New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-15


II that that sustans hm-either believing him innocent,
or making itself accOnplice in his guilt. Therefore
either by pure assumpton or fair trial prof. Dwight
cannot be for supposed to teacb the rlght OF
sister churches without shadow OF evidence 10 assume
so monsrous n fact the moral corruption OF minister
aud whole church, Therefore he teaches that IN such
it Is Congregational for sister ehurc hes 10 nvestl
rate all allegations made against the moral character OF
the pastor order determine whether they ought 10
of its adherence TO him! And since the only
way IN which this can be done j. by council ne teaches
that this may be done by council And THIS Is the AhdO-
s. Prof Dwight ia faeetous as to IN parte Council
which he In the distance trying Mr. Beecher As no
Council so constituted, has ever been proposed lor se1
work. his suggestion seems to be "a ilger INTRODUCED
into public park" for the purpose OF making very
easily scared people stand aehast." Concerning all
which II Is enough say, his grandfather sid more
than sixty years ago OF something in The Ed6urg Re
rie'o These declarations are certainly uttered III d
sprightly manner; but they are untrue ,
Finally venture 20 express the conviction that should
Pro Dwight ever reach the age and-a much more dlI'
icult task-tle wisdom OF the ycneraicd man whose
name he bears he will look back with regret upon the
spirit OF some things which he has allowed himself 10
say in these letters, and Will wish that he had given his
distinguished consideration" to those underlying
principles and facts which before all thoughtful minds
deavcr TO make the unskillfui laugh" II. ~ d.
Aprd, ., 1876.
LETTER FROM PROF s. c. BARTLETT.
A RELY TO PROF. TIMOTHY DwIGHT-A FAIR IN
YEsTIGAuoN OF THE SCANDAL THE ONE THING
NEEDED.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: Will you allow me space for a cOrrec-
tor In his recent letters THE TRIBUNE crcu-
lated in pamphlet FORM Prof Dwight has referred often
10 me and my opinions do not propose to contro-
vert his arguments which to quite Vulnerable,
nor even to recy inadequate statements and quo
tations. But there Is OF his assertions OF sufficient
importance and public interest to call for distinct de
NAL In his third letter he processes to set FORTH with
sarcasm the 'plan OF tho Council advocated by
the Andoyer Church, Dr. Dexter, myself and others
and he describes it in these words and others to the same
effect:
1.-THE plan viii easily exclude the only persons from
the tribunal TO whom any one can objcct-te believers
In tie innocence Of the pastor OF Plymouth Church-and
will include representatives OF al other classes Of per-
soma" 1.-THE difficulty in H. e. the objection to all other
investigations which have been either held proposed,
has been that they involved the actual possible pres
OF some persons whose previous belief lid been that
Nr. Becchcr was innocent"
This is proclaimed plan; and objection to
all other plans Now | have 10 say that In article
lCongreqdfondlist, Feb p which Prof Dwight repeat
eddy quotes. there this explicit statement Of my
plan:
1t the Council must not be unwicdy in size, as
to cmbarrass business" but "a select body comprising
wisdom and skill. and commanding confidence" " The
Council must be liable 10 suspicion Of being packed
An individual supposed 10 look favoribY. and one
supposed 10 look adversely, 'Ir B,cchers side
would help rather than hinder right result: but there
titlll OF lltl th Uf hi WIN dNNfe uil HHNl'l'u
Of plr-l1sh.p to constitute the body Of the Council
AMI such should De selected flr possible Il should
bc so composed rs 10 carry weight Unknown men, how
excellent. mus, not constitute the chief element Of
ti. Council The gravity Of the case the emncnce Of
tc PERSONS. the worldwide interest the difficulty Of de
c,irn lay claim 90 the services OF men whom the coun
try knows aud concs In. such those Of Mark
Hopkins. Run, Anderson and President wool.cy should
not De omitted" IL should be council composed Of
men 81 established and national reputation FOR Impair
tall.v wisdom and Justice - u select body comprising
wisdom and s'iu and commanding confidence"
In another article. which Prof Dwight also quotes
(I.doy.nden March %. slid with the italics " con-
plcte and searching investigation by body u6orc aH
os,b> ssyeion Of VeaHcss bias, IA concession 20
Foolish imperative necessity for the wise and
the good"
Ihayc steadily spoken IN this strain. and never written
one sentence. him, implication To- the contrary. Tho
same tnln- q, true 20 far aware, ~ the other
persons mentioned by Prot. Dwight. We have simply
asked ior % complete thorough, and impartial nycs,a-
ton of t. sal case We take thar position openly aud
firmly still We that IL .s the only right and
yl.r courc and We believe that there will nor
can be E,ttlament tll such an inyc5tgition Is
had But how Pro-. Dwight, With those uttcrnccs
before Do. eyes aud standing IN the responsibilities Of his
high position A. wei Of the sad and solemn subject,
could flaer himself TO make statement so wholly ut
variance with Tie fact, VIII not undertake to explain
But 10 may not Dee improper 20 say tat the mos, unwisc
things that NJ B,cchcgs special advocates can do are TO
refuse such FAIR Investigation the community de
MINDS aud to represent the motives anl positions Of
those who demand the investigation, unless indeed he
be guilty Of m crimes charged upon him. In this last
casc probably would be the safest II Is the common
est course.
Al that f. desired In connection with this sad affair."
and let respectfully say 10 Prof Dwight from those
who discuss IT, IS the truth. the whole truth, and nothing
bu; the truth. When shall we have IL
SAMUEL c. BARTLETT.
Chicago Tke0!o7icGl Seminary APRIL 10, 1876.