Year: 1874

THE ARRAIGNNENT or Mr.. BEECHER.


The sOrrOwful controversy by which Ply
mouth Church has been so long agltated has
ceased to be private quarrel, or mere con-
gregatiOn scandal. As long as it could
be so considered, we held alOOf from all dis
cussion of it, only printing what seemed due
to our readers as legitimate and important
news. But when Mr.. Beecher publicly de-
manded an Investigation of the charges
against him, we gladly hailed the occasion of
what we trusted would prove his complete
vindication, and from that hour it appeared
that the cause of religion and decency
would be best subservcd by calling public
attention to the final disposition now to be
made of a disgusting scandal which had lived
long enough in the dark. 1t was announced
that Mr.. Tilton had gone before the Com
mttee and brought forward nothing


that Mr. MOultOn had merely pro-
posed compromise; and that Mrs.
TiltOn had put to rest the vague insinuations
contained in her husbands recent letter by
declaring that there had never been the slight
est suggestion of impropriety between her and
Mr.. Beecher All these statements we pub
lished, being gratifed that the miserable con-
test was drawing near its close.


On Monday night Mr.. TiltOn read to the
Committee a full and unreserved statement
We print it this morning. We have no right
nor inclination to do otherwise. This
case now transcends the power of
ecclesiastical conferences, or of well-mean-
ing marplots, to settle or conceal
it. Unless this frightful exposition is
answered promptly and fully, the most
famous pulpit the world has ever seen, since
Paul preached on the Hill of Mars, is sienced,
the life of the greatest preacher in the world
is ended. 1t is useless to fall back upon
the record of a spotless and glorious career.
There is no longer safety or dignity in the
proud silence which would have so well be-
come the great pastor if there were no words
of his own to be explained. No man living,
least of all his currish assailants, would have
the right to make HIM open his lips in con-
tradiction if his own hand was not
there to bear witness against him.
Even yet, the thousands who for so
many years have known and hOnOred
him, and the vaster constituency to whom, over
the whole continent, his name has stood as a
symbol of genius, piety and every liberal aspi-
ration, will wait for his word to give them
leave to trust him as of Old. 1t will bo an
easy task if he should undertake it. If
there be any, explanation, apart from the re-
voting one given by Mr.. Tilton, which will
either make clear the fa1sity of these letters
or interpret their humiliation and remorse,
the better sort of people in this country will
hail it as tidings of great joy.


The commanding personality of Mr.. Beecher
so dwarfs every other figure in this melan
choly drama that it is hardly worth while to
waste time in dwelling upon the pecularities
of Mr.. TiltOn's extraordinary statement. The
feverish and unwholcsOme atmosphere of emo
ton in which the lesser persOnages
live and move renders their written and
their oral assertions equally doubtful and un-
Upon any theory of the matter
it is nexpresSibly mournful to see amid what
a poisonous cloud of mean passions, tempta-
tions, jcalossles and even devotions as
injurious as hatreds, this great orator
and teacher hahitualy walked. In
a few days we shall learn what
answer he has to make to these grave accusa-
tions. If he can disprOve them, his position
will be stronger than ever for this
trial aud triumph. If he fails, it is
not too much to say that all Christen-
dom will deplore a loss hardly to be meas
ured by words, and in our own country
his lapse will be regarded as a well-nigh ire
parable disaster. 1t is not only his eloquence,
his fame his Christian character and example
that are here assaied We should lose in him
the eminent preacher whom every one knows
and admires, and the ripe and liberal
thinker whose value is only just beginning
to be recognized by cultivated and thoughtful
men. If he should come alive out of this
ordeal, he will be priced more than ever If
not, the pistol-shot of Booth caused a national
sorroM 10 leennr and NOT so homeless