The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-20
Letter from Row. James Gibson Johnson,


Letter from Rov. James Gibson Johnson.
Editor Of Vermont Chronicle 1t was
DR.. johnson, think, who declared that
the hardest thing in the world TO get at, is
a fact. Many accounts have been given
by different members of the great council,
and the world still wonders what was the
secret of such changes as are recorded in
the convictions of many minds.
1t was not a packed council in any i'm
proper sense, and yet it was, as it was
plainly intended to be, composed in great
measure of Mr.. Beecher's friends. Rev.
Lyman Abbott writes to the Adudnce that
lit is probably true that only Mr.. Beecher's
friends are called upon it," OF whom
should he ask advice, Mr.. Abbott reasons,
if not his friends? SO there was from the
very beginning prevailing sentiment IN
his favor. 1t was unquestionably very
strong. 1t affected debate. 1t required
good deal of nerve to face the peculiar and
Immediate dsapprobation which met any,
thing which opposed this sentiment. There
were, doubtless, very few who were in
clined to face it. One energetic lay brother
closed speech with words like these IF
there is any one here who does not believe
in Mr.. Beecher's innocence, bring him out,
let US look at him with a microscope" and
his not very witty words were greeted with
applause. There was little that could real.
ly be called debate. Most of those who
would naturally discuss measures, we're
honestly and earnestly working to give
Mr.. Beecher all possible benefit from the
council. Minor points Of expression were
opposed, but main points were accepted as
first offered, generally. Perhaps the only
point which was really discussed, was
whether the council should advise further
investigation, but by the time that question
came to be settled, the evident demand for
it was acceded to by these who were at
first disnclined to grant it, and there was
no opposing vote of any size. On the ques-
tions of law--as regards the way of
constituting a mutual council-and the pro-
position from Andover, there was little dis
position to contend with the learned men
who chose to be responsible for such con-
structons of Congregational law, and many
to whom they seemed new or unwiee could
only take refuge in silence when the vote
came.
When such an atmosphere existed inside
the council, and when the members were
met on every hand with new points of tes-
timony, "important, if true" in regard to
Mr. Beecher's character and the character
of his assailsnts, and in regard to circum-
stances favorable to his innocence and
when Mr.. Beecher's eloquent statements
and appeals and offers of the fullest and
freest exposure of himself to inspectlon are
all considered, it will be seen that an in
tluence of immense power was brought to
bear on doubtful minds. 1t was very
moving No one could help being affected
by it. No testimony was brought up, no
word was spoken, except by Mr.. Bowen,
on the other side. Many had expected to
find easily the weak point in Mr. Beechcrs
srmor, and they found none. They ex-
pected to see little cunning fellow, with a
cloven hoof, in Mr.. Sherman, but they
found gentleman of consummate ability
frankness and desire for investigation.
They were impressed with the integrity of
the committee OF investigation, who &C.
quilted the pastor in 1878. They were told,
| as many Of the brethren have reported to
their churches at home, that the people and
clergy of Brooklyn believed in The purity
of Mr.. Beecher. Having no knowledge to
the contrary, and recognizing the demands
| of charity and the chivalry of a defence of
| one who was the victim of his own genius
| and of evil men, their doubts were swept out
| of sight. 1t proves their generosity that they
| were.
Yet 1t is necessary to say that not one
word OF evidence was given them which
bears on the subject. This is as true of the
statement purporting to come from Mrs.
Moulton and Mrs. 1iltop, as those spoken
| by Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. Sherman. 1t
sounds ungracious to BAY it, and yet It is
true, that not one word was spoken there
which was not just as consistent with a
theory of guilt as theory of innocence.
| Those gentlemen of the council were called,
not to be persuaded of tEe'purity of that
great man, but to advise some plan which
should make his purity plain to others.
| Notwithstanding all the assertions by the
brethren who came home, of doubts cleared
away, IN language which betrays the origin
of their persuasion to be the bewitching
rhetoric of the great preacher, what was u
mystery before is still a mystery. And
whatever was and is mystery, Mr..
Beecher is himself responsible for. When
he says, as he did so feeliDgly, that he 10
tired Of community in which there Is no
moral reaction-tred of men who have not
among them some one great enough to rise
and say, "There has been enough of
this, it must STOP" it should be remem-
bercd by him that there are more per
sons in the world than his friends and his
enemies. There is great class who are
neither, who are very tired also, and who
do say there has been enough OF this, and
who beg him for the sake of the church
and the name of Christ, which they love
better than they love him, to allow the
world to know what reasons there may DO
to hold him innocent, to outweigh the rea-
sons there are to hold him guilty.
He said in open session that there were
three things which Mr.. Bowen might have
meant when he said that he could say that
which wonld drive the Plymouth pastor
out of Brooklyn in twenty-four hours.
"One,' he said, "lay at my door, another
at his, and a third lay elsewhere Know
ing Mr. Beechers disregard of convention
alities, and knowing that there are such
persons as Paul calls "silly women +" In
every large parish, lis easy to suppose that
unfortunate facts may exist, which could
give rise to scandal, and yet involve no
guilt. The theory is, that the magnani-
nous preacher bears this rush of :" new
evidence" and this endless current of in
situation of "bottom facts" in order to
shield such women. But infinitely more
than their comfort is imperilcd by silence,
6nd he is paying none too heavy penalty
il he continues 10 sacrifice the honor of the