The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20
PUBL1C OPINION ON BEEcnER.
The God before whom MIR. Bcccher Swcars-
Why he il so Free In Involving the Deity.

The God before whom MIR. Bcccher Swcars-
Why he IL so Free In Invoking the Deity.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir: In n
late editorial you wisely advorted To the oath
OF II. w Bcccher declaring his innocence before
God. You might also have philosophical upon
It. or. II you pleased, even Theological some
what in this manner:
How serious tho responsibility OF an appeal
to God appeared to him we may learn from Ills
notion Of what God IL. THIS we nnd in his
" Life Of Christ" vol. l. y. 81: "Alan's turo
and Gods nature do not diGer In KIND, hut IN
degree. Of the same attributes" H. proceeds
to disclose that human nature Is Identified with
the divine nature. and says. Ibid, y. 81: " This
Identification OF the divine and human nature
was one of the grand results OF the lncarna-
ton. rms gross Eulychianism he apples also
70 Christ IN whom ITO insert two natures is To
dissolve the charm" that H.. Of the mystery Of
thc incarnation. And To complete his earhinQ
ne says, tbid " A human soul "a not something
other and different from the divine soul"
NOW, III human nature and the divine nature
diner only IN degree, not IN kind. II Is clear that
an oath or an appeal to he divinity Is nothing
more than an oath or an appeal to HIGHER form
Of human nature, or to a human heing In a GER
tain stage of progress; l. c., to Mr. ieecher him
SELF, or to one Of his congregation. His own
words and the necessary logical deduction
therefrom are his judge. According, then. to
Mr. beecher, and according To- those who &C
cept his teaching, an oath derives no sanctity
and imposes no sOlemnity from the invocation Of
the Deity. In fact, strictly speaking, the propo-
sltions taken from his own book leave no place
for the Deity at ali.
Are we to accept this as the doctrine OF the
Congregational Church at present2 A repre-
sentative body of that distinguished dcnoIDina-
ton Is now assembled In brooklyn. There are
many who would be- pleased TO hear their utter
ances with regard to this adulteratiOn OF the
primary Christian truth concerning the nature
OF God. As religion Is intellectual as well as
emotional the points beg to refer TO may be
formulated In TINS manner.
l. Is human nature the same, except In de-
gree. as the divine nature1
=. Is human soul something other and dif-
ferent from the divine soul2
3. Does II dissolve the charm" T. C., the In
carnatiop. to insert two natures in CHRISTI
NEW YOnk, Feb. IL. lNQuIREn.
No More SentimcDiulitv-t:iv us the Facts.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Mr..
Beecher said to his Advisory Council on Friday ::
II there be any angel Of God president and ON
MT, and ia The name Of our common Redecmrr and
tue truth from God Himself
Why does Mr.. Deecher challenge the angels,
and God, Himself Does he think, poor wretch,
that God and His angels are to he brought for
ward as witnesses TO the truth or falsity of the
charges against him? Does he not, rather, know
that, except miracle were performed for his
especial benefit, he might as well challenge the
chair upon which ne sat to speak on his behalf7
What Is his object then2 Is 1t not, by the APP
parently daring expedient OF challenging God to
tho witness stand, TO cause a thrill of conviction
I'm his hearers "a u the innocence OF tho man
who thus appeals directly and denantly to the
Deityr Would the convicted murderer be likely
to escape the gallows by challenging God to tes-
ufy on his behalf
Ileecher knows hia congregation, and may
dOuntless impress many outside his church with
such emotional appeals, but question whether
the people al large, WHO fear God III their hearts,
will not be thus more inclined TO look upon
such form Of challenge as an insult TO the Al.
mighty, and proof Of the hollOwness Of tine
man who uses II. And yet this man, Immediately
after utterng tins defiant note of challenge,
subsidies into the mildest form Of humOleness,
and speaks Of walking with "cloudcd head
until he goes TO heaven, which. he SAYS (as
though Intimate with the movements Of Gods
kiDgdoml, Is mot far OF that H. not Tar away"
lie Is grdciOusly pleased to ." bear Just that lot
that my dear Lord put on me-" He knows
what Is best. ! have accepted There Is
heap OF Beecher!
He speaks Of working for Christ, and the saw
ing of men being his calling. and not to vindi-
cate himself. The working for Christ and saw
Ing OF men Is generally accepted as being the
"calling Of our ministers OF the Gospel nor Is
Mr.. Heecher called upon to vindicAte all his
acts, but he IL called upon. IN this particular in
stance. ana II Is clearly his duty to yindicate
himself, II he can, from charges Of 50 gross a
nature as those before the public.
1t would be better IL Mr.. Beecher would sub
and unobtrusive manner, ana refrain from inter-
rupting discus stons by pathetic seutimtntalism
designed to work upon the feelings Of the weak
minded. and 20 take of the edges Of any coming
points nKeiy to have an adverse bearing on his
interests. II Mr. Beecher H. genuine aud in
earnest In the work Of clearing eff the mud. let
him show II In an Ia )nest. open, unevisive way,
without his Shrewd catching II chances and
minus the power OF his eloquent appeals to the
sentimental side Of his hearers. Give us fact
sir, stripped Of all superiluous APPENDICES, and
judge the case 10 the open hght OF day
DOS DAESTRO.