The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-05
A Minister who Damages his Calling.

The Rev. J. c. HoLnRooK, ID. d.. secre-
tary OF the Congregational Home Mis-
sionary Society of the state OF New York,
may have thought that in rushing to the
defence of HENRY WARD BLECHER. and in
assailing THE SUN, he rightly represented
the society of which he is an official, and
the church of which he II an ordained min
ister. But there was no call for him to link
himself to that chain of oredulous PARTISAN
ship which Mr.. BEECUrR diags along. nor
to exhibit his literary inoapacity by calling
THE SUS's articles on the Plymouth pastor
scurrilous. scurrilous article IL one
which uses vile and offensive language.
Such articles never appear in The SUN.
DIR. IIoLBRooR, in his letter TO the Bos-
ton CopgrcJdtioudliSt, undertook TO make
II appear that the presence of Mr..
BEECHER AT the Norwich meeting
was rather accidental than designed.
This was not the fact. In the
printed programme of the proposed pro-
ceediues Of the Convention. circulated
throughout the state in advance Of its as
sembling, il was expressly announced that
MIR. BEECuER would take part and chink
in " in the discussions whenever he felt in
flluf'A ~ hO rNs Inv HfAhlulilE u HIS III
tended presence was an unusual circum-
stance. During Il pastoratc Of more than II
quarter of century in the state, Mr..
BEECHER had never before been active
AT meeting of the Congregational
As ociation. lie had always kept aloof
from the body, or only appeared at it TO
perform an allotted part ana then with
draw. Was il not remarkable, there
fore, that ms first appearance at the asso-
cation to participate throughout in its pro-
ceedings was at the time when he rested
under n charge OF adultery, which he
had not been able to disprove to n jury of
his neighbOrs, and which had never been
Investigated by an authoritative body OF
his denomination
DR.. HOLBRoOK says thar no portions Of
the exercises" at the association "were
more useful than those in which he [Mr.
BEECHERl took part" What then is the
measure Of a ministers use? Is il his elo-
qucnce or the integrity Of his character? We
for our part should not expect to get much
useful instruction from a minister VINO had
taught us that he bent himself in supplica-
ton TO men who charged him with vio-
lating the sanctlty OF their homes, and Sc
tItllN inNut liFf VI tltNltfs W save himself
from the exposure they threatened. when
MI. BEECHER was confronted with Mrs.
TILToN's confession he did moi seek the as
sistance of his brethren, TO whom he now
goes for comfort and endorsement, but
gave his confidence TO II man outside OF his
church and every church, and flooded him
with gratitude for his success in tying
up the storm OF publicity. The letters
he wrote TO this man are all in evil
dence, aud accessible to every body.
They are simply cowardly expressions
of fear exhortations TO his conhdant
TO pursue the path of duplicity, and
suggestions of new methods of keeping his
church on the right scent. He paid thou
sands Of dollars for the benefit of the hus-
band who accused him OF debauching his
wife; when TLToN appeared in his church
meeting before all the people, he told him,
his accuser, that he had no charge TO make
against him; when charges against TILroN
were preferred in his church he smothcrcd
them, though they involved his accusation
Of adultery; when DR.. SrORRs, brother
Congregational pastor, wrote to him
profcring his fraternal aid TO defend him
against his accuser, he let his manly
and Christian letter go unanswered; when
Mrs. BRADSHAW begged him TO deny the
dreadful story, he coldly replied advising
her to let the matter alone; when the
Woodruff publication had set the scau-
dial atloat, he oonnived with MOULToN aud
wrote card for the Brooklyn EdJie
pretending 10 defy the publication of
any or all his letters, and this because
he knew MouLroN held the damaging ones
safe from exposure; not once did he hint
distrust Of MouLToN, with whom his Gu