, 1875-05-16
THE CHRISTIAN VIEW.

IL Ms Editov. Of tbs CHICAGO Tribune;
CHICAGO, May 14-A respectable religious
newspaper OF this city published recently COM
municaton signed ''soush Boston," designed
to influence its readers to believe in the inno-
cenoe Of Beeoher; and an editorial appeared In
the same paper, adapted to produce the same
effect Believing that tbs influence Of such articles
would corrupt the conscience Of the readers,
whether Baecheris guilty Of the charge OF adultery
or not, an article was written BY ons who had
some right TO be heard. The article Was not
published It considered the case from tho
Christian standpoint and hence does not fall
legitimatel3 within the scopa OF your paper bnt,
% TEE TRIBUNE has fairly gwen the views OF its
correspondents on ali sides, which this religious
paper refuses to do, may ask you to present
view with which = large number OF your Chris
tian readers will coincide, and which needs to he
considered? !?
Holding in abeyanca tho question whether
Eeecher is an adutsersr endeavorins to save him.
self by gross perjury, Is ho Christian nan in
tic sense accepted by Christian people
Els own testimony has nothing to do with the
answer to this question: L. false, be would
make it preciae1y the same as il 1t we're true
Tha religious character Of the man. as judged
by his heart-sympathies and personal aRaooia-
tions, is what ne need to know.
Mr., Beecher, when he went from Indianapolis
to Brooklyn, changed hia voice on the subject Of
Slavery preaching, for which he has had 80
much credit. .Atlndianapols, som3 Of the principal
members of his church were hostile to any utter
ance in the pulpit on the subject of Slavery. and
he, in the Presbyterian Synod OF Indiana, took
in his hand the Presbyterian Confession Of
Faith, which he then professed to reverence,
and argued that the subject Of Slavery ought not
to be discussed in churches OF ecclesiastical
bodies (witneases, the Rev. III. Lucas md many
members Of the Synod still iving). He vent to
Brooklyn aud took charge Of an Abolition
the pulpit, a. his hearers desired, and became aa
good an AbolitioniBt ~ any OF them. Other in
stances of the same character might BE- men.
toned; this Is one Of many:
III. Beecher's bosom friend, Alr. Nou1ton, with
whom he confesses that he was more intimate
than with any member Of his church, is busi-
ness-man. who, like many others, has no SYM
psthy with religion Of any kind. He oonfesses
himself to Beecher - an lnfidel; Is, .
sporting msn; diaregsrds the Sabbath; and,
fame and untrrthfu1, All this, while
be was Beecher's coufdant and adviser. With
this man he takes tea, in company with Wood
hn1l, On the eabbath-day. after preaohing In the
morning. He reveals his heart to him, which he
had to keep secret from his church, as follows !:
on the appearances Of aerenity, cannot
be endured much longer. # you cease
to trust me, I am alone. have no other person
in the world to whom could CO." Not TO his
wife not to his church, ANY Of them bnt to
. man who rejected Christ and associated with
lewd women. In another letter he says: II on
ly need some one to talk to- aud that one Is you."
Abiding to the methods by which he and Mou1-
ton had endeavored to conciliate Tilton, he SAYS:
'4They render me liable 1t any hour to be-
obliged to stultify al the deuiees by whieh VIC
saved ourselves" This Plymouth pastor. then,
had been engaged with Moulton in deuices to
save himself and, when the time actually came
that he bad 70 stultify his devices. he felt that
he would rathsr die than make the effort. he
writes: ''Oh! dear Frank, I shall know you
10 Heaven forever, and hold JeHo1oship
With you, and look back and smile at the past"
Not only in this life, but forever, be hopad to
hold fellowship With one whom he knew 70 be IN
dsl aud Ct s'nsfs s eb.1aetst tnsf sns y
hesrt-foliowst1ip than this, the world has never
known e: .nd yet tthe Apostle % ssks rs. - thipE
darEness, OF be that believeth With m iut1del 7"
Beechar likeWise leads Mra. Titton into: Houl-
tn's fn1d h Whites hse )" h&vs puS myssH