Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-09-09

EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH IN HIS ISNocENcE FROM
ALL QUARTERS.
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IMPRESSIONS or FAITH IN HIS INNOCENCE FROM |
ALL QUARTERS.
From the Christian Union
Since the trial to which Mr.. Beecher has been
exposed he has frequently been heard to cay,
"AIy experience reverses all that has ever been
said of the inconsistency of human friendship
in adversely. Never man had such friends az
have !" Ever since this public accusation the
daily mail of Mr.. Beecher has been a most sin
gular and wonderful testimony to the steadfast-
ness and purity and strength of that faith Which
long, consistent life of goodness inspires. In
view of these numerous and daily recurring let
ters lie has been known TO say, ''it is almost
worth while to have had go great a sorrow, i'll
order to have seen this nobler side OF human
nature" Mr. Beechers mail often numbers 60
or 10 letters day. 1t comes from every part of
America. and indeed, of the world. Very re-
Gently letter was received from Australia from
u Methodist missionary desiring to exchange
papers with The Christian Union, and speaking
with deep feeling Of the great usefulness of Mr..
Beechers weekly sermons in their Australian
missionary work. Letters have been received
from Canada and from England, in which, with
u noble confidence, the writer's men high
in churchy and literary rank, others from among
the great mass who read and love hlm-prO-
fesaed their faith in him simply from the spirit
of piety and purity in his published writings.
| The testimony OF hundreds of letters which
came before Mr. Beecher had Published his vim
dication was of the writer's mistaken faith in
| him, from their knowledge Of his past history
and the good which they received in his wri-
| tings.
Many OF tile letters are fran old political ell
emies many of them from places where once
his name was execrated. From Baltimore, from
Matches, from New Orleans, have come noble
letters of trust and announcement denouuciug
the SANDER with generous Indignation, and
expressing mistaken faith that his innoc ence
would be made to appear. Not the least Affect
ing of these letters are from poor, obscure,
or desolate and sorOwful people whom MIR.
Beeeher has been able to comfort. That same
tender and merciful spirit which exposed him ia
the snares OF designing men has made linn evel
full of compassion for the weak. the tempted,
the poor and solrowfu Many of the letter.
say 'You have enabled me to live under great
sorrow" "Nou have taught me the meaning OF
affiiction." - But for you / know not how
could have lived under my aiiliction > and ther
follow touching earnest attempts to return com
fort to him. In one case the writer makes &C.
lection of comforting and encouraging passage.
from hr. Beechers own writings to people unde
affection and earnestly begs him to remember
them now.
1t is worthy of remark, also, that members OIL
all denominations have joined in this tribute
Baptist and Methodist brethren, from distau
fields Of labor, send voices Of encouragement
a Jewish rabbi sends words of confidence anC
trust worthy son of the Old Testament. And
finally man writes II believe neither in Goo
nor IN the Christian religion, nor III priests bu
having read your statement / believe in YOU
az an honest man, and will ray, Furthermore
that it has come nearer to making me want t
be Christian than anything i have ever read.
Now it has boon proved abundantly that Mr.
Beecher has made great mistakes in this matter
II has been proved that he has given ns conf
dence and his affection with unwise credulity /,
seeming friends who have betrayed him. Blu
t for two treacherous friends there have been
. thousands of constant ones. A cold-hearted
4 wary, prudent man never would have made suci
+. mistakes AZ Mr. Beecher has-nor such friends
d friends whose constancy and devotion may vel
t renew our faith in human nature. The Rev
Leonard W. Bacon writes from Geneva, Switzer
land, to the publisher of the Christian Unio,
words that embody, we believe, the belief O
very many 81 never have had a doubt of him
e His power of patient waiting convinced me tina
a he knew himself to be light He that believ
, eth shall not make haste Despite the blum
ders of those last four years, believe they viii
be shown to be the most heroic and Christ-k,
Of his he"