Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-21
BEECHER AND THE REPORTERS
How -Four Young Men Doomed the Great
Preachers Doctrine.

How -Four Young Men Doomed the Great
Preachers Doctrine.
Ns,0 TOrk Tl.grGm
-Four reporters made most of those
preacher delegates change their teachings
a few years ago, " said one of the reporters
to others OF his ilk in gronp at the Meth
odist general conference this week. more
than that" the speaker continued, these
four men reyolutionized religious thinking
all the world over"
How" every listener asked.
"well, the four men, of whom / was
one, had all been at Plymouth church re-
porting one Of Mr.. Beecher's sermons for
the New York morning papers, and had
left the church together and were crossing
to New York on one of the Fulton ferry
boats.
"As we were chatting on the boat one OF
the four asked the others what, in their
opinion, WAS the strongest and most
original thought expressed in the morning
discourse. One ofthe party said the most
original thought was an incidental refer
ence showing the preachers disbelief IN q
literal hell of fire and birthstone.
"rhe others demurred. Each OF the
four had been reporting Mr. Beecher's ser
mons for years, as it happened, and as he
bad been preaching disbelief in the brim-
stone doctrine throughout that time, and
we had all been printing the allusions
made to il, that thought ought not to be
considered the strongest. Aside from that
it had been more specifically referred to by
the great preacher many times.
San finally agreed that the he'll bust
ness was a CHESTNUT but one suddenly
proposed that we should let Mr.. Beecher's
opiuious 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 mis-
represent Mr.. Beecher, but simply agreed
10 give everything on that part of the ser
mon the prominence We could, leaving
other threads of the discourse in the back
ground or imprinted.
"As we discussed the matter surprise
WAS expressed by all OF Us that many ser
mons printed previously had not drawn
more attention to Mr.. Beecher's views on
future punishment, then decidedly unortho'
doN.
IAN of us adhered to the agreement.
One of the tour, in fact, elaborated on the
subject beyond the expression made by
Mr.. Bseeher, though not at variance with
hia ideas As at many other times spoken.
/ The Associated Press were getting their
New York news from the proofs OF the pa
per which printed the padded report, and
an of il was sent over the wires from one
end of the country to the other.
''The religious press went WHO, ana
thunders of denuncistior went up from
tens of thousands of pulpits. 10 many OF
them Mr.. Beecher was denounced IN the
6srcest manner, and 'Beeeher's hell be-
came the theme of discussion in every
civilized land.
"But Mr.. Beeeher stood like rock to
the ideas rs We had reported them and his
aurprise that such storm could DO stirred
nm about a doctrine he had promulgated
for years was complete. - -.
"But after the skies had cleared-"itn-
in n year or tWo-there was no more
preaching about birthstone and lakes OF
literal fire. So you see, fellows, that little
corsniraey, if il may be called that,
broueht about q religious revolution, Tor
Rsec6er's bitterest assailants were soon
printing and preaching identicslly the
same doctrine"
Tbe four reporters are living, aud the
"a Who recalled the incident told their
names.