The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-19
BEECHER AND THE REPORTERS.
How Four Young Men Doomed the
Great Preachers Doctrine.
From the Mem York Telegram.

From the Mem York Telegram.
-Four reporters made most of those
preacher delegates change their teachings
few years ago." said one of the reporters
to others of his ilk in a group at the Metho-
dist general conference more than
that" the speaker continued, these four
men revolutionlzed religious thinking all
the world over"
''Howw every listener asked.
well, the four men, of whom was one,
had all been at Plymouth church reporting
one of Mr. Beecher's sermons for tine New
ork morning papers, and had left the
church together and were crossing to New
DIRK on one of the Fulton ferry boats.
AS we were chatting on the boat one of
the four asked the others what i'll their
opinion, was the strongest and most origi-
nal thought expressed in the morning dis
course. One of the party said the most orig
mai thought was an incidental reference
showing the preachers disbelief in hell of
literal fire and birthstone.
The Others demurred. Each of the four
had been reporting Mr.. Beecher's sermons
for years. as it happened, and as he had
been preaching disbelief in the birthstone
doctrine throughout that time, and we had
all been printing the illusions made to it,
that thought ought not to be considered the
strongest Aside from that it had been
iiiOiO T6L6IToQ 10 ny bIlo STcdO
preacher many times.
"All finally agreed that the hell business
was a Chestnut, but one suddenly pro-
posed that we should let Mr.. Beecher's
OPINIONS on that subject stand out in our
reports, which were in long hand and not
supposed to be verbatim or complete.
"Of course, we didn't conspire to misrep-
resent Mr.. Beecher. but simply agreed to
give everything on that part of the sermon
laax Nt na,.
threads of the discourse in the background
or imprinted
AS we discussed the matter surprise was
expressed by all of us that many sermons
printed previously had not drawn more at
tention to Mr.. Beecner's views on future
punishment, then decidedly unorthodox.
"An of US adhered to the agreement.
One OF the four, in fact, elaborated OIL the
subject beyond the expression made by Mr..
Beecher, though not at variance with his
Ideas as at many other times spoken. The
associated press were getting their New
ork news from the proofs of the paper
which printed the padded report, and all of
1t was sent over the wires from one end of
the country to the other.
The religious press went wild, and
thunders of denunciation won't I'D from
tens of thousands of pulpits. In many of
them Mr.. Beecher was denounced in the
tierceSt manner, and 'Beecher's help became
the theme of discussion in every civilized
land
but Mr.. Beecher stood like rock to the
ideas as we had reported them and his sur
prise that such a storm co I'D be stirred up
about a doctrine he had promulgated for
Yeas was complete.
"But after the skies had cleared-within
year or two-there was no more preach
ing about birthstone and lakes of literal
fire SO you see, fellows, that little CON
spiracy, if it may be called that, brought
aOouU religious revolution. for BeecherS
bittereSt assailantS were soon printing and
preaching identically the same doctrine"
The four reporters are living, and tie one
who recalled the incident told their names