Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-11
HENRY WARD BEECHER
WIthdraws from the Associations of Con.
RreEafiODaI Churches of New
York and Brooklyn.
And Explains at Length His Reasons
TnerefOr-A Plain Exposition of
His Religious Views.

New YORK, October I0.-The autumn
meeting of the New YORK and Brooklyn
Association of Congregational churches was
opened this morning, at the Park Congrega-
tional Church, Brooklyn. Rev. J. G. Rob-
| erts, OF the Rochester Avenue church Off
ciated as moderator. aud Mr.. Stiles scted az
| secretary.
Rev. Mr.. Beecher who had been assigned
to open the discussion OF the subject of spir-
| itual barbarian, made it the occasion of an
nouncing his withdrawal from the member
ship of the association. He delivered an
| elaborate ex position OF his beliefs respecting
the doctrines of the Bible and Christianity.
| He assigned as his reason tor withdr wing
from the association, that as a christian gem
tleman he could not afford to lay on any
| body the responsibility of his views. He
could not afford especially to put the asso-
citation in such position that they were
obliged to defend him. He could not make
| them responsible in any way, and therefore
he now here, in the greatest love and sympa-
| thy, laid down his membership, and should
go forth, not to be separated from Them
| but really 10 bs nearer them. He
should do anything for them. He
never was in warmer personal sympathy
| with them than he now was, but he laid
| down the responsibility that they had borne;
he took it off them and put it on himself.
Mr.. Beecher explained that he ma de this ex-
POSITION III OIucT 10 meet the loose general
representation and Misrepresentation in re-
spect TO what he believed and taught. He
held that view that had been presented by
the pagan Greek barbarians one of the most
barbara, that is, iufsnIile Ignorant coucep-
tions was the empassivity of God,
conception that perfection of character re-
quired; that being should not be susceptible
TO pain Of any kind, TO sorrow or suffering.
The divine heroism muet stand in the power
of God IN ami Tar and ia he nd
force of the atoning life and death OF Jesus
Christ. Right over on the other side was
another element springing from a barbaric
nation, and not from athletic namely,
that God is clothed with human passions
Terms of that kind were not wanting in the
Old Testament, but men had constructed
their conception of God from the ex-
ample of their animal inclinations
and appetites, not from the example of their
reason and their moral sense, and so We had
barbarous conception, and that was spirit
ual barbarism. The whole view of God
which was laid down in the confession OF
faith Of the Westminster school in relation
to DEGREES and in relation to the whole pro-
cess and operation of divine grace Mr.
Beecher held that view OF the character of
God TO stand over against the representa-
tion of God as made by the Lord
Jesus Christ frightfu lGorgon stood over
against the head of an Apollo in the heather
mythology. He held it 10 be monster in
the place OF a loving master and master of
love. He rejected it with an Impetus that
touched the very foundation of his soul.
Then the doctrine of mans moral and physi-
cal inability TO obey the laws of God he re-
jected. He also rejected the representations
OF future punishment, which were
gross and physical, that were made
from the sensuous Roman school. He
believed in future punishment, he believed
that the wholesome and restrsining influence
of that doctrine had been very largely de-
stroyed by substituting a slaughterhouse no.
lion, a gross, carna, corrupting and diabol-
ical representation of hell aud the suferings
OF those who were subjected to them. SUI
fering would be not bodily, as he held, men,
tai, according TO the laws of moral seusibil-
ity apd all the affections; not machine
OF sulphur and fire, deluge OF
devils, and all manner of ANNOYANCE
as represented in the art of Angeles Il asst
Judgment" and represented more atomina-
bly, and inexcusably by Cornelius and the
German school. That was barbaric. He re-
gardsd also the whole doctrine Of original
sin as found in the fall Of Adam as being
barbaric; that is, as the conception OF men
that were ignorant and uneducated
on this subject. 1t was not used
ssingle time in the whole scope of
instructions OF all ages of the Old Testament.
You could never ma IL IN the Old 1esta-
ment. You cannot look through all the
teachings OF the four gospels and find single
passage that, except by wide inference and
misoonstruction, can be applied TO it.
You can find it only in Pauline
writings. He accepted without analy-
sis the Trinity. Any attempt to
divide the functions was futile. He
believed in the Providence who rules human
life by and through natural laws Christ
was infinite within finite Limits, and taking
His place as a man became subject to the
laws Of time, space and matter. He believed
fully, without a break or single line of
tremulous alteration, in the divinity OF
Christ. Christ was God manifest in the
Haah