Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-02
n.echer on bad. roll,ionI Cour.c.

At the close of his sermon last Sunday
morning Henry Ward Beecher referred to
the dissatisfaction in Ply mouth church over
his course in the Presidential campaign, and
especially to his remark that If all those who
had violated the seventh commandment
should vote for Cleveland his majority would
be POO 600
81 don't know, he said, how extensive
the trouble is. l don't care about knowing
who the disconnected members are, or wheih.
er they number four, i've, or forty, but there
has been serious discomfort in regard to me
although not in regard to my illustrations.
As to my late political course felt that the
great party which will go down to history
crowned with honor for Its works would re-
ceve the last blossom of honor If it brought
in q sentiment of unity and love for every
part of the country. This WAS the very best
thing to be done. | was bitterly disappoint.
ed when this was not thought Of. God is my
witness l would have shed tears of Joy and
and laid down my life if only the Republican
party had put iuto its platform a welcome 10
the South and had made southern man
one of its great candidates. | WAS in dead
earnest in the canvass. That did every
thing wisely don't say.
II don't undertake to say that | made
speeches which do not now regr t. There
are two things bound to be confessed, one on
your part and one on mine. You should not
have taken one impetuous speech and have
drawn it into another application. 1t was a
shame for you to have done it, and it WAS
shame for me to have said that which could
have led men Ms wise as you are and women
as good you are into making that interpreta.
tiou. l in no way undervaue the sanctity of
chastity and the purity OF the household life.
Time will do me justice. So far rs my po-
irAf ,a.Vk nd Il.
cerned they have my unfeigned appreciation,
but 30 far as the execution Is concerned &C
knowledge that mistakes aud errors were
committed, aud l am sorry for them and
apologize for them.
"As to the future, if the best men are 60
ing to leave, if anybody feels that he can no
longer be edited, don't let them sneak away
let them come up openly and tell me 30, and
l will give them my last blessing.
''As far as the pew renting Is concerned, IT
is said that / am to be rebuked by dminu-
ton of the funds. You can'trebuke me in that
way. would be glad TO have the funds from
pew renting as large or larger than they were
last year, but If they are cut down one half
l will say to the trustees Cut me down,
too, and cut down everything / came here
on $1,000 year, and l can 80 back to $500
and live happy, and, if you can't afford to
pay me that, will support myself. Let the
pew renting take its natural course, aud then
we will cut our coat according to the CLOTH
The trustees will not find me a stumbling
block. II majority or an important minor.
ity of the members feel that they can no
longer receive sustenance and benefit from
my preaching, and do not go away, will re-
lieve them. In the spirit of true Christian
manhood l will go. But if the great MAORI.
ty of the church wish me TO stay, l will die
with you, and nothing will drive me away
from you. l can live on a good deal less
than am now living on. II you want me
you can have me, but you have got to receive
me, not on pitchfork but on the palms of
| your hands never laid pipe in my Life. -