The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-08
II Must be settled.

II Must be settled.
We trust that the committee appointed
by the Congregational Ministerial Associa-
ton will not fail TO improve TO the utmost
the opportunity they have to finally settle
the BELcurR scandal and remove il from
the field of discussion, in which II must re-
main 50 long rs II is left where it il. Those
ministers and newspapers who say that so
foul an ulcer is best left uuexplorod, that
there can he no gain in its further exami-
nation, that society demands that the noX-
ious thing shall lie buried n il is that
people are heartily sick of the whole
affair, and that morality and religion will
suffer hy its renewed eXpOsurc-such adj
visers little understand Tho temper of the
public. and the danger which monnces the
Church SO lona rs charges Of uuexampled
gravity against a foremost preacher are
dismissed after a civil trial III which they
were not mot to the satisfaction of jury.
The Church and society cannot afford To
avoid the duiy of going on with the inqui-
~ aud probing ii TO the bottom. The
spectacle OF Mr. BrrCmR preaching to
vast audiences every sunday in BROOKLYN,
and moving about among families ns Il
CoIly man. an example To the young. and
Il mes cng.r Of CHRIST, whlie III the same
r.ty there lives in the hrle>t esteem of her
many friends lady, his late parsmoncr
aud valued friend. WHO sol,nuly swear.
that ho1h lac ana his victim confessed their
RiultciY to her, is one To make all thought
iul men trcmble fol lis cons quenccs ON
religion and morality What argument
d,
permits such thing a. this To pass I'M
qu,s uOned, and practically says that the
failure 10 satisfy twelve instead of three
men of a ministers guilt Of adultery aud
perjury l. Il sufficient certificate Of the
right OF the accused preacher TO continue
r. ~ representative:
Even if the proportion Of the public who
brought Mr.. BrLcHEG in guilty of adultery
10 those who thought him innocent, or
were al least dissatisfied with the proof
ngninst him, stood rs three to nine, yet his
church ought, if they rightly regarded the
sacredness Of his calling and the necessity
that minister should keep his character
beyond rcproach, TO have demanded that
the proof should have been strengthened.
or that the minister SO Reproduced should
retire fl ON lis pulpit. Even if only one
illrd Of minister's neighbors believe him
an adulterer aud pcrjurer, his power for
good is so terribly damaged that it is
practically destroyed, and his influence foI
evil becomes propoItonately great But
n matter Of fact, the proportion of those
in the public who are satisfied that Nj
BrEcnER is Il guilty man and disgrace to
the Church, OF who are utterly dissatisfied
81, Ia. 4.
Is fully tWo-thirds. These people who
hold the pastor Of Plymouth Church &c
Lave failed in his defence are not the evil
disposed classes Of the communicated
care nothing about the matter any way
They are the very best portion of the com
munity, and their interest in his case con
tnues uudlminished, not because they are
scandal mongers aud greedy OF "a sensation
but because they see and lament the dam.
age which the continuance of minister SC
spotted with unanswered vile impuIation,
against him is cure &c produce
This We know to be a fact from tho
letters which almost daily are ADDRESSED
20 The Sun by clelPymen and laymcn il
all branches Of the Christian Church. II
is from such as these that We have had the
stron est appeals to press for more
satisfactory investigation OF the BEECuEI
scandal. The most thoughtful journals
religious ami secular, of the country arr
Of the same mind. There if no doubt about
it, the people will not let this sore remain
III its present fostering condition. They
willapply surgery.
The committee Of ministers on whom the
duty OF the investigation rests can APP
proaoh the case entirely unhampereo
by those restrictions which legal rule anC
USAGE put about suit for criminal con
Vcfsation. They can take the testimony
OF every material witness, and especially
OF those whom delicaoy or a sense OF hon
OF sllenced from speaking or who could
not speak under the rule of evidence in d
court OF Justice. Mr.. aud Mis-. RICHARDl
could have no scluplc- about unburden-
ing their mlnds before committee OF
ministers WHO asked them TO speak IN III,
interests of religion. They are faithful
church members, aud would reooguz,
ihelr duty in the premises to give theil
fullest confidence ~ clergymen who's,
ounce II ls 10 receive spiritual condolences
MI HENRY q. BOWEN occupies position
oi great delicacy, but we have no hesita
hon IN saying that he would giyo such