The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-16
A plan to Glorify Mr.. Bccchcr.

of the annual meeting Of the General Con-
gregationnl Association of the State OF
New York, to he held AT Norwich on Tues
day next. the 10th of this month. The ex-
| erciscs are arranged by n committee Of
three. of whom the Rev. SAMUEL SCoNtLLE
| Of Norwich is one. when we say that Mr..
ScovILLE Is the sou-in-law of Henry WARD
BrrcuER. we explain the singular circum-
stance that the Plymouth pastor is put
| forward in the programme as one of the
| most conspicuous attractions of the meet
ing. at is hoped" says the document,
"that the Rev. II. w. BEEcHER will lead in
the discussion Of this important topic IRE
vivqls-the best Instrumental'tiesl, He
has promised to be present through the
entire three days of the meeting"
This announced purpose OF Mr.. BEEcnrR
to attend the Convention throughout the
whole of its sessions is very remarkable.
! lie has never before attended this state
Association during the whole of n pasto-
rate OF tweuty-seVen years within its
limits; nor has he during that time taken
| part in the deliberations of any other &C.
clesiastical body OF his denomination. His
habit has been, If invited 10 preach or
speak, TO perform his part and then, taking
up his carpet bag. to forthwith leave the
scene Of his oratorical effort.
why does Mr. BErcUrR now make an
exception to his long-ostablishcd ruler
why does he, who has for more than
quarter of century stood aloof from
the ecclesiastical meetings of his fell
low Cougtcgatioualists. now seize the
opportunity TO put in an appearance AT
fha STATE Asa infinn os ~ aNn
it, 90 chuk in along where he can he
most usefuly' The answer is easy to find.
II is because nc is now under n cloud and
his character, black with the SCOT with
which the blowing out of the foul scandal
chimney hegrimed ii, needs the cleansing
of his brethren. He could afford in the
days Of his glory to get along without
them; but now that he stands "A discredited
minister stained with imputations which
lac has not been able 10 wipe ont, hepushes
himself forward TO get such certificate 81
cleanness rs their tolerance Of him in their
association viii imply. He intends not
unIy 10 20 10 the meeting at Norwich, held
in his son-in-law's church, but to max Z
ninisv.s the chief feature of it. 1t is even
rumored that IA, effort will be made TO
create him Moderator: ut any rate he will
take every opportunity &c " cin;;"k in - the
deliberations, and bear himself as if he
assembled with his brethren a spotless
preacher of the doctrines which they
gather together to promote.
Having been silenced in his sunday per-
formauces in New England by the protest
Of Congregationalist pastors; public opin-
ion preventing his yenturing on the oya-
ton proposed for him in Brooklyn on his
return from the Twin Mountain House /;
his fellow pastors of Brooklyn refraining
i'll the great majority Of cases from tender
iny him either liberation or sympathy,
HENRY WARD BEECHER, breaking up the
habit Of quarter Of century, goes out
of his way to get what his partisans will
claim as an endorsement from the Congrc-
gational Association OF the state. To carry
out this plan Of withdrawing the Ply
mouth pastor, printed programme Of
the exercises Of the association has been
issued-an unusual thing-and with IT, an
nouncement OF Mr.. BEEcHrR's intended
appearance and prominence at Norwich,
circulated throughout the state. The idea
is to draw n crowd by the supposed po-
tency Of his name ana the curiosity to see
him after his passage through the mire OF
the scandal,
Every effort will be made to make the
meeting a glor1caton of Mr. BEECHER
, But are the Congregationalsts of New
( York prepared to let their annual Assem-
bly, be so used Are they satisfied that Mr.
, BEECuER has had trial SO thorough ant
!, satisfactory in its establishment of his in
| nocence that they are ready to be partici
1 pants in nm ovation to him such as it i
= proposed to make the meetingat Norwich
DO they suppose that men like Dir. SToRR
@ will consent to assist in any such glori6ca
c ton? Are they aware that their churcl
j. suffers shame from the neglect to formally
J. and to the bottom, investigate the blac
IS charges against Mr. BErcHrR? What d
J. they think of Mr.. BowENs silence, O
l. Mrs. BRADsHAw's tied tongue, OF Mr.. an
d Mrs. RICHARDs's untold story; Why is
e that the leading ministers OF his own dc
e nomination and of others in Brooklyn re
l. fuse TO join in any celebration of his innC
t ccncey
n Until the Coneregatioualists Of Ne'
e York can answer these questions satisfaC
II torily to the public, they will do well 10 II
. fram from throwing about Mr.. BEECHE
E. the mantle of their esteem. Perhaps befol
ii they gather in their annual meeting the
2 will get instruction by reading and weigl
ing that clear, impartial, and methodic,
r review of the testimony in his case whic
O. the Times has published in pamphlet form
NJ Or are they prepared TO take the groun
g. of one Of our correspondents, that thong
N guilty, Mr., BEECHER has doncsO much goo
O. that they can AFFORD to forgive him fC
at committing adultery with his parisl
~ Toner and pcrjurng himself afterward
ne escape the consequences Of his acts?
II, We do not bclievc that the Congregl
ld tlonaists are so minded. The MOI
IL thoughtful of them will hold back fro
rs Shouting rmaus in honor of Mr.. BEEcHEn
victory over his accuscls, Even thoup
MT perhaps not yet convinced Of his absoiu
IN guilt, they have at least grave doub
lls about his innocence. They feel that, as
TO matter of good taste col family, the mini
he torial hero of the BEECHER scandal won
~ do well TO refrain from pushing himse