The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-17
Mr.. Deccher's Immunity a Reproach
To Our Civilization.

The London Saturday Rcricir in dis
cussing the BEECHER scandal, makes n re-
mark which expresses II thought that must
have occurred to foreigners generally. IL
is to the effect That the tolerance which Is
shown To conduct like that of Mr.. BEECH
Err even admitting that he is not guilty Of
the specific crimes charged against him.
affords an Indication Of a general unsound-
ness Of opinion and morality in this
country.
To many people il is oXasporatiug 70 have
their national faults exposed by foreigners,
but the fec..!!...- shows a false sensilveuess.
So long ~ the fault does indeed exist, who
socvcr points it out deserves our thanks
rather than our III temper. The distant
observer of n people may get such per-
spcctivc Of their life and character ~ TO
enable him 10 put things in their proper
relations better than one who lives among
the people, and who. though he may be
better acquainted with their springs of
action, is yet too near to them to study ~
whole the result.
What the saturday Rcricr says in regard
to the low tone Of opinion and morality in
this country. as evinccd by the tolerance
| OF MT. Dtt'HIN III Tue pulpit, Hll MS
indecent conduct there. l. unfortunate
| ~ too true. II, however, fails to give
us credit for the great public protest
against such II scandalous proceeding which
has gone NJ ever since the cowardicc, lacl.
of dignity. and untruthfune-s OF Mr..
BEEcHER were proved. The best opinion
of the country is in truth outraged by his
enrontory in continuing to occupy a promi-
ncnt place as a public teacher of religion
and expounder OF Christianity, after he has
by hi own confessions proved himself un-
fiji 10 enjoy the confidence Of any class Of
| people whatsoever
over against this, IL must be acknowl-
edged, stands arrayed the tolerance of n
| large class which clnMis for itself not only
respectabihty, but also piety. These peo-
pie seem to have hides which are i'm
penctrabe by logic evidence, good taste.
or sound reason. They pretend to think
Mr. BEECIIER not only Gmltess of adultery
and perjury, but also innocent ofany note
worthy offences against morals orpropricty.
| Yet this man, even If he did not debauch
his parshioner IL loaded with such offences.
| II he was the true type of the American
minister, it would be the duty of the public
teacher to cry out for the shutting up of
all our churches, and to mould public
| opinion into detestaton of the whole
| clerical class Yet because he has iTagi-
nation. is capable OF fervent exhOrtltiOn,
can make touching prayers, has the art OF
stirring up peoples feelings, is what is
| called a magnetic orator aud fertile crea-
| tor of illustrations and "A man Of extraor-
| binary power, thousands OF men who
esteem themselves good citiz ms and good
Christians, sound OF Judgment and shrewd
critics Of character are foolish enough TO
declare that he is "A NJ Christian preacher
and that those who denounce his eilroutery
III remaining in the pnlpit are hls cruel
prosecutors. People sometimes write to
us complaining that we are too severe to
MI BELCHEM Too severe to man who
has proved his unhtncss foI the Chl istan
ministry 10y lying ana loose behavior, aud
yet continues Ia il, ana All the time justi-
lCs his Indecent conduct, never once ~
much ~ apologiziug for it, Too severe 10
condemn preacher who refuses to try
members OF his church who openly accuse
him of adultery and perjury, aud to prose
cute men whom he has had indicted for &c
charging him The notions these people
have of what is tOlerablc and what de,
J saIyes "epslue must he strangely askew