The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-11
Mr. Deechcr Uc-umcs tse Policy Of
Silence.

| silence of CHRIST before Lis aecusers. but
JESUS answprcl nothing, SO that PILArE
mnrvcllcd," was his text and nv plain in
ferenccs and application he tried TO estab-
| lsh parallel between his own clse ana
| that OF the Nl2lrone whom the Christian
world d,voutly believes TO have de ccnded
from heaven 10 suffer and die for the sal
walton OF mankind.
Bep1nuing with celebration of the value
of silence, and pointing out that the Chris
tan must GO through life beset by enemies
among whom hr must stand unappallcd,
| he urged the advantage and the virtue Of
retaining from answering the nccusers,
saying that "you speak often more CON
vincig Grafton by not spying anything,
but by simply bearing, tbnn DEMos11iENEs
aud CICERO" 80. having prepared the
way, he drew easily up to his peroration
and personal application, which he deiv-
cred with streaming eyc- aud amid the
sympathetic tears OF his hearers. He spoke,
rs he has ~ often spoken SINCE hts trial, in
an autobiograplic way ; said ms preaching
had been free from ambition; that his
fathers nature hal been transmitted t.
HIM; that he had never written n word or
preached n sermon that he should he afraid
W ilfP' ou M hNlnI ptu UT ~ we 1uu2-
mout tin nnc, that no had been "a sort
of ideal preacher, pre;cl1rug the ospcl to
his own honor and subordiuating elo-
qucnce 70 zeal.
This was pretty strong self praise; hut
we have been accustomed TO hear IL from
Mr.. BErourR since his trial. Ills entire
singlcnoss Of purpose, his security aaIlnst
dong anything very wrong, afforded by
his moral and spiritual Inheritance from
his parents, aud hs utter lnck of minis
teiinl ambition other than that in which u
servant OF CHRIST should glory, these have
been the ofi-repcl'ol burden Of his talks
on the FRIDAY evenings aud his sermons on
Sundays. As he has cXpatiatcd ON the
theme, his voice hns uniformly grown timex
with emotion, and he has drawn tears-not
exactly from eyes ail-inIIs,'d TO he tender
mood, but FROM the lachrymal glands of
the plymouth disciples. which seem TO be
IN a permanent state of overlooking.
Last Sunday, however, he found and
confessed fault He bad too strong n
pride i'm his character. He had not been
silent when others reviled him. II he had
done so. he would have been richer man
spiritually. and Plymouth Church would
way. Thercupon he called on his people
table that They would thenccforth abstain
f ON answering their enemies.
While We would refuse to bend "A critical
ear toward All Ordinary call TO a solemn
Christian orlinnnce nd dressed to "a scciud-
ed family Of the devout, yet we cannot help
listening nationally to this language of Air.
4.
IL was taken down by II corps of stenogrl-
pliers with view TO its publ cation by the
newspapers ana in fun by the preacher
himself. together with the prayers
which accompanied tue singular exhorta
ton. lie spoke not only TO his own church,
but also to all the world, and with intent
to revise the notes of his own stenogi a.
pher, and give them in "A few days 10 the
readers OF the paper eiited nv himself
Mr. BEfC,EKs sermon was the plain an-
nounccment Of a course Of conduct ne ln-
tends 10 pursue toward the charges
against his moral character about Ia be
inv, stiGatcd 10y oommi tee OF ministers
of the Congregational denomination. As
such it becomes our duty to discuss il.
The use made by Mr.. BEECHER OF the
words of The sacred text hallowed in
Christian memories, ant applicable only
10 the conduct OF that Ono whom, ~ It's
Divine Head. spotless nn1 sinl'ss, aud inca
pable of sin. the Church holds IN alteration,
WIS unspeakabIy repu sivc. Became
CHRIST refused 10 answer His nocusors
therefore HENRY WARD DEEcHER is 10 re-
new the policy of silence We remember
how nj his trial one of his counsel lkened
this preacher accused Of adultery to tho
Christian Saviour Of men, spit upon by
those for whom the New Testament teaches
US lie died, aud the horror that language
caused s'artlcs MS anew. These At
tompts OF Mr.. BEI'HER TO draw def ncos
for himself out of Divine forbearance. arc
not new with men accused of crimes
They have been made by murderers on the
scaifold and dci elict preachers before hls
day hive dared to employ them for selfish
purpose s. We repudiate utterly the use
he makes of the scene before PLATE. The
New Testament does not teach that the
Christian shall refuse to meet the accu.l-
tions Of those who bring charges against
his moral character. The method of meet
ing and examining the churges brought
by one member of the Christian congrega-
ton against anOthoris laid down ia the New
book flaw for the Christian church for one
mem hers refusing to answer the imputa-
tions of another, as Mr.. BEECuLR refuses
to answer those of Mis-. MoUI1oN; nor to
justify n minister in declining. as he APP
parently intends 20 decline the invostiga-
ton OF his character PROPOSED 10y his bro
thcr ministers OF The COngrcgai onal Assoc
citation. Neither does the history OF the
Church afford any such authority OF justi-
hcaton.
1t is strange 10 see Mr.. IIEwcIIEB crying
over his wickedness for trying to meet the
accusations against him. A few years ago
he was shedding floods Of tears in secret,
forecasting aud inviting his own death,
Offering To step DOWN and out of his pull
pit, humbllng himself before his accuser
IA before Con, asking hOav emily blessin -
= on MoUIdoN's mead for his devices to hide
the chnrgcs, and for his zeal in tying