New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-17


This was the condition of Henry Ward Beecher 1t Is
not oyerpainted-a little poetic In its rhythm and
expression and yet intense or descriptive than
The language Of Henry Ward Beecher himself.
Very many OF you probably, and all OF my learned
friends have read Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter. which
describes seduction by minister Of member of his
congregation and the Judgment passed her in the
early Puranic days by the elders and deacons Of the
church and the beautiful language OF Mr. Hawthorne
describing the feeling Of that conscientious and godly
mlnsterin all outward appearance-yes conscientious
and gody although he had sinned FOR he had rcpented
seems to exceedingly appropriate 10 the condition Of
Mr.. Beecher:
and tortured by black trouble OF the soul, and
given the Vaccinations OF his deadlicst enemy
the Rev Mr. Dlmmesiae had achieved brilliant pop
larity in his sacred office. He won IT, indeed In great
part by his sorrows. His intellectual gifts. his moral
ling emotion were kept in state OF preternatural ac-
tivty by the prick and anguish Of his daily life. His
Swallowed the sobcrer regulations of bis Eel:
low s was scholar, aSSnE them
had spent more years In acquiring abstruse lore
connected with the Divine profession than Mr. Dmmes
dale had lived and who might, therefore, be more pro-
foundry yersed in such solid and valuable attachments
than their youthful brother There were men Of stlr
greater share OF shrewd hard, iron or granite under
standing; which. duly mingled with fair proportion OF
doctriual Ingredient constituted highly respectable,
ctcacious unamable variety Of the clerical species
There were others again o SANITY f.irs whose lac
hooks md nv patient thought and eeriazed moreover
by spiritual communications win the better world INTO
holy persOnages with their garments OF mortality still
,lescended upon the chosen disciples Penfecos, ia
tongues Of fame symbols. t would seem not tue power
addressing the whole human brotherhood in the hearts
native language.
And he goes depicting, think. very clearly and
cuatcly the intellectual character and the eminent pro-
fessional position OF Mr.. Beecher But there In
tor batv ma nd an sad nd
Hestor Prynne, his victim:
After while the minister fixed his eyes on Hester
Prynne's. ,w
She smiled dreariiy, looking down upon her bosom.
which contained the scarlet letter signifying Adu
always keep exposed prominently upon her bosom.
she slailed dIearily looking down upon her bosom.
"None--nothng but despairr,, he answered. "what
else could look for, being what am, and leading such
science, wretch with coarse and brutal instincts,
might have fouri peace long ere now. Nay. never
should have lost IL But matters stand with my soul,
whatever Of good capacity there originally was in NO. all
of Gods gifts that the choicest, have become the
ministers Of spiritual torment. Hester am most mis-
cradle"
thou worest good among tncln Doth this bring thee
comfutr' , .. .-,..
swered the clergyman. with bitter smile As conc,rns
the good which may appear 10 do have no aith In It,
mine effect toward the redemption Of other souls Ia
polluted soul toward their Princatonf Aud rs for tho
peoples reverence, would that II were turned 10 scorn
and hatred! Canst thou deem IT, Hester consolation:
that Iuust stand "i"f s.. me, %, u,auy
eyes turned upward my face If tho light of heaven
beaming nom IL f-mnst my hock, hungry,
hungry Tor the truth and listening to my words II
tongue Of Pentecost were spcaking-and then look In.
ward and discern the black reality " what they idoze
have laughed In bitterness and agony Of heart al the
contrast between what | seem and what ami And
Satan laughs at i'll"
"You wrong yourself In this" said Hester. gently.
"You have deeply and sorely repenicd ior sin Is LETT
behind y.y In the days long passed Your present life
not less holy very TRUTH than II seems In peoples
Is there reality In a. nenitcnce thus sealed aud wit
messed by good works And wherefore should Is not
bring you peace ]"
NO, Hester, no.. replied the Clergy man. there IL
substance In H. IL cold and dead aud do nothing
for me or penance have had enOugni Of p-nilence
there has been none else should hong ago have thrown
OIL these garnents VI mock holiness and have shown my