The New York herald., 1875-11-08
PARK CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
THE GREAT SCANDAL TRIAL AND ITS LESSONS

THE GREAT SCANDAL TRIAL AND ITS LESSONS
SERMON DY REV. MATTHEW HALE SMITH
In the Park Congregational church, South Brooklyn,
last evening there was unusually large attendance
OF people who had gathered to listen to sermon by
Rev Matthew Hale Smith 'thc great scandal trial
and it's lessons" The well known preacher, instead
OF dealing directly with the Tilton Beccher case sought
for what in some of the more interesting features,
light be deemed at least partially parallel to IT, and by
showing the results and the effects or greater
enlightenment in regard TO them, read a useful
lesson judgment tor the present day. His FIRST
found what called the great scandal trial
Jerusalem, dealing with and applying which he took
for his text Matthew, XVI 65'Ihen the high priest
rent his clothes, saying. He hath spoken blasphemy
What further need have We Of witncsscsf Behold
ye have heard his basphemy." The preacher entered
upon his subject directly by saying that the great
dial trial OF the world was religious one, rcd by holy
jury presided by the high priest Of God,
ending IN the conviction Of the Son OF God for high
crime And yet II was
ISfAMous THE ANNALS or THE
All the forms Of law were kept, and yet the innocent
was put to death. Tho presiding judge had
long hated the Son of God and had pre-
dctcd his death. Tho tribunal came together
not to SEQ If the accused wero innocent
lint 10 carry out their resolution that he should die
Jesus arragned-sent 10 Herod-sent back to
Piate-to find some reason to put Him to death, and
to divide tic responsibility. Bad men swore to bad
jury. Plate looked at Jesus Herod examined him;
but nolcgal fault could be found IN him. The
Saviour spoke Hal Ha Why did be not keep still.
If he had kept quiet there would have been proof
against him. Mark the craft Of Caaphas. As supreme
judge he pronounces Chnst's utterancc blasDhcmy.
Horror seizcs him. he rends his robes He shuts out
all explanation w hat further need have we Of wit.
ncsscs - lie makes mock appcal-"Whatt think YEP"
The jury respond they told-'Hc is
worthy Of dcath.n our Lord had spoken
no 6Iagphemy but the end was gained
The made out judcialy made out Of
Lords own confessions The ccclesasca censurcs
Illuminated against Him. and He was handed
et4. hat HAD
judgment based on malignant scandal, ending In the
death Of the immaculate Son Of God The lessons from
this scandal trial were summed up by The preacher
scASpAL Is ALWAYS WRONG
Everybody Is entitled To fair trial. to explain his
own acts to Introduce further proof and even explain
his own writings. No ono has right 10 reject these
considerations and say, MY mind IS made up you
can't change me- have my opinion Of this
tern II ihis Is right, then Caaphas right Then
Christ had fair trial and justly condemned. Tho
yllest creature that lives IL a man or woman
who goes about in society like garbage
with bag and WIRE hook, raRing
among ash barrels for filthy scandals,
with which 10 ruin the reputation OF eminent men.
Rash judgment produces untold mischief Fortune
may be repaired trade restored, but tears and blood
cannot cleanse blghted reputation. Men have
right TO ruin man, even on ms own confessions
"furhcr proof" should be allowed even here, Men
and women have been put to death on their own con-
fesson Of wtchcrait, crime which no man can COM
init. In tho celebrated Boon confessed
murder was tried for ms life and sentenced 10 DO
hanged and would have been hanged had not the man
who WAS believed to have been murdered returned alive
three days before the time lxed for the execution.
Perkins the celebrated note engaycr confessed to tho
stealing OF th0usand dollar bill His friends did not
believe thut he would throw away the reputation OF
whole lie for one thousand donrs search was made,
and the thousand dollar bill found sticking to his
own press. The methods by which rash judgment Is
spread abroad presented Its basis was said Q be
envy, Jealousy, personal hatred as in the thirty hh
Psalm; a desire 10 be consistent and wish 70 get
troublesome men out OF tho way; putting bad con-
sruction acts and refusing TO hear other proofs
The concluding points were that Christian Will not
niaIgn any This illustrated by tho case Of
the Rev Dr. kirkc, who nearly ruined by personal
slandcrs ChrHtians he said, ought to be as humane
tho law Each honest man will stop lie rs no
would forged note, and put tho issuer on his proof
"Whcre dd you get ~" Lies are frnil things at first
that iniantg finger could crush They soon, how
ever, grow into oaks, spoken At FIRST In Whispers and
then sold the of tho streets for two cents
uttered D. cphora and then blazoncd as on midnight
sky. Nor should man be Judged even by tho aliena
ton Of his friends
JUDAS ngD ron rnnrY PIECES or SILVER,
and yet he could not convict his Lord. Washington
not base ingrntc though Arnold said he was
under tho stimulus ~ British gold The preacher
closed with an incident of an eminent English divine
who accused OF crime II was a time when the nc
cuscd obliged to prove bus innocence lie was
borne to the prison IN open cab surrounded by the
rabble
4 nAp NUT rALFsrEp WOMAN,
whom the preacher bad dono kindly service TO in
prison, added her taunt aud Jeer 20 the rest She
shouted, "Where is now thy God2" The preacher
leaned over and said 70 hcr:-"My good woman, so
home, open your Bible to tho seventh chapter 0f
Micah, aud read the eighth ninth and tenth verses"
She complied with the request and read Rejoce not
against me- my enemy; when fall
shall arise; when | sit in tho darkness tho
Lord shall be light unto Will bear the ndigna-
tion OF the Lord because have sinned against Him.
until He plead my cause and execute Judgment for me
He win bring forth To the light, and shall behold
His righteousness Then she that Is mine enemy shall
Il, and shame shall cover her who said unto me,
Where is The Lord thy God2 Mine eyes shall behold
her; shall she b. rodden down as the mre of tho
strcctan Tho rcbukod woman, nlled with remorse,
that day took her life before the sun went down.
cuTrPCu or THE gTR ANGTRg