The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-18

From the New York Herald.
| Mr.. Beecher's declaration before the
New York and Brooklyn Congregational
| association on Tuesday has caused no in
| considerable stir, not only among minis
| tiers but among laymen. Yesterday in va
l rious parts of the city, even In the early
| morning when it was to be supposed that
business men and others had scarcely had
| time to look into what may be termed the
ecclesiastical news of the day. ibIr. Beechers
new confession of faith was the subject of
4 discussion and comment. On the cars, in
1 the offices, in the streets, in hotels, his
l definition of his position was regarded as
remarkable, and the report of the Brooklyn
church was again and again referred to as
debate waxed warmer. Many persons were
of the opinion that the popular preacher
had been contemplating the step he had
taken for many years and had been urged
to preci plate it by some recent re-
marks made by his congregation; others
that he thought the time was ripe for a
new departure. The Rev. DR.. Watkins
viewed it as supplement, or the iteratioa
of which he had written some time ago in
the North American Reoseso. All looked
upon it as bold and manly step. A few
religious persons were timorous of express
ing an opinion one way or the other upon
the announcement, aud of these was the
Rev. DR.. John Hall, of the Fifth avenue
Presbyterian church Argument and remark
were confined alone to the Plymouth pas
tors own denomination; those holding
different tenets talked freely and literally
of what Mr.. Beecher had said. His
opinion upon eternal punishment was
shared by some Catholics with whom the
reporter conversed, who failed to see, they
alleged, the justice of God in sending men
into the world to be damned.
Mr.. Beecher was at his farm at Peekskill
yesterday. He was spending the evening
in social enjoyment at the house of neigh
Dor when reporter of the Herald found
him last night The distinguished clergy
mans attention was first called to the fact
that the significance of the resignation does
not seem to be fully understood. cone
newspaper says" remarked the reporter,
chat you have left the congregational
body. Is that SOP"
There is one thing that should be put
right in the front" said Mr.. Beecher, land
that is there is no congregational body.
The Congregational church is not like the
Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal OF any
other of that character. 1t is q union of
congregational churches, each church only
responsible for itself. I think when that
gets properly understood it will clear away
much that seems to confuse the minds of
those who interest themselves in this mat
ter. There is, therefore, in congregation
alism. as an organized ecclesiastical body,
no power whatever that could bring me to
account for anything have said-not even
the triennial congregational council No,
that least of all. If triennial council
were to interfere with the conduct of
pastor of a church it would raise a storm
so big that it would seem like a second
deluge. No. there is only one way in
which disciplinary action of inquiry could
be taken in an ecclesiastical form. Ply
mouth church is still member of the
New York and Brooklyn congregational
association. 1t would be quite proper for
that association to say to Plymouth church
that this matter must be either amended or
satisfactorily explained or it could no
longer remain q member of the association
and Plymouth church would have
to take action thereon. But it
must be remembered what the
Plymouth church is. It is made up of men
and women who represent nearly every
creed, and they are connected with the
church and the congregation simply for the
spiritual profit or instruction they get from
my preaching. 1t would, therefore, not be
very likely that they would do anything
that would separate them from that for
which they were gathered together"
''It is said, Mr.. Beecher," said the repor
ter, chat these views are not so very bet
erodox, and that you are as orthodox as
some Congregational clergymen who seem
to be in very good standing"
Eyes, there is Mr.. Newman Smith, of
Andover, and Mr.. Thayer, who hold very
similar views to myself, and who have
been sustained by the largest and most in
fiuential councils that Congregationalism
has ever known. The trouble has mainly
arisen from my article in the North Amer
lean Review My brother Edward said to
me after had delivered my address before
the association, that if / had expressed
those views in that article it would not
have excited any controversy. But l told
him that in that article / was not writing
sermon; that / was merely put
ting forth a historical statement of religious
progress. The part of the article which is
disapproved by most orthodox brethren is
that where I assert the necessity of recast-
ing or recasting the doctrine of the fall
of man through Adam, and that that
recasting has been rendered necessary by
the evolution theory, and / make similar
statement in reference to the doctrine of
atonement Now hold that evolution is
not substitute for Christianity, but do
hold that it is going to take very
fundamental place in the teaching of chris
tianity.
Mr. Beecher inquired for the latest news
- e. &bo Oh;o a1aofiop apd when told what