Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-11-28
THE OLD ROOSTER.

Henry Ward Beecher has done some
mighty good work in the world, and some
mighty bad. The mighty bad work that
n Jury could not agree TO acquit him a few
years ago, and that large proportion Of
his fellow country-m men believe HIM proven
guilty of, should have made decent man
a little modest But Beeclcr, since the
shocking scandal Of his trial for the ruin
OF the Tilton family, has gone about boet-
ed and spurred as sort Of Brevet-General
expounder Of the Seventh Commandment
and Emeritus Professor Of Puriety.
Mr.. Beecher is either a very innocent
or a very immodest man. He takes ire
auent occasions-he seems to seize occas-
| ions-in his two frequent sermons TO skir-
mish along 'lhe ragged edge" of those top
ics whicl, delicate men prefer 10 avoid IN
the pulpit. He breaches against incon-
thence with mn air of as much authority
as if he had been acquitted by jury of
| his peers. With this hideous episode Of
his history IN the minds of his hearers, his
display of cheek 10 sublime in its vastness.
| The man who can doubt whether this il
the cheek OF immodesty or the cheek Of
innocence il himself innocent enough to be
translated bodily.
Mr.. Bee,h her is very emotional mar.
He weeps with the facility OF the female
nature, and he Is fcrvent in the holy kis'
of miscellaneous tenderness We are no.
clear whether lie has ever had Mysteries ol
not /; but we are sure he might be expected
TO have. If he only had the power Il
blush, all this assortment of womanl,
: qualities would commend him TO respect.
, full pity when he goes off into tantrum
such as lie has been exhibiting himself il
lately with regard TO the case of Stephel
Grover Cleveland and Maria Halpin.
This case he assumed to be similar to hi
own and Elizabeth Tinon's, though Away,
maintaining his own innocence aud admit
ting Cleveland's guilt. How the case
were similar, then, he forgot TO explain
But he declared that ho had promised
when he WINS in the bloody sweat of III,
trial OF that case, that if the Lord uoult
bring him safely out OF ii, he would neve
desert man in the same fix as long as h
lived thus giving himself away, with hi
characteristic gush OF the heart 10 the lieat
by implying that as II was with Henry ant
Elizabeth the same it was with Slepher
and Maria.
Thereupon IL seemed to fash inward or
tnt utNHeEpub VI VIC 1hSN.
that this unguarded mission was the inno-
FASH touched him off with an explosion
that ought not to be heard around til,
world. lie raised himself on the tiplos o
his eloqnence and came down on the heel
of his emphasis, and Numbered ont the Ms
founding ejaculation that he believed
that it was only Beecl,ery confession o
fsitl,-thaJ, IL every man in New Yorl
who had violated the Seventh Command
ment would vote for Cleveland, he woult
carry that State by 100000 majority! A,
much as 10 say that, il ever there was
time when such men should stand together
now WAS the time.
o, the bold big faced, holy naughty old
man, with the sacred silver hair flowing
down over lis leonine neck and militan
Plymouth church, backing him against tn,
world What a lovely pattern after tn
immaculate Redeemer, with those vulga
words uttered 30 as Ia he understood as in.
dulgenccs of popular sin and jeers a
Christian morality. The fast young mel
of the town approve you in The bar room
and livery stables, Mr.. Beecl,er, aud laugl
over you as what they call ian old roost
err" but they do not respect you in thei
hearts. An Old Rooster In the pulpit i
moi to be regarded ss u model Of clrislial
character.
: Mr.. Beecher is man of genius; an,
many in6rmilies are pardoned IN men o
genius. But, when man of genius sgl
himself up for n Christian, he is liable l.
, be as readily suspected Of being a hypocril
. as person OF humber order of intellect
, We apply no epIthcls to Mr.. Beechel
They are not needed lie has given III
measure of himself to the American peu
pie. They know him, and have learne
from himself not TO believe in him. Iii
last exposures oi himself are his worsi. !
, lie was modeai, he wonld withdraw hinse
. from their gaze. lie is old enough 10 b
quiet and decorous; and We would recon
mend TO him lew years Of lle decen
quiet aud decorum Of old age. So, will
proper peniLeace and self modification, h
, might gently pass from the reputation q
An Old Rooster TO the character OF II biesi
| sI alI unUal