Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-01-01
Politics and Religinl,.

The following from New York dis
patch to the Milwaukee Sentinel is in
teresting reading just now, and throws
some light on the efforts made by Mr..
Beecher's friends during the great
Tilton-Beecher trial, to save that gen.
tleman' s damaged reputation, when he
was hanging on the ragged edge of
despair; and shows that they simply
took advantage of the truth of the old
adage ''that money makes the mare go. :"
Henry Ward Beecher is in the midst
of serious time in his church. The
annual pew renting here will occur
Tuesday, Jan. 6, and thirty leading
pew-holders have announced their de.
termination to leave the church and
give up their pews, because of Mr..
Beecher's stand in the recent political
campaign. At the last meeting the
pews sold for $4,000, and it is esti-
mated very closely now that the next
renting will not bring more than S15,-
900, which is 50, 900 less than the pas
tors yearly salary.
Gen. Horatio G. King, speaking for
MIR. Beecher, tonight, said that ii the
greatest pulpit orator in the world
found that any considerable number of
his congregation was opposed to him,
or learned that any combination of
wealthy REPUBLICAN members had been
made to wreck the church and humiIi-
ate him, then he would immediately
resign and leave Plymouth church for
ever. In this event, Gen. King says,
Mr.. Beecher shall have grand new
church in New York city.
A very large portion of the Brooklyn
population is terribly excited over the
new Beecher trouble. and not a few
families are bitterly divided. A prom
inent insurance agent of this city,
who has for many years rented one of
the highest-priced pews in the church,
said:
''As far as regards combination to
put the rentals down, that is all
nonsense. Now, | have heard of a
combination to keep the prices up, and
to that take no sort of exception. [
have had pew in that church for the
last thirty years, and one of the highest
priced pews. When Mr.. Beecher was
in trouble there was combination. and
we put the prices TO $4,000 for the
years rental; bat | shall not retain nv
pew this year. In refusing to do so /
act as an individual. | am in no com
bination, and others, | could name Mr.
Second, Mr.. Tilney, MIR. Pratt, and
many others are far too honorable
TO engage in anything of the kind.
They think too much of the church and
OF Mr.. Beecher to do this l think that
Mr.. Beecher, by his course, has wrecked
Plymouth Church most effectualIy.
have heard of combinations of his
friends to keep the prices of the pews
up, but | think they win not succeed in
doing this. They are too weak, finan-
cially, socially and morally. The class
of men that are leaving this church
just now are the backbone of the in-
stitution, financially speaking. and their
withdrawal VIII lessen the revenues of
the church fully so per cent. Mr..
Beecher has chosen his friends, and he
must take the consequences
''What right have the members of a
congregation to dictate pastors poll
teal course, any more than he would
have the right to pledge their votes?''
was asked.
sit is not that. Mr.. Beecher might
have voted for Cleveland, and no one
questioned that right; but he did more
than that, and did it in an offensive man.
ner. He was distinctly informed that his
course was distasteful TO us who had
stood by him in his time of trouble and
had earned the right of consideration,
and if anything our remonstrance only
intensified his course. He became more
active and aggressive against Mr..
Blaine than before. That is what has
embittered us. Isay 'us, for of course,
although we have not combined we
have exchanged views. That is natural,
being members of the same eongrega-
ton, and Mr.. Beecher having succeeded
in elec.ing his man must henceforth
look to the supporters of that man for
his support. II they can give to him
the countenanee morally, socially or
financially that we have given him |
shall be very much mistaken
Money tells. Mr., Beecher said,
when we rallied around him in his time
of trouble. and those who approve of his
recent course will have an opportunity
to manifest their approval at the next
pew renting.
Money tells. There is no doubt
about that and we feel confident that
the result will justify us who have with
drawn and place the responsibility of
wrecking the church where it belongs
upon the pastor.