New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-05
A LESSON FROM THE BEECHER TRIAL.

COMMENTS OF THE REV. G. b. PORTEOUS, ID. ID.
TIE WORST FEATURES OF MANKIND REPRESENTED
IN TIE TRIAI-REPUTATIONS BLASTED AND PER-
JURY AND BITTERNESS SET FORrli-FOUNDA-
TONS OF FRIENDSHIP REMOVEDIDEMOIAL-
IzING INFLUENCE UPON SOCIETY GENERALLY.
The Rev. G.. Il. POrteOus, ID. d., rector OF
All Souls Protestant Episcopal Church, at Clinton and
Pierrepons Brooklyn delivered an address last even
ing in that church on the "Moral and Deinoralizng
Effects OF the Late Trial" before large congregation
Dr. Porteous began his address by saying that every
event whether political, ecclesiastical social or CIVIL,
demanded from the representatives, OF the people in
every capacity. investigation, consideration, ana verdict
II was therefore the duty of representative men to en-
tighten public the moral or deinoralzing effects OF
such public questions, ana they couu ECU escape 'iS
duty except at their peril.
The history of the recent trial Dr. POrieous said has
been most moncnous and at the same time most seIi-
GUS Names have been banded about without considers
ton for the feelings of ohers No should judge from
the tedious length and gross details of the late trial the
moral condition of Brooklyn society. The
trial has represented tho worst features OF
mankind. and in its loathsomc details has set
forth perjury, prejudice and bitterness which alone are
enough to excite contempt and bitter disgust Never be-
fore has the necessity for truthfuness justice and right
eousncss shown themselves with such vyidnes for this
trial has exhibited awful amount of uDmanncss, and
has caused many have doubts TO virtue and rect-
tude in anything. 1t has shown the hollowness Of
friend has made the thougtlcss believe that there
is no Justice in the land that that which is wrong can by
1 TigRl 10 be coionicd All this had
iney advisedly, and win passion ana p,cjndcc. Bad
evil but this trial the wrong done was with motive
trial Tad eyer DTf 80 Wn not =" ,e nary lies
of the world, having no personal interest; nor the wic
me- i' ~ nrcnratcd preknowng lies OF malice in
Ills book Of lies has recorded many hi me irsest anT
months Men who have been considered honorable,
whose words were not doubted ana whose frle.hip mas
been courtcd women whose characters have borne the
closest scrutiny; busy merchants who although not re-
gous have always acted on the sqnare-ihir trial has
This trial upset all the foundations Of friendship
and in that direction alone ine iri mas ptrn eA1"oG
ingly serious Inc lniuillohai nshhe,s ntno nern
shocked and this trial puts to blush al assumptions
nzing woman. Two men. friends, of equally balanced
minds meet and says that the defendant Is guilty
tie defendant Is innocent and the plaintiff Is q conspr
ator baeknae . VERY oS Grsndic w and WHAT ha
was called changes to passion In TINS alone inc
trial has been most deInorazng IL hlS aso provoked
standalzc each other Even III The press, this has been
deyeopcd r one a PAGER an 1 nnd and "d knows When
il viii be put out. The trial has been dcmoIazng to the
name Of Brooklyn For 20 years she held the credit Of
b"ne the only city in the world where no woman OF
shame could exist, and II was reputed 10 be tue best
place for the education an % vi T fear po send her child to
brooklyn He who has drawn before the RpSl ,Ss t a
dS al OF f S' on n'S his Son WI" nave
There was time when no man dared to DEFY the tfl-
unal of Justice but the time for such dehancc pas now
come How long will Americans endure TINS ne aws
were made be respected and when any man des ,ho
Inv he braves the spirit Of Justice itself This Is mol only
dnorazng but Vicious II the laws are bad get rid OF
them IL inadeqi have them altered; but whe laws
they should respected II is no justice which publishes
o. II has been said that the trial Is over, ana the
pnhs, should hear no about IT, Those who desire
encc now have been the most voluble and those VINO
I've Wandered 10 tho scandal tell US to bury IT, Inc
sca,dn can never have "A effect than II has hsa
drlna The past SIX months therefore out OF the ey iet
, o,od ie educed Dr. POrteeus closed ms aodress
With warning to young to bc very careful IN select
ing their frends a, ,v,,.x D..s..r ,,,aI -, sirsf
~" '''''' ~ and Second fnges)