The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-07-10
Mr.. BeeCher's Temporary Escape by
Disagreement.


vict the Plymouth pastor 10 Brooklyn.
The issue might have been doubtful
anywhere else, but there, under the
shadow Of the great church, 1t was not
at ell doubtful that no jury could be
got TO unanimously bring him in guilty
of the offences alleged against him.
The long. continued effort to force an
agree ment was unprecedented. II it had
succeeded simply by firing out the dis
senting jurymen 1t would have had no
moral value.
The disagreement substantially pro.
claims that q man. who so conducted
himself under charge Of base practices
rs Beecher did for four years, and who
made co poor q defense on the trial,
deserves at least to be attainted with
strong suspicion Of guilt. On whatev-
er theory you explain this cowardice
and deceit, the result Ia fatal to bis in
tegrity as o man and destructive OF his
power as q minister. Not the least of
his manifold offences Is his bearing and
conduct since the fight between him and
Tilton came to an issue. He has play.
ed the buffoOn, resorted 10 theatrical
tricks to exhibit Indifference, joked and
jested. laughed and parried words as
II It was mock trial and he q clown
undergoing circus practice In the pres.
ence of tlippant crowd. From these
things alone Mr.. Beecher's character
as man Of dignity and q serious and
conscientious minister has received q
fatal blow. Guilty or innocent, the
mere fact that he was on trial In the
most notorious case ever brought before
the American people, would have sad.
dened, sobered, and tempered almost
any other man, assuredly any other
minister. The charge of adultery
against him was the worst that can be
brought against q preacher. What more
damning offense could be alleged against
q pastor than that by vile arts he had
debauched the wife Of his young dis
ciple, herself child of his flock, and
he, the seducer, man old and gIay-
headed, one who made the burden of
bis sermons Christian manhood, and
held up as the examplar OF human con.
duct the spotless CHRISTI
1t Is ground for encouragement that
Beecher, on defense so flimsy as his,
was not able TO get such formal vindi.
cation as q jury verdict In his favor
would have given him. The ovation he
would have received from his deluded
followers would have been nau seating
to Just and sensible men. In the end
would have reacted against it's hero /:
but its occurrence would have been an
insult Ia truth and an outrage to reli.
giop.
Though the pase against Beecher was
only partially developed In court under
the restrictions OF the law yet" enough
was brought out, and the defense was,
to say the least, sufficiently unsatisiac-
tory to make his acquittal impossible
with men epprcciating the value OF ev-
idence. In truth, his only real defence
was his own denial Of guilt. The theory
OF conspiracy and the fact of black
mail were withdrawn by BeepheAhim.
self, and were put out of the case by
Judge Nelson and thus the issue was
between Mr.. Tiltnn, Mr.. and Mrs,
MoultAn, Mr.. Beecher's own letters,
and bis extraordinary conduct, on the
one side, and on the other the defend.
ants denisls Of guilt or Of any impro-
priety whatever presented in his dra-
matte testimony on the witness stand.
Could he expect verdict of Jury or
the public In his favor with the balance
SO strong against him? He has rather
reason to thank his good fortune that
the Jury In view of his reputation, and
the glamour Of his profession, and the
power OF his influential church, has not
judged him as an ordinary man.
The miscarriage of this trial will
probably stave off. If not totally pre-
vent, any judicial settlement of the
case. But 0an Mr.. Beecher continue
TO preach, and write the Life Of Christ?'
That he will have the assurance TO
make the attempt he has already de-
clared with hrazen defiance of public
sentiment. His church will, of course,
sustain him for a while, if not to the
end. But the Christian conscience,
the moral feeling, the opinion and
sense OF propriety or good men ~in
assuredly be against him.
The foundation OF Christianity il 10
the ideal purity Of the life and doctrines
OF JESUS CHRIsT. Intidelity has never
been able to assail that. 1t appeals 10
the cold intellect of the skeptic as we'll
as to the enthusiasm of the deyour be-
lever In the saving efficiency OF the
Atonement. This ideal character of
christianity, provoking to aspirations
foF heavenly purity of conduct anu mo-
TIVE, Is the glory of CHRIsT's religion,
and makes it frat among the faiths
which bave met the needs and percep.
tions OF men since first the dependence
OF man on q divine power was recogni-
zed by humanity.
The priests and teachers OF Christian
doctrine are therefore rightly held to
the strietest aGcopntS as TO character.
Eyen In those churches where the title
70 prlestiy fupctiops Is ordination and
apostolic succession. the priests clean.
ness OF character. has had 10 be main
tained In all ages. Even In the worst
days of the Qh4reh, and the really devout
folgat against immortality Of lite as fa-
tai to ministerial influence aud dis
graceful to the church. In church
like the Congregational, character is
the hrst and practically the only title to