The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-05

thusiastic friendship began upon the de-
livery of Mrs. TILToE's confession of
adultery with him, until he was convinced
that his conhdant would give to the pub
lie the documents In his possession which
made up so terrible n case against him;
and it was only then, after years Of at
tempted coneealmcnt. when conceament
was no longer possible, that nc
spoke of the thing TO tue church.
Does Dr. IIoLBRooK wish to hold up min
isteial conduct like this a. an example for
the youthful pastors OF his church2
Even when MIR. BEECIER, driven nj last
to encounter the chargesnv him, after
much hating called for their investigation
he selected his own committee for the
purpose. . lie was represented before
II by two alert Attorney, and tho tcsti-
mOny was taken In secret lie called only
small part of the witnesses IN his ease, and
gave his accusers no opportunity of cx-
nmining any of them, while his own
counsel were present ut the examination
OF all and took share in il.
This investigating committee, thus mp
pointed by Mr.. BEEcIrR and not by
his church. also failed to probe their
call MIR. HENRY &. BowEN, though he was
u leading member of Plymouth Church,
and was generally reputcd 10 have cogu-
Zancp of facts which would assist them in
arriving nj the truth in regard TO
their pastors character They did not
examine Mrs. BRADSHAW. another mem
Der in good standing though she was a
direct witness; they contented themselves
with accepting Mr.. RIcHARDss dcciina-
ton to testify, and did not seek for
the reasons of his silence; they did not
have Mrs. RIc1iARDs before them; they
got no light from FLoRENcE TILToV; they
left unexamined Mrs. MoULroN aud Miss
SUSAN Is. ANTHONY; aud yet dared to
publish II statement that there was no
ground of complaint against Mr. BErcnERs
character
At his trial Mr.. BEECUER's defence was
simply an assault upon his accuscr. The
language of vitupcraiion was exhausted
in behalf OF this Christian minister,
and he sat and smiled aud iested
while his counsel poured forth their I'M
eXnmplcd abuse Of the men whom lately
he had embraced or thanked GoD for
creating for his benefit. The nature Of
this proceeding was something new in the
way Of saving the character of u pastor,
whose sole defence rested I'm his credibility
when he explained his conduct So pre-
sumptive Of gult, on The ground Of his
exceptional magnaminiiy and tender re-
gard for the feelings OF Others
II Or. IloI.RRooK finds an example for
ministers or lavmcn in Mr. BEEC1IER's con-
duet at the trial or since II, he takes Il new
view of the department which should
characterize Christian ministers lie be-
lieves that the fruits Of trial should not
n humility, hut arrogance; not patience.
but assault; not truth, bat " devices; -
and that the spirit which was bowed
down in fear AMI was fertile OF dev .ccs
To escape the tIibulation of exposure,
should arise again i'm defiance when IL has
merely taken advantage nf legal methods
Of escape. and instead of establishing It's
innocence has only strengthened and ag-
gravated the almost irre>istIble presump-
iion Of rs deadly guilt.
The attempt II made tn range the Con-
gregatounl Church on Mr.. BEECuER's side.
So far n II succeeds IL viii break the in
| tcgr1ty of that churchs power as "A bull
wark of morality and teacher of religion
and 1t will not help BEEcHER.