The New York herald., 1874-07-03

aln steady reader or the HERALD tnese many
'ars am frequent attendant at Plymouth
church and am on speaking terms with both Mr..
Beecher and Mr.. Tilton. naturally feel interested
ir the controversy. and, as one OF the public, ask
space III your columns for a few remarks.
In the first place am surprised at the tenor OF
your to-days article. 1t seems to throw the blame
on Mr.. Tilton and has tendency toward the
desirableness Of suppressing inquiry. This is not
the usual HERALD policy l have always thought
that the HERALD motto was "Let us have Light"
/ Ibave always seen you advocate the theory that
truth never suffers by inquiry, but rather by
silence. That cause must, indeed. be weak |
which Is best maintained by retcence aud
mystery, and l am surprised that you should
far depart from your usual course |
as to imply that Mr.. Mlton's tardy outspokenness
in this matter Is reprehensiOle whereas Mr..
Beecher's silence Is justfable. The things done in
the corner must be proclaimed on the housetop,
otherwise there is no justice for the Individual,
SAFETY for the general. Let there be no mistake
here. admire Mr.. Beecher as much as most Of
his hearers; but he is not a Pope not inlalhble,
and l approach him with none OF that savish
adulation which will prevent my putting out my
hand to touch him and see II he be really nesh and
blood. Mr.. Beecher has done the State good SER
vice; his Christianity Is Of such robust, manly
sort that 1t embraces and includes all ne; no
seventh day affair, out good for daily use, to be
worn constontly and to be carried into Wall street
to Saratoga just as we'll as into the prayer meet
ing or the conventcle His Scripturai interpreta-
tion is no dry husks OF wordy commentary, as un-
satisfying as a schoolmans thesis or politco-
| economical axiom. On the contrary, he brings
his people nearer to the footstool than any man |
have ever known, and in his outwelling love and
affection for the Father and the divine Elder
Brother lamlliarizes out OF all fear and trembling
| at our own Intersections, and gives us peace
where before all trouble and uncertainty.
But this is not to say that he Is lnlailibe. MY
been impaired by what have heard mot just now,
for, as you are aware, these Things have been
BEEN So. But tut to @ err is human Elijah was aI man
with like passions as we are, and so presume IL
does not disnonor Beecner to admit that he is
little below Elijah Tue man mas notorious virtues
he is honest, truthful, courageous, great hearted;
his earnings are liberal his generosity is prouse
above all. he has not point OF littleness IN his
doctrine; his charity Is broad and all embracing.
We can forgive some shades and blemlshes in such
manly vlrtues why not tncture OF the manly
vicess The mistake is to suppose that theoogi-
out the old Adam. Cergymen are little better
than most other men, but not so very much.
and and their temptations The seven mortal
sins are scattered among them and flourish more
ments from within or without to be otherwise, and
when his Daring SIN the pride tnat apes humil. all
cramped soul Tor the growth OF any other noxious
weed To men who know the world the contl-
nence OF popular preachers Is wonder, They are
ing and what the world calls magnetic" and
man in sub,ection. | would not nave you inier
that PREJUDICE Mr.. Beecher. We have no evi-
cept scandal for evidence. But confluence and
discretion being the subject OF the story, accept
no a%e Ny Beecnsr the more for his
ness, but ne Is nea er to me than one OF those
"a Our ess
have been those whom sorrow and remorse have
touched. That was an ugly business OF Bathsheba,
but without 1t should we have had the penltential
psalms, the spring OF comfort and consolation to
SO many Of us; Haopily in this Beecher business
the church and for Mr.. Beecher himself to have an
inquiry.
Poor Tllton I am really sorry you pitch into him.
He IS more slnned against tnan SHINING; but, as
when We see small boy yelling and howing while
! the big fellow we don't care very much about the
little one, so we cannot out wish that Tilton had
continued to keep quiet, and mad not squawked so
abomnably because Mr.. Bacon pnched hun. HIS
first course was magnanimOus. as he himself
claims his latter procedure altogether pusani-
him Every one admires If they dom love Beecner.
No one either loves or admires Tilton, and 1t Is
burden. by the way, is not all made up either OF
his own domestic grievance; he was sadded with
he wa ths
Beecher forgave the other two, the one tor
being, aggrleved, the other for talking about
1t. Add to this that Tilton was hor-
ribly fooled by the notorious Woodruff, whom
to appease aud keep quiet he wrote her lie and
made himself ridiculous. Tlton, my dear editor,
has his own troubles without your fingng your
big rock at the miserable wayare Besides he
was poked up by the Council and the clergymen
ana that astute diplomatst Shearman, who seems
t9 have been adr2it enough e sqrn MS very accu-
We other Christians set little store on the
clerical vices OF intolerance, pride, meanness, envy
scandal and vindictlveness. They do not touch us
our wlther5 are unwrung. But we rely on the
confluence Of clergymen and physicians Tney are
received into our families. We trust them i'm
plicitly with our wives ana daughters, of whom w
are fercely jealous In other mems cases. II there
be o1ence In this matter in congregation 1t mus
be purged out. The ulcer Is dangerous; hiding i
Will not heal it; let us have lree lancing and lei
the nasty stuff run Off. A KalOch story was bad
enough, even in Boston, and there they invest
gated 1t. We Brooklyntes can't AFFORD to husn up
such matters. Those OF our cergymen who are
30 chartably desirous OF seeing the Plymont,n !,
house swept and garnished Will use all thelr
efforts to bring down yonng Tobias. W no VIII ex-
pei the filthy Asmodeus. Until they achieve sue.
cess they Will permit us no rest. Let us nave II
over and know the worst. am, sir, yonr onedien
, servant, SIC SEMfEiS
BROOKLYN, June %, 1S74S