New-York tribune., 1884-12-29
MIR. BEECHER'S CONFESSION
THE TROUBLE IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
An rvAsIvE APOLOGY AND ExrtANAiioN-"hA'
IL THOUGHT OF IT.


An EvAsIvE APOLOGY AND ExPtANAiioN-"hA'
IS THOUGHT OF II.
Im,olled by the trouble in Plymouth Church.
which has steadily grown in proportions since Mf'
p.echer first spoke for Cleveland in the late cam
,aicn. and which was intensified by the defeat OF
ur Rlajne Mr. Beecher made his first pulpit.
reference 20 the matter yesterday. That when
caused most offence IN his campaign speeches was
the statement that IL every man who had Vioia'eo
the seventh Commandment should vote for Cleve-
land he would receive 300 900 majority III TINS sta'o
Yesterday Mr. Beecher took back the statement
pcadng that 1t was made in the heat OF the cam
paign 10 secure votes. There has been growing
toelino IN the church that the many leading mem
bers who have not occupied their pews Tor some
v.eks would not again rent them at the auction on
Tuesday. January g. and thus the receipts OF tine
church for the coming year would be largely re-
dnced This came 10 Mr.. Beechers ears, ana was
the snbiect of anxious consultation between him
ond some of the officers of the church The ont
come Of this was the long personal statement which
he made after the sermon yesterday morning.
A "PrHsONAL STATEMENT
After concluding the sermon, he sah ihat
my sermon Now, have few personal remarks
20 make. On the ips ant there was close atten-
IN eveft pew. aud m oppressive silence hlied INC
tbnreb Mr Iieecher gan speaking SLOWLY;
havt hctn the only pastor o. ,hs church yiici sope
~ the brcihfrn ard fqnndtli iQt noT, an,st ioi8 i8
iirtttf II haa bctn ahIh p,ide vhNh hn{e tipn'rn
= N. tstMsr M ~ y & tnNas , s1 'h' eyn "ts1tsghs
pNigfttet4 Asiiai I. l4'iGlll,h @alt H'ggi Fhass
.tft ~ tfaee 0f eai ~ ti'ipttt4 .; ~ phi 0''tt
...,sGee''gese 'gs II shN sRasii le sN& W. Aatg ga
WIpsb lhb MNs i9A,ypl ,0reihes Rlihe1' Hn'giN
s-tse q 't s' ,' 49, at M $50 50 aeG 'aa Il ~ AaNf
lh4 hlNk Wes nagl y ~ u 5gN, t'tNt - AM
l. r,i ahoui myself aud shaui lp, and tlt future
agrl h.eM now e4,tI,ge M Idgoa 'IG IGht ep kDdg mud
n1lll either Certain Is; lhtNe nelst "". ="
that We're dsconionted 1t is only accidentally hal IN9
three SIX pea2s slst G,e ; nesT or emen
me,nbors, don't know who they are l doh' t c,Itt
neos neou' B1t 80 much has been said that
feel bound 10 say 10 YOU and through he tehe"@e @
been very serious dsqet created in regard 10 ne But
in regard TO my minstrations e r III lhe sapph'n
day or i'm the week night services. No man mas wills
pefed thought that have Introduce INTO my services
W6en tSs omestion Of slavery Was up fet it prudent
aud right discuss that whenever Thought necessary
Of e l"' With he necessity Of education in train
Therefore discussed 1t In the pulpit But me circle oi
trouble just is very small and VIII by ltseI pass
away inevitably in snort time, and therefore h9a II
10 be not fair nor prudent to yeX YOU some ." {"1
NY pulpit. so far 50 g0od
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THE SOUTH.
But l did have this view of my duty TO the public,
felt that the great party which will 90 down to history
crowned with for its works OF educating the con
science of their Nation for liberty for its great work IN
conducting the war and maintaining the sanctty OF the
Union of this Nation; that had concluded the rescte-
proper conditions and channels; hope was that God
would give also the last blossom of honor ana as II
had politically and financially reunited the lana, 80 IL
would have wisdom mnistered to it TO bring IN scnti-
inent OF unity ana OF IoEc, NHcn @ w1 'Ic & NS hen n dnc
and disappointed bitterly when was not th1uSht
tro and felt that IL had again come 10 pass as IT was
III the days Of Israel, when that man VINO haG ie' cn
nd al "a
In ssht OF The Promised Land, was allowed 20 gain
it ad oulv Looked ON that Land Promise God + my
witness that would have shed tears oioy would have
given my lilc- only the Republican lriy conia nave
such sanction OF cordiay as to have made one oi rs
eea Ga4daes & ndn s9lne'5 5 o,, % n If h. oTfT n
they planted, watcrcd and noufIshrd ana lhc' N'lo
deep rs any cycrlnd in ny lifc after long con liberation
and some uncertainty, won't INTO me ti' 49,. hI,ht,
pohy huitcs. Paint Hppausel COD Jn"He "e WH.t
nn When go into any ihng luI in c'ryiti,F lMt j.
A. me- Wn- in deud earnest IN the canvass. ihrM hA
lfc ana nay reputation and Influence 10 nc Winds Nh"
dld cio t9r ihom II onl ho,3nn'ly nl- ito los,
eycr,thng wisely won't sny 1hni made no tpDcrhci
ia Would not now rcgfct, that mndr 80 staicmcuts
iiat would now mako ia better li8ht don't under
tHto tu Hn}
ArotoGlziNG ToR "ePrcfAL ritA.'
There nfc tWo thiura that are bound 10 be conf fard
iofc one on your pat aud one on minc Amor had
boon with you for forty years nearly, yon should nave
id confidence enough In no. and Sou ought lo have had
ranlinesa enough not to take an impctuous speech,
making special plea. nnd drnw it out into another
And for inyscf il WIS suc for mo io hlyo said that
which could lead men as wise as you are ana women AS
good IA YOU arc into making that mcipictHll29' l3n
ought 10 be ashamed on your p1it ana ,o1gl 10 nc
is'mmed on ms part. lslight applau5cl ] in no way
iudcrvaluo the sauctlty and chastity and the purity Of
household lifc ON that subject VIII not be mlsdhch
Time viii do justice You ought TO have done It before
there was amy suspicion of trouble in the matter. |
had right 10 expect better treatment from you IN ihat
hi hiicSii Judgment and endeayo3 we're concerned look
upon them WITH gnteigned appooaon II so iaf a as
tnore were mistakes and errors. and that ! am SorIy
tor them. and apologize for them Applause'l SO
FAREWELL 70 TIE DEPARTING
Now rs 20 the future II the hest men are going to
leave any eethat they can no longer be edled bymy
flinisfaons don't let them sneak away. Let them come
oreny 20 ms fice ana ten me so. ana viii give them
fnv best biesshte aud s1y to them TO 60 hero t1ty
tntk tiod Win Give theih ITS hest ictcouon n aiy
ttaH let theh s,ny in tic true tiiHt
SiN5nghoot, As iafNs. o., wtctnhg 4 c3teeteA
IM1hSB UaHt ! All y la i{tvs,i|8 1 eMlit.5i &
IasiW6sss@3' III B} SiS l8HE3t8 uaf'l siJ8ii i{
If aA 9FtEgss VI iElf Hgi1tiish iigt Y y@
Sthh 9Fs isa. a,i a5i NF .ta.a a.t tiF a.ti}
pals e4AN v tia pl l9g' n VA, VA, il ~ 3'M
IlllilseI My-leauf aaopl y pi{ limt .E!ii' iR
IlhbPs,H a4n 'ias t''i o t'e 'i'i'n tn t' Xxx siit
Than need make yon feaT ! shall have 90 take
siakc It. Natural conisc aid tLen vs. Win cut our coat
according TO the cloth have aud tAe trustees shall
no, hnd a stumbling block Ia their way. Not al all
il | supposed, however that there was major
iy OF the members OF this church aud
ciety-if there was important minony even
that felt that they could no longer derive sus-
tenance and benefit from my preaching aud yet did not
gliway will relieve them Win no Irritation bu ih TIE
Spirit OF true Christian manhood Will 20, and Will study
Inc pcace of church in cyeryway can, even Whcn
am not the pastor IL. But the other hand, II the
great majority of the church wish me To stay. viii die
with yoll and nothing will drive me away from yon Az
plausc.l / came here when young ana AN aun
youug0ld viii stay and mere question OF NiHcOfd-
ant views will nSr'nake dscord bt tween US Ana my
sIpporf-I Won't trouble myself about that. can i've
IlDa.f Inn Inn