New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
AN EXPLANATION OF MR.. BEECHERS
WEAKNESS

WEAKNESS.
THE EFFECTS or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. EXPERIENCE
AMONG PROFESSIONAL MEN-wHLINGsEss TO
LEAVE A TROUBLESOME BUSINESS TO A
MUTUAL FRIEND"
70 the Editor Of The TRIBUNE.
SIR: Has not the course of portion OF the
press In pronouncing Mr. Beechcr weak" been more
hssty than justf Certainly an editor Overworked las
most American editors are) should above all men DC
capable Of the conditions OF mind under
which Mr. Beecher. at certain times, has failed 10 ex
hbt the strength courage and ability which, by reason
OF his having molly earned his reputation, have been
imputed to him for quarter OF century.
There is among professional menclergymen. editors
physicians. Students lawyers. authors. &c.-scarce
worker matter how short may be his hours. or how
we'll cared for his physique who does not recognize In
his own experience the reality and danger Of what Mrs.
Browning In her poem, AT Cowper's Grave" graphic
ally calls 1.-THE souls decaying" natural result OF
mental reaction caused by excess OF mental laDof-a
result whose symptoms are first tho Inability 10 reason
consecutively aud continuously. and secondly, state
OF utter exhaustion and apathy Even the great brain
and magnificent physique Of the founder OF your ourna
"a man exceptionally fitted for mental labor-often
succumbed temporarily the result Of protraced men-
tai effort, and he prudenty withdrew from exertion TO
which was for greater or less time. bamelessy IN
competent. In sense the word weakness" may DC
properly used In describing such mental c0ndtion put
is q weakness utterly devoid or blame. ana one Ior
which even the severest critic cannot honestly hold any
one responsible. All the learned professions are m Oh
men-good men-whO FUSED up" or In their
Jecadence from no cause but excessive compulsory
mental exertion, and FULL Also OF others who are ohy
proongug their period OF activity by the use OF un-
usually stimulating drink, medicine. or food.
Such weakness being moral fault, but natural
and inc ytabe physical result OF the average OF probes
sional men Of this generation in how much greater de-
ylnl Ia Mr. Rea
labored arduously in three callngs at one ana the
same fine Despite the fact that Mr.. Beecher has done
but little pastoral duty so-caed no one familiar Win
his congregation and his manner OF work can nave
failed TO see that his labor has been many times
greater and wearing than that OF the pastor Oh
congregation of ordinary size could have been Ills scr
MONS although broad application are generally aimed
AT some one and that portion Of OF his letters in
which refers to the cares-unknown to the wor-oi
the pastor OF great congregation will be feelingy re-
membered by any one who has integenly noticed the
spiritual relationship existing between the pastor ana
peope OF Plymouth Church. 1t Is by some people sup
posed that his position in tho editors room OF me
Christian Union is that OF 6gurehead, but those VINO
know declare that until lately and temporarily com
PEELED to take time for rest and reflection there
was no prominent editor who more fully impressed ms
own individuality upon q paper. alike In shaping us
general course giving it his own contributions, ana OF
personally examining, correcting, and modifying All
the matter in its columns before The Christian Union
given to the public. As an author the one doom,
Life of Christ" must naturally have exacted atten'
ton such only absorbing subject coud oDtaih'
and from only such nature az Mr.. Beecher's. ,
Given the best mental organic alton linagnape, ana
laying aside the important fact that his one Gazing as
pastor absolutely forbade HIM rest or even privacy
during his waking hOurs-what must have been the
frequent effect OF professional duties so numerous ana
exactiug as those OF Mr.. Beecher have beeDf SINKING
often meath burdens great for him TO bear YET
without any hope of relief, called upon at unexpected
and ina times for decisions, which, TO render
Alright would the brightest aud best-tralneI ntel
ect tortured with the realization that 10 act according
TO logical dictates would be to transgress the higher
laws of moral prudence and Christian consistency
brought face to with hdeOus, lOats0me consldera
tons which would have Mortified even the ordinary
man OF the world and which must have driven almost
whose calling as well as ms nature de-
handed that he should live above even the conempa-
ton OF all things vulgar and impure; willing, as any
decent would have been, to delegate To whoever
egaress antecedentsl liked 1t, the sickening duty
of sitting and buryng the monster not OF his own max
ing; betrayed by baser beings toward whom his heart
had given love born Of gratitude for assistance always
promised but never given-can any one wonder AT tue
few mistakes he made and not rather wonder that
out of the dreadful ordeal he has escaped without loss OF
reason and OF life H. A. d.
NeU York, Sept. ., 1874