The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-02

made pubic.
Tears OF sorrow Falling Fast.
Rev. II. N. Powers, In Chicago, preached SER
mon on the Brooklyn sorrow on sunday. His text
was:-
Thy mercy, o Lord, is In the heavens; and thy
ialthfulness reacheth unto the clouds. my figEt-
eousness is like the great mountains; tiny uog-
ments are Q great deep.-Psaims, xxxvL .,
He thai ID without sin among you. let MIN nrst
cast st0ne.-John, viii., ..
Both accuser and accused are dear to me. My
heart goes out in grief and dlsmay and Q strange
tumult OF conflicting emotion. l rejoice in the
vindication OF every name that Is anywhere and at
any time calunniared, and in all the righteous
retributions OF even-handed justice ! am full
POf sorrow for the lapse OF any souls from
virtue and honor-lor their injury and their
anguish 1t is not an explosion OF criminality
from the circle OF habitual sensuality and
dissipation. The parties implicated have moved
in an illustrious career. The atmosphere
they have been accustomed to breathe is one OF
intellectual and religious refinement. The posi-
tons they occupy are related to what Is most
humanity. The repured oirendsr is unsurpassed
In the ranks OF those who influence men through
dne ds 0 aps n Is ose
voice and pen In the land The wrong suggested,
but not described is one that hurts dsen 70 the
cause OF the Lofty place or the splendid genius Of
toe offender. Great gifts imply great RESPONSE
the more heinous his sin II he betray his trust
What we are TO remember always Is the TACT that
inevitable. There can be no burial OF II 80 deep |
that In due time II VIII not have q resurrection. |
where. The sore and shame are somewhere. The |
avenger Is somewhere. The e erna right Is over all
To look at the case before US through the medium
through which we have been accustomed to look,
1t seems absolutely incredible that MI. beecher
can be guilty re whole dr s OF ms me arr p an
toiIed his constant contact with the most en-
nobling and Inspiring themes OIL duty and religion,
the keenness and sagacty OF his spiritual instincts
his strength OF character his large humanity. his
exalted position and resoons blllties make any
criminal departure from rectitude appear well nigh
impossible. And yet there stands the terrible In
dictment, written evidently in sorrow after years
O. patient silence by man VINO professedly de-
slres TO be IOrgiving-there 1t stands, pointing
sadly yet inexoraOy towards an alleged yet I'M
confessed transsression. the situation Is be.
In the light Of Mr.. Tilton's letter, good deal
that is Significant In Mr.. Beecners conduct
formers withdrawal from the Plymouth church
can now be better understood. Ii what is attribu-
ted to the pastor is true he has certainly endured
q torture such as few can we'll conceive. With the
present state OF the case the excitement OF the
II investigation should prove the allegation true
the shock OF the disclosure Will be afflictlve be-
yond description. For the feeling. IN 80 unparai-
enced in sight OF some brutal crime, some horrible
act IN the walks Of worldllness and depravity:
The great fabric OF Christian confidence and
CHARITY trembles. Right into the hearts holest
place-where prayer 10 born, where COD Is
braced, where the bonds Of brother
hood are cemenSed, where the sacred treas
ures OF lire are gathered, where reverence
the blow falls, II at all, stunning and terrible.
What grief and CONSERVATION to the soul that has
S Sd nm se snG edsa a
spoken more electric words for the injured aud
poor and downtrodden than this great soul? VINO
oraced the snew5 Of our cO1ntry's faith and cQur.
age IN re firmly in the hour OF her trlalf Who has
held up loiter ideals OF human duty and brother
no a. smltten all forms OF meanness and tnlqulty
with mightier scourge, throttled wrong with
more heroic assault. yearned over the weak and
erring and af1lcted with q more tender sympathy,
or portrayed more lovingly or powerfully the
ca list OF Cody Who has had vaster audience,
and whose sayings have gone further to the hearts
and homes oil mankindy The effect OF the fail OF
such man on the CHRISTIAN commonwealth could
be nothing less than lameptable calamity.
But IT, on the other hand, what Is alleged
should be established, then we have in Mr.. 1iton
An example Of long suffering and fortltude
brave as 1t IS seu-devoted aud admirable, an eX-
ample OF magma nimity, generous even to se-sacri-
nce Ii Will appear tnat Tor years ne has been mar
tyr that great mans influence be not destroyed;
that he has borne heavy cross that strong
friend OF humanity might toll ON without reproacn;
that ne has taken into his own bosom the Shafts
OF detractlon and calumny that ne might shield
Il Titon stands true at the last then MS character
is more spencid than his splendid talents; but II
he proves false there Is no title base enough for his
shame, 40 pit deep enough iOr his dishon0r. What
! would counsel now IS foroearance and charity
and trust in Cod very dark page Is before us,
and tears falling fast uDon 1t from hearts that
fear and ache all over the land.