Year: 1874




The revolving clerical scandal which has
filled so much space in the newspapers is no
longer fit subject of popular discussion as
question of personal guilt or innocence.
Leaving that to be settled by the proper trl-
bunals the bunging and evasive way In
which the church investigation was conducted
suggests topic of great interest to the relis-
ious community, and especially to the re-
spectacle Christian denomination with which
the Plymouth church is ranked. 1t is impos-
sible to suppose that communion OF so much
social respectablity, moral worth and real
piety will leave this deplorable affair in It's
present state without formal ecclesiastical
action. If the Plymouth church investigation
is in accordance with the usages and discipline
of the denomination there is evident need OF
great work of revision. II the plymouth
method of dealing with this case is irregular
and in violation of UNCONVENTIONAL usage tho
denomination needs to vindicate its character
by proper inquiry and a public rebuke
in the most solemn and authoritative
form permitted by its modes OF
procedure. Mr.. Beecher's ecclesiastical rela-
tions as Congregational minister ought to be
reviewed and passed upon by those possessing
competent authority. He did not ordain him
self as minister; he was ordained by others
in accordance with the rules of the denom-
ination. There must be authority somewhere to
revoke his commission and degrade him from
the ministry, and, as preliminary to this,
right to put HIM on trial and to constitute an
ecclesiastical tribunal for that purpose This
authority, as we understand, is council Of
ministers called for that purpose.


Of course the great body Of Congregational
ministers are never going to accept the verdict
of the Plymouth Committee without further
investigation. A person under indictment
might be perfectly sure Of acquittal # he were
permitted to go among the people Of the vi
cinage and pick out his own jury, to have
able counsel for himself but no attorney for
the prosecution, and no witnesses against him
but such as his friends were pleased to sum-
mon. This is, perhaps, somewhat overdrawn
parallel, and we will substitute one which
tallies perfectly in all its parts. VIXEN the
Tammany Ring was pushed to the last extrem-
ity by the publication of the accusing
figures from the Comptroller's books it hit
upon the same exculpatory expedient which
has since been adopted by Mr. Beecher-that
is to say, the selection of committee of the
highest respectability to investigate the truth
of the accusations. We will not recite the
names of that famous committee, for they
have no reason to be proud OF their exploit.
They were gentlemen of the most eminent
financial and social standing that could be
culled from the old residents and highest
business circles of New York, men whose in
tegrity was above suspicion and whose pen
etration was reputed to be of the highest Or
nation. All the books and accounts of the
Finance Department were put freely at their
disposal, with the assistance of the Comptrol-
]er and his subordinates to furnish explana-
tions. The result was as rosy and satisfactory
as the verdict of the Brooklyn committee
Those highly respectable gentlemen, so expe-
rienced in matters of finance, signed and pub
hshed q report or certificate stating that the
Comptrollers accounts were honestly kept
and lin a perfectly salts actory state. We
recall this curious piece of municipal history
to show how utterly delusive an investga-
ton may be when conducted by a
committee selected by accused par
ties and to whom nobody else has free access
during the progress of their inquiry. The
personal respectability of the gentlemen 50
appointed cannot for any length of time
shield guilt from exposure or allay public
suspicion The pursuit Of the Tammany
Ring went on in spite of that certificate Of
innocence, resulting soon after in ruinous
explosion, which brought out all the facts
Mr.. Beecher followed an ominous precedent,
but we should be glad to see grounds for beiev-
ing that he is not destined to be overtaken by
similar ruin.


The Congregational denomination evince
dignity and prudence in delaying ecclesasti-
cal action until the current tide of scandal
shall have run past. 1t is possible that the
courts of justice may relieve them of the most
difficult and repulsive part of their labor,
and the prospect of a legal trial is a
good reason why the denomination should
wait until all the facts have been elected But
even if a court of justice should satisfy the
public of Mr.. Beecher's innocence there will
still remain q necessity for revising the dis
cipline of the Congregational denomination.
Whether an approximation to the Presby-
terian form Of church government would be
advisable for the Congregationalists is of
course a question for themselves to decide.
The weakness of their discipline was signally
illustrated last winter when council was
called for inquiring into the lax practices of
Plymouth church in permitting an accused
member to withdraw without trial or censure.
The ostensible object of that council was to
investigate the case of Mr.. Tilton, accused of
SANDER. Its real object was to bring in,
dor Of the slaaadnr the cordl,ct