The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-07-15
MONEY oOVERETH NOT SIN.

Strange and fearful news often flashes
over the wires, but never stranger or more
fearful than that which comes now, an
nouncing that Henry Ward Beecher's sal
airy, as pastor of Plymouth Church, has
been raised from twenty thousand to one
hundred thousand dollars. In the first
place what did a preacher want with
twenty thousand dollars, and why, in the
name of Christianity, must this mans re-
ward, just at this time, be placed at an
enormous sum. Its magnitude, piled up
from year to year, dwindles into signifi-
cance beside the sad lesson it may teach.
But month ago it was announced that
Plymouth Church had lately, during the
BeecheriTilton trial, increased Its commu
nicants one thousand, and yet the world
well knows there has been no revival of re
ligion, in any community, at all commen-
surate with the increase of membership in
this church. In truth, it may be doubted
whether Gotham has one more Christian to-
day than it possessed twelve months ago.
A thousand more communicates, and hun
dred thousand dollar salary, is the brilliant
result of the great church scandal. If
Christianity has not advanced in New York
and Brooklyn; if the good cause has not
been growing and adding scores of thou
sands to its ranks elsewhere, what can it be
that has made religion so popular, as
viewed through the portals of Plymouth
Church. A thousand new communicates in
few months, added to one congregation
alone, and that congregation singular in its
increase, is something wonderful to con-
template. The question arises, is it moral
or mineral impetus that has given a new
life to Plymouth Church9 If moral, why
have not all the churches grown as it has,
and why have not COMMITMENTS been added
to them in general2 The Beecher- Tilton
trial has been one of the most unblushing
passages in the history of society in this
country, and whether MI. Beecher is inno-
cent or guilty does not alter the case.
An intense degree of interest has
been thrown into it, and the social
condition of the country has been damaged
by it. The scandals connected with this
have been the subject, for months, of refined
intercourse. 1t has been the popular theme,
literally discussed between the sexes and
the press has been filled with the recitals of
offensive evidence. tits said that the tele-
graph companies alone have realized be-
tween three and four millions of dollars
from the transmission of messages concern
ing it. The excitement produced has been
well measured, and we are free to say that
it is not of divine nature. Can it be sup
posed that the one thousand converts have
been brought to Mr.. Beecher's church In
consequence of his purity and approach to
divinity Not so. Plymouth Church has
grown through morbid excitement, a
strange fascination, that has lately gathered
about it, in consequence of impure, as we
opine, rather than pure and holy thoughts.
And as a sequel to all of this, to the scan
dalous and immoral teachings practiced
upon society through the trial, Plymouth
congregation votes Mr.. Beecher an annual
salary of one hundred thousand dollars.
Must he be rewarded with gold for his sup
posed purity, or must his implied guilt be
hidden beneath the wealth of a Crpsus ?
This last act of Plymouth congregation is
disgrace to Christianity, and should be
treated as such by united Christian com
munity. If Mr. Beecher is pure he needs
no reward greater then that he has hereto
fore received, and if he is good Christian
he will not accept it. If he be impure, one
hundred thousand dollars a year will only
add to the moral deformIties of himself an6
thousands of others. If crime is fastened
upon him, and many believe it, this grea'
salary will popularize the features that have
lately made Mr.. Beecher so notorious. L
were best could the Christian world, jus
now, draw a veil over the enormities o
Plymouth Church, and consign them to ut
ter oblivion.