New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-11
MIR. BEECHER WITHDRAWS.
LEAVING THE CONGREGATIONAL AssOCIA-
TON

FROM RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS THEOLOGICAL
vIEws-THE RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Mr.. Beecher withdrew yesterday from member
shin in the New-Yorlx and Brooklyn Congregational
Association with which he has been connected since
its formation in 1S47. This association formerly
included all the clergymcn and churches OF the de-
in tho two cities but after the Council
of 1878 which declared some of Mr. Bcechers views
about one-half OF the members OF the
association Withdrew, and. headed by the Rev. Drs
r. s. Storrs, Burlington, Taylor and Scudder formed
the Manhattan Congregational Association. Inc
churches sympathizng with Mr. Beecners theolog-
ical views, however stood by him, and the New
York and Brooklyn Association remained the largest
and strongest.
Mr. Beechcr's action was taken at tho fall meet
ing of the association, held yesterday in the Park
Congregational Church. at Seventh-st. and Sixth
ave-, Brooklyn. 1t was great surprise, as it had
not been intimaied that he would with
draw. The meeting was presided over by
the Rev. DIR. j. @. Roberts The clergy
men present were the Rev. Messrs. Henry
Ward Beecher, Edward Beecher, Henry NJ. Storrs,
j. G. Roberts G. d. Pike. S. b. Halliday. W. e.
Stiles. f. P. Tbwing, W. T. Crofts, S. II. Virgin. II.
n Broadhead, w. H. \. Shannon. j. w. Malcolm,
II. Westervelt and A. WhitlemOre. Mr. Brecher
Barbalism" After routine business had been trans
acted Mr.. Beecher went to the platform. He took
chair, and asked if he might SIT, it was his Gus
tom IN his lecture-roOm, and he believed it con-
formed TO the custom tho Lord. In the beginning
he said that he would make a statement OF his pc
efs and teachings preliminary to taking the step
of withdrawing from the association ms an-
was entirely unexpected by the ma
jorty of those present Mr.. Beecher then discussed
the topic signed to him. lie said that there were
many barbaric ideas in regard to religion. lhey
wero not criminal, but crude. One OF the most BAR
barrie ideas was the impassvity of GOd-that lie
felt no grief or pain. l his was Greek idea, con-
cepion that perfection OF character required that
being should not he susceptible to sorrow OF suffer-
ing.
Mr.. BEECHER's ADDRESS,
After speaking in this limo for some time, Mr.
Beccher said:
7 have nothing 10 hide; I never set myself up ns
orthodox, or NJ TN authority but nave never hidden
my views never formulated Becc ers theology fhe
1,ion Is partly nv iaut aud partly not have
my own ienpnrnent ant my method OF preaching.
/ make many mistakes I am Intense ana earles ana
ot OF necessity sometimcs exaggcrate. wOudn't do
il If / could help 1t. sometimes | am caught up and
carried out Of myself, that say what never could
think in my study see and hear things which cannot
explain. / emit oxp.Gin all do. Let them go; they
correct themselves Tnon there are the reporters al
are not apOstoc NOT AL platonic; they set to do
Gisco,irSe inIo five minutes. They are make
readuble report; they each here roesque passage,
n sentence tnere and must leave much mat Is
tal. don't blame them, bat DO blame tne ministers
shOud write To me aud II what IL reported Is tue
actual statement But instead they write long article
tn Tbe ConGregato ndhst fApplauSe.l No been
NOR, reported Than l--.0metimes well and sometimes
atrocousiy have never held back the tru n when II
" as clear 10 My mental philosophy differs from
what undcres much tneolog.. Men say am incon-
ssts mt not ambitious 10 wear the crown oil ihofns
OF a iosician. But / am content WITH myself.
| vii view Ol hlLHufdNluS from inc
association. max statement Of my views view,
After my carly training theology at home went 10
school, college and he theological seminary Ihere
was filled win dsmay at tue whirlng disputes. At
len sth one memorable might God MAS revealed to me
~ one wro love! me as sinner Int COG, IN b bne
been my desire all my life to serve
lin. mat determined me to 60 on
with preaching. went away to Kentucky ana
l,relched three weeks. Then II nan ana called
me to me LawrenesOurg church. in Indiana There
straw for an OK, and s.rinked it with the meal OF
Chriss love. Flrst Chtst was as star, bus year by
was still New 6cnOo. Presbyterian, bat he'd that
V whatever knew or no., Knew men were siiiuI ana
did good nold to be trlc ana All else rtcced az not
true for fodnd that ai theooSi1s tended to the
same end ana had C1ln1iig sue iol ali iOulu lnre
were tnrec fundamental stand p'nls OF doctrine. INC
hrst Is from the9 'Gy Inc OLD Caiyisc ineqIy i, 'is
most lC@lcu ahI CONSISTENT Tue secOuu ~
the eek scal system. il relates to tue II lntenancc
Oh the huron. rhc Ind Is the stan point of upJuding
men. Ihs relate TO convection OF Hli CONVERSION IIom
s dominant love 20 God and the W building Oi Christian
IttS- are the IuLuJlnCHIdl uOCtfluts IN Il
relieve ia "a personal God ana not pantheistic
God. can't love such God "a AatIhcW Arnold d.
iinV.-a power o.EA5 0f righteousness. lie may love
saen God Our Goa /. beng personal aad accessible
10 lac wants Of believe tnat Glcrc arc clements
enough 70 minister 20 man IN the DIVINE chfacter tat
ku0WaDe, ana yet ticfr arr unknOWabe qualities
Ehow God 10 Is to Walk WIN aim aad
whisper 10 Him, bat cannot inventory His a;ttibuie
Ine mes, feelings cannot De dennr and explained B}
moral intnltiOn ne kno" God and he IL our Cod
accept the tripcfsnnaIty tuc 1rIliy, OF COD mere
not nod al the Nice fe amt iinaSan Creeds. 1
believe one can 20 three and tAr,c Que. 1t cant ue
demons rated, bat 1t follows the analogy OF the world
m The divinity Of LHist without ANY reserve Appu
S %S are Tls as 5GI e p5 Sp'I for An Coz i To
manifest Himself Under Limitations. CHRIST
was "a bape, youth anu man, at tlnts lie must have
let TIC wioIe power o. IFS nature on cert IN days
lut lie God III The hcsn: can't pray to the fster
i pray christ 1ne Ither Is vague and my Thought
au1 ieeiinE are an OF Chrs 80 nave pte3ched and 50
nave "a ght. In my thinking the best Thought Of tue
spirit hs one oi the GOdhead universal influence
goes ont 10 sustain ana STIMULATE tho SOU Ia purity, as
SHINING III the souls O men The influence ot the spirit
- generic, and man makes II specific
laws and also direct use nf GOds "l t. attain Hpcc.hc
ends. use providence Ia my family Everyone uses
fl d | hold that tod can do the same. PRAYER
i, eicenl AID answered Millions are not answered and
but aisJ IN che way dOn'1 20 the faI,h system
-.Aat everything BE- done. / elieye in miracles,
eOnccpinn ana tue resurrection OF CHRIST believe IN
trcse, ald also III evolution They are compado!e. l
nave luuOrcd to lay foundations for belief winch
sccntinC. / believe mah Il mrcrect anu sin Ill., bu.
not to,aly depr.yed lie sins uny by niirmity
also ia stcn a way need 10 be born again. 1De
degree sHunc-s depends Oh various circumstances.
lifted very ngh, and some are kept very low.
NJ an needs be rcgcuciatod to become iull nantO
be fted OF the animal Every nan born needs to De
born AGAIN. ~
| beirye in tine Inspiration OF tne Bible as laid down
in tine Westminster Con essOn, VITA some few eXccp-
Iione The BDc - me recod OF Coo educating steps
with Tao book Is the record OF tne inspiration OF
man The moral Intuition Is needed 10 Illuminate the
lNne IL must be used VITA our reason, with
all our faculties A man mus come 10 tho ora OF God
WIN mis- 90 sense, whether In regard 10 the
ece o. nature or himself Our Is not to be
40 vi uted BOlc bat 10 be used with IL. In
he main accept the statement IN the ist cIaper or
me c JliIessiOu regard Ia tue Bibl:
Ii regard t. the atJnencHt hFc thal Girl l. ne
..tr, Of fuc UOWer FOR saYlns IL pre-