The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-22

lHe bTOOklyn pCanUal.
AT last the "great mystery" is in fair
way of being solved to tho satisfaction OF
the multitude. "Seo Damascus and die"
Go to Brooklyn, accept The hospitality of
Plymouth church, listen to few bursts Of
eloquence from the "greatest living preach
err" and the clouds will lift as mist from
the river. SO Ii seems IL has been with the
great council, and no doubt it will be with
the millions OF doubling ones when once
they have taken up staff and scrip and
journeyed forth to The city of churches.
The "scandal" has been sorry thing for
the reputation OF the Congregational
church, but really tho most huniliating
thing in the great drama has been the last
council called by Plymouth church. That
1t was possible to find ia North America
1873 Congregational ministers who would
become the willing tools of Brother Shear
man, and permit themselves to be moved
like pawns on chess board Is indeed anna
Zing aud the wonder does not grow less
when we think that soma of them are So
Ions in Congregational rules and customs,
and have made special point of instruct
ing US benighted ones in the mysteries of
the church.
The matter now comes up before the
public in some such form rs this
First-Tbe great council was purely a
one-sided affair. 1t contained large and
leading clement of men who were pro-
nounced in Mr.. Beechers favor. 1t utter
ly excluded such men as Drs. Storrs and
Bndiingon. II contained another element
which was simply clay in the hands of the
potter. When men leave home doubtful
or puzzled as to Mir. Beecher's innocence,
and come back convinced and yet have no
reason to give therefor, except they have
heard the accused call upon angels and
God to witness the truth of his assertions ;
when three members of the same great
church, persons who little while since
were bosom companions of the accused
and the keepers Of his secret, call upon
God to witness the truth of assertions just
the opposite, why these wise "councilors'
must excuse the public if they do not earn
the reputation OF being either as shrewd as
| Aristotle or rs stable as rock.
Second-The manner in which the coun.
Gil was manipulated by Bro. Sherman to dc
things as foreign to the letters missve as
the laying out of highway or the specu
lation in Wall street. In this respect The
council has become the butt of ridicule to
neatly If not quite every Congregations
paper in the country. Tt is little less thar
certain that when its members get ovcl
their intoxication in tho enchanted valley
of Plymouth church, they will have Crane
test to see whose cars arc smallest, usinl
army blankets as u gauge.
| Third--It Ia not pretended that there hal
ever been a fair trial of the points contain
ed in the great scandal. And the public
have marked this with sorrow. When Mr.
Beecher declared 81 will not go into
hodge podge council with Drs. Storrs ant
Burlington, / icont WONT ! ~ the pub
lie naturally asked "Why ARE not thes
clergymen among the best and the pures
of the denomination Would it be posi-
bio for them to say that Mr.. 3. was guilt,
when there was no evidence OF the guilt 2
The Andover proposition, which was il
perfect accordance with Congregations
usage, was cast off with sneer, land anoth
er method substituted which it was certai
would not be acceptable to the accusers
This 10 Investigation with vengeance
Prof. Smith of Andover seminary says tina
a gentleman Of high repute who has infor
nation to give, says: "liitherto any testi
mony bearing against MIR. Beecher has sui
jected its givcr to outrageous abuse.
no case will | volunteer my testimony"
would seem, then, that the policy of Ply
mouth church is to crush and not uncover
Fourth-That Mr. Beecher did somethin
terrible his own letters bear witness.
partial explanation of Mrs. Tilton's shar
in the business we are told by the delegat
from Rutland was in killing her unbor
children. We shall coon be favored b
this intelligence from another quarter ths
Mr.. Beechers guilt was in selling peanut
with short measure. 80 Here is richness.
There is skeleton in Plymouth churc
and men must do something besides rattl
its bones to convince the public that it is n
skeleton ut all. Mr.. Beecher's own condut
aud letters made the best of men doubtful
rhe policy of evasion and subterfuge fc
two years has done more than this.
men complain that Mr.. Bowen is not on
spoken before n tribunal, they have equi
reason to complain that Plymouth churc
has repealed with a sneer every tender c
suggestion of such q tribunal as woul
commend itself to fair minded and candi
men. The golden opportunity has bee
lost. At the first a far council might hay
laid the ghost. But since Mr.. B2echer ht
declared he would not go into such hodp
podpe council, we have reason to think ais
that if he were perfectly guiltiess he woul
court inquiry by those not outwardly 81
vorable 10 him, provided they were men {
integrity. General Howard was tried /
democrats and Catholics, and his acquitt
lifted him above reproach. Why does n,
Mr.. t. put himself in the same position
Rather, why has he not done so In the pas
} 1t is no new thing TO say that had Dir.
been only an ordinary mortal and Plymout
church only an ordinary church, a cand
tribunal would have told him at the lea
as the Presbytery did Rev. Mr.. Glendel
ming, owe do not fad you guilty of adu
terry, but We think your conduct has bee
such as to impair your influence, and W
mildly suggest that you 'step down ar
out" The rest of your days had better
spent in keeping of the ragged edge 81
attending to the symptoms of appopleA
/ Above all, do not insure your life again #
one hundred thousand dollars, when in sue
daily fear of DEATH"
Fifth. Congregationalism is to
, judged in its workings by this Beecher bu
mess, then let us bury it at once and 6
up cent subscription for monumen
Men will speak softly of it when dead wi
will laugh it to scorn when living. b
If the system ia still worth anything, Gin,
we have had one council 10 tell lis what Il
scandal is NOT, let us by all means have a
| ntbar 70 tall ito what 10 I,