Year: 1873

lobby schemes and legislation for the railroad
interest we have our suspicious, and cannot
take even Colonel Scott promise of disinter-
estedness and lofty patriotism as guarantee.
MIR. Bccchor and His Congregational


Critics.


The City of Churches is never truly happy
unless there is little church war on hand.
It's elderly ladies find gentle stimulant in
the smell of theological gunpowder, as
General Boum refreshed himself by shifting a
newly discharged revolver. Its young
ladies like a state of sect hostilities,
and glory in the battle just as much as
they do in working smoking caps
and other sublimely useless articles for church
fairs. To the young men of Brooklyn
church war is very exhilarating, and with the
more ancient brethren the promotion of bel
ligerency is an object worthy in their eyes for
soothing the pathway to the grave. To the
local sheets church war is bread and
butter, and hence the field of war
around the communion rails is graphi-
cally and unctuously described. Seldom,
indeed, does the world become aware of the
pious pate-breaking which RACES there, and
little would it reck if they kept their troubles
to themselves. The fever of the age for stand
ing before all humanity in suit of type oc-
casionally induces somebody to do something
which will bring the eyes Of the world
in that direction, and then Brooklyn
is happy. They have church war there
at present. which must delight them very
much What does it all mean?


This time it is a Congregational fight, and
no muffin worry there ever extracted SO
much in the line of unctuous JOY as each
side finds in seeing the slatest from the
front" read by the entire public. Plymouth
church, ministered by Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, is assailed front and flank by
the Clinton avenue church and the Church
of the Pilgrims. All three are Congregational
institutions, and the last two seem determined
to drive the first out Of the camp. 1t seems
that an ''erring brother" or one claimed to be
such, Mr.. Theodore Tilton, had some sort of
a three-cornered difficulty, in which himself a
Mr.. Bowen and Mr.. Beecher were concerned
After guerilla warfare of hints, whispers and
innuendoes, the three parties came together
and signed peace declaration which was rat-
fed By Brooklyn fora time. But insults to the
flag Of Plymouth were soon on the increase;
and the ''erring brother" as he could not
control his hint-fring friends was told that
he should surrender his membership or sub
NIT to a court clerical Like Goldsmith's
pastor the erring brother, ''since twas
hard to combat learned to fly" by
resigning. The resignation was accepted, in
merciful spirit, no doubt Plymouth was
Just jubilating over the triumph of its fag
when down comes two batteries of heavenly
artillery, manned by the Clinton AMENITIES and
the Pilgrims. They opened fire with rounds
of resolutions, which did no great harm; but,
it is confidently asserted, were intended to riddle
the venerable Mr.. Beecher. The resolutions
rected that Plymouth had allowed a brother
to resign, and insisted that if the brother
aforesaid was not in the odor of sanctity he
should not be permitted to go forth without
the Congregational branding iron upon him.
This, as it stands, is matter of Church dis
cipline, and Mr. Beecher manned his own guns
and sent back q whiNing shell, telling
them to mind their own business, or
words to that effect Now the Clinton
avenueites and Pilgrims have declared that they
will appeal to the Council, which must be q
wonderful thing; for one would think they
were appealing to Heaven. All Brooklyn
looks on and wags its head and says, "Ah
but that is not ALL There is more in those
resolutions than You think, my friends
Then, for gracious sake, Pilgrims and
Avenue people, speak out like men, and
do not play the Pharisee. The threat
of accommodating Plymouth church or
creating schism among its members Is very
idle. Mr. Beecher has said that he likes to
be Pope in his own church, and his congrega-
ton have not disputed il for quarter Of q
century. Why should he care TO be tram
melled by people who. in the sweet
deep sadness Of the heart be it
said are sometimes oversbadowed rivals
as well as complaining brethren. There
may be difference between an independent"
minister and the minister Of an "independent"
congregation; but if Mr.. Beecher is not
theologically Independent, we should like to
know who ISL We cannot say that we shall
look anxiously for further details in this
church war, but We shall keep its progress
before our eyes. Peace, brethren.