Year: 1876




In the Christian Union OF this date Dr. Leonard
Bacon VIII publish long reply to a communication
from Professor Egoert c. Smythe ID. D., of Andover
Seminary, lately published in the Con9re0aondiist
the various propositions to try Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher by ecclesiastical tribunal He says Nr.
Beecher's responsibility Is first or all 10 his own
church He may expelled from tho clerical
ton OF which ho is member, but that proceeding
would not cxcommunica him from the church de-
pose him from the pastoral office II any responsible
complainant should prefer charges against him "a
thing which has yet been done) the complaint
hibting charges be brought to the church
or according to the rules OF the Plymouth
church, to its Examining Committee Then, If the
matter of the complaint is worthy of grave consdera
uon If the first aud second steps OF private admon-
ton have been taken, and II the complainant will
derake prove the matters oil fact alleged by hIm and
denied by the respondent the time has come for the
calling OF council platform OF 1865, p 5I OF course
the council If called must be ca led BY the church
lit be mutual council must be mutual between
the Two partIes-namely tile complainant and the
respondent The church is party in the case but
Is the Qt may that word) before whose tri-
bunal the parties stand. When a council Is called Tor
the trial Of such tor the church, beng
empowered by the church To do so


DR.. Bacon assumes from the purpOrt OF the Andover
letter. that II the mention OF that church or some
responsible person known 10 that church TO DO prepared
to prefer formulated charges against Mr. Beecher and





has declined the Andover proposition for mutual
council try Mr. BeeCher, the venerable Moderator of
the late ADVISORY Council asks from the Andover FRO
fessor favorable consideration OF the proposal OF that
body for clearing up the matter OF the scandal and
posing the clear light OF day the facts upon which II
That proposal he says assumes That there can
be no trial OF Dir. Bcecher without definite charges,
backed by a responsible complainant with oilers OF
proof Ii constitutes no scandal bureau" no rescr-
voir into which sewers shall discharge their
ntn, inquest 10 hunt Tor rumors and trace
them 10 their source no ion's mouth" into
xvltt Qvp cal H.
lous recipient OF that nave grown large and
dreadful by needless malicious repetition may drop.
anonymous accusations. Ii assumes what the Ando-
yer assumes, that there not rumors merely
but tangible charges against Mr. Becchcr, and that
somebody ready TO prefer charges and 10 undertake
the responsibility OF prosecuting them IL assumes
that the trial OF those charges must be not civil but
ecclesiasicsl Presbyterian nor Methodist, but
Congregational; and that therefore be either
before the church itself before some special tribunal
committee, commission or counciD which derives is
power from the church, which acts IN behalf OF tue
church and which reports 10 the church the result OF
the investigation


The proposal is that this investigation be made
by Plymouth church mdsse, bya committee Of
church members, who might be swayed by affection,
but by i've men outside OF BROOKLYN and New York
and outside OF the late council whose names would
command the confidence Of tho church aud OF all
reasonable people. In view OF the publicity OF the
the complainant would not be required 10 take
the usual steps OF private admOnltOn, but may bring
his specific charges at once. The church having ac-
ceped the advice Of the Council II has pledged itself
that charges thus presented shall be Immediately
referred TO tie proposed commission Tor trial should
the church fcccdc from lhts engagement u Will cast
itse with a milestone about neck, into the deep
II charges preferred there VIII yet remain
a possibility OF Investigation by the proposed comms-
sion III the Examining Committee OF Plymouth
church aud the three gentlemen named by the Council
Judge important that evidence not previously gwen,
which may throw light upon the subject should DO
judically weighed aud pronounced upon Then the
commission Oi tyc must be named and empowered.


Who shall be the complainant IN this casey Who In
the interest OF purity aud peace who IN behalf OF the
ministry and the churches, who for the sake OF an m
Vestgaon which shall expose the very bottom OF tic
terrible scandal and which shall put beyond the reach
doubt either the innocence Of the great preacher or
his unparalleled wickcdncss-wi assume the painful
rcspOnsi billy Of formulating complaint or MAINTAIN
ing II and OF taking that all available facts ad
verse 70 Mr. Becchcr and pertinent TO the issue bc
property submittedyr Somebody ought TO do this
somebody, let me say. who bring to the task the
dignity Of hOncred character ana position, tho
force OF cultivated and balanced mind the dispas-
sionalo camness Of a heart without mahce or pre-.
possession, and the pure candOr Of soul working
not for victory but for truth. | say there
IOre, let your church. which already
manifested It's desire for thorough investiga-
ton and IT'S willingness 70 take hold Of the work.