The New York herald., 1876-03-12
Religious Press Topics.

Three leading topics command the atten-
ton of the religious press this week. These
are the Plymouth Advisory Council the
smash-up in the Cabinet at Washington and
the Purim festival. The Jewish press treat
the latter in its benevolent and in its humor-
GUS aspects, ut the same time declaring, as
the Hebre,D Leader does, that the Haman
spirit still exists and has lost none of it's
vigor 1t crops out in everyday life, despite
the progressive spirit of the age. The popu-
larity of the festival is accounted for by the
Messenger by the custom of mirth- making
and giving presents to the poor, which is
very largely done on this occasion; and with
out the last named feature the Times thinks
there would not be much merriment. In
deed, there could not be, it says, so long as
thousands of their brethren were suffering
for lack of the common necessaries of life.
The Advisory Councils secret history has
little light thrown on it by the Christian
Union, which tells us that the Council was
not chosen by Mr.. Beecher nor by Plymouth
church, but by two clergymen of this vicin-
ity, who undertook the work at the request
of Mr. Beecher. OF the two hundred and
thirty-seven delegates seventy-fve came
with strong prejudices against Plymouth
church and its pastor. The final report was
twice discussed, amended and recommitted
to the committee of nine, and then to
fresh committee of nine; and its present
features are the result of at least fifty minds.
It's work was thorough and the body was
thoroughly harmonious, though differing
widely in thought and in Interpretation,
and its spirit was emphatically one of prayer.
The Evangelist thinks the Council only
further entangled the whole of this ex-
traordinary case. which involves such mo-
mentous consequences to the peace, the
purity and the prosperity of SO many
Christian churches. The Evangelist ex-
pointed by the Council or Plymouth church
may yet unravel the dread secret, if there be
one, and fully acquit Mr.. Beecher. The
Observer is surprised and sorry that
Plymouth church should have declined Mr.
Bowen's offer to reveal the bottom facts in
this mysterious case. But if the church
and Mr. Beecher now desire to get at those
facts they have only to indict Mr.. Bowen for
slander, says the Observer and the whole
thing will be revealed. The Northwestern
Christian Adrocate regrets the character of
the Council, whose results are, ON the whole,
favorable to Mr.. Beecher; but it thinks the
end is not yet
The smash-up in the Cabinet, or the Wash
ington shame as the Independent calls it, is
also discussed by that and other journals in
very condemnatory language. The bdepen-
dent doubts if the fathers of our nation would
ever have given to its capital the pure name
of Washington if they could have foreseen
the disgrace which now eclipses its honor.
But it is glad of the exposure and says it will
be blessing if the downfall of one leader of
fashion leads to some little return to repub-
lican simplicity. The lesson to be learned
is the oft-repeated one that the way Of the
transgressor, whether in public or private life,
is hard. And we are glad of it. The Baptist
Weekly draws it mildly for Mr.. Belknap.
The whole sad story, the Weekly thinks, is
only a new echo to the warning, 'Let him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall" and another illustration of the Scrip
ture, "Be sure your sin will find you
out" The Free1ndn'S Journal with
logic peculiarly its own, charges "the
breakdown in Grants Cabinet to the
influence of Professionalism and the public
schools. 1t fails to point out the relation
of cause and effect or the connection between
religion and education and dishonesty It
should have completed its arraignment and
made it clear The Christian lnteLliOencer la