New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-05
SENS1TIONAL SERMONS.

There are sensational sermons, and sermons
which make sensation. This is the distinction
made by the hearers, if not by the dictionaries
Connecticut seems TO be furnishing its full
quota of both kinds just now, as well as of
mysterious murders. a New-Haven clergyman
has just been attracting attention by de-
nounCing by name the "probable murderer
of Rose Amber. This was sensational SER
mon in the worst sense Of the term. clergy
man in Hebron, the Rev. G. b. Cutler, has been
denouncing but not by name, member Of his
congregation who had been divorced three
times, and was sitting in his pew at the time
with his fourth wife. This deserves to be
classed rather MS n sermon which made sem
sation; and, if the preachers motives were
good and he was sure of his facts, ought he not
To be commended for having the courage to
speak boldly and openly what too many clergy
men would have been afraid to speak of at all
or anywhere
The act required courage. The poIygamous
member was one Of the wealthy and active men
of the church. The case was fragrant. There
seems to be no question OF the fact that this
man had managed to divorce his wives IN sue
cession when he found woman more to his
hiking than tho one he was living with. No
doubt many clergyman has been confronted
with case presenting some OF the same per-
plcxities. What il a minister to do when a
man, whom he believes 10 be n hypocnte
and even Of immoral life, conforms himself to
all the outward requirements of the Church.
aud pushes forward in religious work lie
cannot countenanco and encourage such a mem
Der without seeming, perhaps TO others rs well
as himself, to be partner in the mans hypOc-
risv. Yet how can he prove that the member
is not all that he Processes to BET And docs
ne not run great risk in assuming to decide
upon the sincerity and morality of his parish
toner's The Hebron clergyman evidently felt
that he had definite case to deal with. One
of the divorced wives was also member OF the
congregation, and the latest divorce, prepare
tory TO the latest marriage, took place before
the eyes of the people of the place. lie spoke
with such plainneSs that the member in ques-
ton. though not mentioned by name, has
brought suit for damages. Perhaps many will
say that such a pointed rebuko was indiscreet
and in bad taste. II so, the Apostles were fire.
ouer tly unwlse and vulgar. The first teachers
of the Christian religion always called n spade
a spade.
Mr.. Cutters sermon will do public service
if it turns attention again to the disgTaceiul
laxity upon the subject of divorce, which is far
too prevalent in the Protestant denominations.
One of them, the Episcopal Church, recognizes
divorce, with the privilege of rcmarying, only
where the divorce was for lnhdelty, in which
case the innocent party, of course, is alone per-
mittcd to remarry. But even the clcrEymen of
that denomination do not always regard the
strict letter of the canon, or are careless in
making inquiries. The other Protestant
churches have still much to learn, and much to
do, ia this matter, toward making the marriage
tie more sacred. 1t is said that Hebron has
large number of divorced persons for place OF
its size, and perhaps the preacher felt that the
time had come to speak out. The evil which ho
attacked has prevailed largely in his own Sec
ton, and the case which he cited was striking
example of the kind described by the Rev. Dir.
Bacon In his famous article on Polygamy in
ew-Englandn Certainly the practice of
easy marriage and easy divorce is not to he dis
tinguiahed in morality from the main feature
of Mormonism because it is carried on IN Con-
nccticut or Massachusetts, ana not III Utah.