, 1875-09-26
Mr.. BEEcHER'S PRESENT POSITION.
A cLEnGEMAS's VIEW.

r" taE tHFE11Q iT10NHS.
We have waited year for condition Of cir
cumstances which would permit criticism OF Soma
aspects Of Mr. Beechar's religious work, vithont
any appearance Of personal disrespect. It that
state Of things has not yet come it is because Of
facts which have no remedy, and for which none
Of us outside Of the case are to blame. We are
of those who have strenuouely insisted that pre-
Vious character must be respected to the end, il
proof OF guilt is not forthcoming and that judg-
u,ent upon wrong appearances must be held back
firmly, to give the accused his full
place, both Of private respect and Of public labor
But ne cannot think that Ar. Beecher's friends
reason well, or that he carries himself II dis
creetly as his extraordinary situation renders
desirable. Held guilty BY the whole more vul-
gar portion of the world, who judge him by
themselves, end not acquitted, hut held pre-
sumably guilty, by no small portion Of the mora
respectable and refined villa not soul any,
where can see him without seeing also the shspas
OF foul darkness which will not down to the
imagination as long aa any wrong appearances
e1ist,-arr. Beecher should remember-as
he evidently does not-that sny promiscuous
popular interest in seeing and herring him mus:
BE- to no small extent sensational and unsa7ory
He would consult the interest Of clear moral
demonstration OF innocence If he kept as close
ly as possible to lis most regular and necessary
duties, and for ali else made himself recluse,-
not only avoiding all sensational contact with
tho world, but foregoing even ordinary pleasures
and interests, to lay bare the figure
of his unspotted conservation to the pur-
est spiritual things Such q retirement
from tho common world. for example,
As lends to the figure Of John Henry Newman,
the eminent English Catholic, an ascetic sancti-
ty, would nightly help to incline the scale OF
public judgment. to 4 decisive verdict in Mr..
Beecher's favor. It would especially serve him
If he could subject himself. "a any man we'll
may, after even LEGS confessed error and faulr
to Enood OF profound humility, coutr1fion, self
surrender, and sesf-devo1ion, until be can staud
clear from all those Appearances OF Helt-conf-
deEco, self-aesertion, misguided conddecca
dered emotion and Imagination, which hays !
placed him in go doubtful light 1t would also !
hare boon greatly to the advantage Of clear con
7iction everywhere OF bis aouo:ute innocence, If !
bus studies Of religion hsd taken the same direc-
ion for the Tina, and led him clear over to tina.
Tide OF religious interest and experience which |
makes much of the closet and Of the deop pacos OF
he inner hfe, and is remote from the moods aud
Methods OF our common work aud play. The
5acriice which this would have involved of l1r.
3eochers more usual and natural moode,
10th Of work ard Of play, Would have shown
lin in light the most convincing possible to
he iudicioas many who arc neither his foes nor
lis partiaaps. The severe exclusion Of comedy,
nd all mere acting, from his public performail-
os, would alone 60 far to set his professional
hazncter above the reach OF eager scandal aad
o make the man seem all that gcaerous charity
rould believe him to BE- Not that any of this Ia
ronouuced At all necessary to enable fair
and to hold him not convicted OF guilt br...
My that course such Is thus would have power
ullv helped to dissolve the doubts which remain |
nd to break down tho sdye1se decisioa @ WHICH 81
,any have gwen
The contrary COURSE however. has been
hosen BY Mr. Beecher probably with no dis
net sense Of the resi- state OF tbs casa. To