New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-26
PERSONALITIES IN THE PULPIT.


rectly reported as denouncing Monsignor Capel
from the pulpit as an embezzer" 1t is certainly
no matter of surprise that the English prelate
should resolve to prosecute the Brooklyn
preacher for libel. 1t Is quite true that there
has been more or less unpleasant talk In Lon
don about Monsignor Capel and that silly
section of our fashionable society gave their
guest the greatest consideration here about the
time he seemed to be in the least esteem at home.
Nevertheless, IL the accuser had not clear
proof of the crime which he alleges, his attack
was the grossest possible abuse of the privileges
of the sacred rostrum. We take it for granted
that he had heard the charge, on what he be-
lieved to be satisfactory authority. But clergy
men Of polemical turn of mind are so ready
to defend gospel truth by rash assaults upon
thculogic adveTsaries that we always regard
these violent personalities with suspicion.
They used to be much more common than they
are now. Forty or fifty years ago, public de-
bates on religious questions were in fashion.
Rival denominations pitted their champions
against one another on the platform, and the
VARYING fortunes Of the discussion and the
vieor and adroitness of the contestants were
watched by the crowd with delight which is
lizards. The shelves of theological Libraries
and second hand bookstores are encumbered
with dusty volumes of such oral discussions"
which never did any good to either side, but
left behind only obstiDacy, unchartableness,
and rancor. Whoever will be at the trouble OF
reading few chapters of them, after the lapse
of a generation has Gained the passions they
excited, will generally be struck by their fulfil
ity. In most cases both parties seem to he
more intent upon dalectical victory than
upon the discovery Of truth willing even to be
not quite frank if they can but promote the
holy cause by discOncerting the adversary
And as this wretched attitude is quito obvious
to the reader, nobody's opinions are changed
by following the exhibition. We believe that
these old reports OF debates are not in favor
now even with the religious bodies under
whose auspices they were originally published.
The vulgarity OF the controversies was often
shocline. When DIR. lafterward Archbishop
Hughes held his famous oral discussion with the
Rev. John Breckenridge In 1885, the bad lam
guage was carried to a disgraceful extreme.
The worst Of II was omitted from the printed
report but charges of falsehood, dupliclty,
cowardice, etc, still disfgure the volume. DR..
Breckinrdge calls Father Hughes black
guardn and twits him with his lOwly origin !;
and the priest, IL must be confessed retorts In
kind. We fatter ourselves, as We turn over the
foul pages reekng with personal abuse IN
italics and capitals, that such wrangliDg would
hardly be tolerated in our day,-indeed it was
barely tolerated in 1S35,-but many of the So
called religions newspapers still display an I'M
christian temper. want OF decGrum, and for
getfuness Of the responsibilities of language
which must surprise the ungodly, il the ungodly
ever read them. And DR.. Fulton has set us
wondering whether even the pulpit has been
entirely reformed
We trust, whether we are to be edited by a
clerical libel suit or not, that Monsignor Capel
at any rate will not make the mistake of plung
ing into personal controversy. 1t seems to us
that a libel suit between preachers marks
distinct advance In civilization over the old
method Of exchanging obiurgations. Character
is essential to the usefulness of clergyman, and
he cannot refuse to defend II without sacrificing
interests higher than his own. An appeal to
the dispassionate judgment of a court of law is
at once the most dignied and the most effect
ual means of repellnga SANDER. And al
though it may appear to foreigner that we
rather like personal quarrels in this country,
we beg M0nsignor Copeland we may as well
say Dr. Fulton, toO-to remember that we draw
the line at editors. We always object to dog
fight in q church.