New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-23
MIR. BEECHER ON CONFESSION.

Tn n sermon on the nobility of confession,
delivered on the 4th OF October 1863 rather interest
ing period for the consideration OF such question
"Nor" says Mr. Beecher, ARE commanded to con-
taught in this matter and little discrimination has re-
suited from reflection or from conduct in this matter
through years and years, not noting SIM not holding
back their pOssessors from transsTesslon, waeh
are very apt go to the other extreme And having
slept when they should have watched tney Datk hra
fore frequently leads to make indiclous con1es
9ns and to make n b TO e to css crimes such
way that they will oyerta axe US u.s.. anu ana M
only us but those who socially connected with us
II your conscience is aroused, and yon have COMMITTED
from ali participation in any wrong And before con,
Tossing the act itself you should take counsel ana ma
out wise counsel
II means shearman and Tracy. (Laughter.l
s often better that past crimes should slumber, so
far as the community is concerned And that which is
true OF crimes Is equally true OF vices There may De
many things that great sins, and grieyons and
woundng which having been committed the conscience
of expatrntion or at any rate justice which requires
that lie should with open mouth confess that when mas
but it does not follow especially when your confession
would entail misery and suffering upon all that are con,
nected with You, that you should MAKE eohsssoh erey
for tho sake OF relieving your conscience.
Well this the teaching of Mr. Beecher himself The
question is whether he has acted upon his own theory
whether under the circumstances in which he is placed,
and considering all the clements OF sacrifice anu sorrow
which would proceed from frank and truthful revea-
ton OF his ofense has confessed his mind and
conscience that this where the great interests
involved demand that he should commit what.
under other circumstances, would be gricyous and
objectionable SIM and whether there are any means Dy
which he has satisfied his conscience that he can escape
all the terrors OF the law and all the retrbuton OF his
Maker he tells deliberate and welcomed alsehOod
II he exerts all the ingenuity and of his great
;rdt dov W
that power of his assertion, will deceive the intelligence
OF the world surely no ever placed In q situa-
ton where he pressed with direr necessity IL we
are to believe all that my learned friends predict II the
consequences which anticipated from the fall OF
Henry Ward Beecher rational and probable then no
man was ever mpelled by stronger motives OF self
interest OF philanthropy OF devotion to the interests of
the church and society conceal his wrongdOng Am
I mistaken in this, gentlemen Can you conceive any
exigency which could clearly and forcbly appeal to
the duty and the honor OF man than that occupied by
Mr. Beecher or position where there more forcibe
appea upon the ground OF public morality and public
advantage than this case presents to his mind
Mr. Beecher upon various OCCASIONS has presented the
tendencies which beset men to lie. Thus he says:
The most miserable petfoggng In the world is that Of
n man in the court OF his own conscience lie VIII lie 10
himself He will deceive his conscience He VIII petit
fog with his conscience
Wol we all Of us speak somewhat from our experience
when we utter moral teachings OF this character and 1t
Is very possible that that teaching coud DC Vernea by
the experience OF most OF us.
Great lies are hurtfui than little ones Men think
that great black lie ia very horrible suppose Is,
but after all these little lies more dangerous The
habit OF employing them wears the character more than
the great rousing lie told six times year would DO
Well he understands then, the difference between the
different degrees and grades Of lying, and OF course
knows how to tell rousng lie ever he should feel him
self justified in doing so.
This great fact Of the generic sinfuness in which all
men are alike confession OF which does not separate
one from another men confess freely but the par
tcuar actions which spring up under this universal s
fitness the indety To honor, violation or truth the SOL
and stain OF illicit pleasure all these men steadily refuse
" confess They far moro likely to deny them. III
pressed with the evidence OF their existence they cast up
ntrenchments and defend themselves as against an
enemy There not anywhere else so many ways OF
trickery so many false lights many walls, 80 many
guises mnny Illicit deceits practlced In every
mans conscience In respect 10 his motives his
thoughts and feelings, his conduct and, for that
natter his character The exaggerations, the
cooring the misrepresentation the lies for we all lie
continually when speaking about ourselves what
must be their influence the worldi do not marvel
that thse much fasiiy only marvel that there Is
80 little of IL.
weu these the teachings OF Mr. Beecher. certifying
by the tendencies OF thus portrayed graphic
ally and In various form, by him tho possibility that
when placed under circumstances forcing him either
ruin TO fasebood that Mr. Beochcr chose the latter.