20 pages, written foreibly and logically. The
author, who states that he has been a lifelong
friend Of Mr.. Beeeher, from what he styles
''ealm review Of all the evidence"
BELIEVES Mr.. BEscHER TO BE GUILTY,
and says among other things: For years Mr..
Beecher's portrait has hung in the most promi-
nent place in my house; only Washington's and
Lineolns besides-Henry Ward Beeeher's in the
most honored place of the three, and when, few
weeks since, I took it down and hid il away from
sight, IL was with such thrOes Of soul as 1 hope
never to experience again" Dr.. Fairfield, after
an elaborate examination Of the evidence, makes
the following conclusion "In all the cases that
have come to my knowledge in thirty years of
service in the ministry, 1 have never found an
other in which, to my mind, the proofs were so
absolutely overwhelming" DR.. Fairfield demands
that Mr.. Beeeher be properly tried by prop
erly constituted ecclesiastical court" and says in
conclusion: ~ protest against sustaining in the
ONCE Of Christian teacher a man against whom
there exists such astounding evidence Of guilt"
DIR. BURLINGTON VISITED.
A Tribune reporter visited the Rev.W.:L Bu-
dingtOn, ID. D., last evening at his residence on
Clermont avenue, Brooklyn. "Dr. Burlington"
said the reporter sit is rumOred that there Is to
be another Congregational council. Can you
give me any information regarding it," DR..
Burlington replied There is no such movement
on foot-that is to say, if there is such move
ment know nothing whatever about it."
PLYMOUTH CHURCH NAY BE TRIED.
In conversation last night with Tribune re-
council might be called to consider whether Ply
mouth church should not be declared outside Of
the pale Of COngregationalism, but that it had
no power to prevent Mr.. Beseher from preaching,
or to try him for any offence. His church alone
had that power. CongregstionaIism is pure
church democracy. Every church is independent
and manages its own affairs and the relations
which exist between it and its pastor. All out
side interference is contrary to Church poty, and
would not be entertained. He said that he had
heard the subject Of refusing recognition TO Ply
mouth church mentioned as likely to be eOnsid-
cred by a new conference, but not Mr.. Beecher's
removal.
DELAY IN THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
No notice of issue has yet been made in the
clerks ONCE of the City Court in the suit of Mr..
Tflton against Mr.. Beeeher, and it is understood
that the case will not be called during the Oeto-
Der term, as there are . large number Of wit
nesses with whom Mr.. Tilton's counsel desires to
confer before bringing the case before Jury.
The case may not be called before December. In
fact, there was a street rumor yesterday that it
would never be called at all, and that a settle
ment had been agreed upon between the sppOs-
ing counsel whereby the suit would be dseon-
tinued. Of course the rumOr could not be verified.
Gen. Tracy and eI-Judge Morris refused to con-
verse upon the subject, but replied, in subtanee,
that their clients interests were secure in their
hands. H.....
Chas. r. OvingtOn says that after Mr.. Beeeher
had read Mr. TiltOn's last statement he made
comment concerning it, and that notwithstanding
Mr.. Moulton's course toward him, he speaks Of
him kindly, but sOrroWfully, displaying neither
anger nor revengeful feelings.