, 1873-11-04
TlLTON-BEECHER.
Trial Of tie Former Before the
Plymouth Church Court,
llo requests Deccher to Maho Charges, but
Dccchcr Says lo Illus Nora
to Mako.
Ti1t0n's Name Stricken from the roll Of
Membership.

A8hUEA oHhps
From the Ne,o York Tribune, Nop. /.
Tho stated meeting held at plymouth Church
last evening assumed tls startling aud exciting
scandal which, It had been hopod was buried
forever. Dofore tho special meeting was called
to order, contest was Ind OIL tho question OF
excluding oil but momberH, but tho motion WAS
filed with people, and in tho curious gallery or
balcony at tho side q crowd of oxroctant fncea
appeared Tho first thing dono wns the nomi-
nation and election Of Mr.. Raymond aB Moder-
ator. llo called at oncco for the report Of tho
Examining Committee, who have been consider
ing Theodore Tilton'H relations to the Church.
Tho report was road by MIR. Halliday, as follows:
DaooKLra, Oct. q. 1873.
TnG Rev. s MAII1p4T 1 4;,a At mesting Of the r.,
eyoni,ng tho following preamble and resolution wero
mt,eo ~ iaa West against Thcodors d '? ron He
md,
WHEREAS, A srectal Committee having been mp
with reference to said charges, aail Tiitou, on tho
evening Of oo nado uuswor to that Special comrnit-
have not for nearly four yoara past been m ut.
tendant Of Plymouth Church. nor llayc considered
myself mcmhor of 1t, and do not now, nor docs
myself an.onablo to its Jurisdiction in nny manner
whntever !" aud
communication addressed 10 him by tio Clerk of ths
COMMITTEE, which comn,''nication, with copy Of the
charges preferred aganat him BY William r. West,
and request nlndo to him that ho should tho
same by oct 20 instr sayH IN letter addressed 10 the
eork . fthia Committee nntor date of oct -: "I Is
with tho church, and am not now mcn,bcr thereof
therefore, tho document addressed to mo III that
WiiEnE1s It TINS appears that Theodore Tilton,
member Of this church, has abandoned Ills connection
w o sn sfa Gy n1s'nco from oil M
Resolved. That tlis Committee recommend to tho
church Tint tho Of Theodore Tilton be struck
vitcd for by Rule No. 7 Ct tho Manual.
Z. ". TAhs1AuE, Clerk Of Executive Committee.
MIR. White promptly moved tho acceptance Of
tho report by adopting the recommendation.
W. i, Wcst-By Rulo No. the accused cannot
DO removed in that way, but must DO duly served
with potico Of titno and place of henrilg, and bo
allowed an opportunity to defend himself. I
wish to auy preferred chnrgos against AGr. Til
ton
Tho Moderator interrupted to inquire II it was
point Of order against tho reception.
MIR. Weat-No, SIR. I wish to offer substi-.
tuto for that resolution, and to make few re.
marks. mado these charges only four months
ago against h[r. Tilton for circulating
Mr.. Sherman md othcrs-1 riae to point Of
order.
Tho point Of order when Btatesl WAS, that tito
charges wero tho property Of tho Examining
Committee, and could not bo made in business
meeting. The Chair ruled tho point Of ordcr
woll takon, and Alr. West simply read his Bubst-
tute:
Resolred, That tho Church instruct the Examining
COMMITTEES to at once appoint tno and place for thu
hearing Of the casc aghi1st Mr. Triton, and to report
Wien stin s meet e
Friday evening ncxt, Immediately after the prayer
meeting.
The Moderator declared this resolution objcc-
suggested n better way to clotho itB meaning.
Tho pl ovlous question was suddenly moved, mud
nfter some complication had resulted tho substi-
tute WAS lost. at tlliH moment MIR. Tiltou, who
had boon sitting in the eft-ha,la corner near tho
door, while big accuscr, h1r, West, sat iu tho
body Of the hall, came forward with these words:
+" Mr.. Chairman, I bog the courtesy OF tho house
while read brief statement" It WIS moved
that ho 10 heard, aad with some oppoDition cur
ried.
Mr. Tilton said;
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Twenty years ago Joined
this Church, aud many Ut tho mosl precious memo
rcs Of my life cluster about thcae walls Four years
from that ttmo until tonight once under thiB roof.
Rotiring from Plymouth Cl,rch did not oak for tho
erasure Of my from tho roll because tho crcum-
without woundng tho feelings Of others besides my
se!f. During theao years Of my absence astory bus
filled the nnd covering It like mist. TINT hayo san
dered tho minister Of this Church.
Tho speakerr was interrupted b, cries from
two or tlroo of Orlorl" "Ordor!" Atr. Shear
man stated the point Of ordor to DO that there
Was no question of SANDER hcforo them. Tho
Moderator decided that Mr. I'ilton waa iu order,
and tho hitter resumed:
Last summer, Mr.. Bcccer published aa explicit
charge In the Brooklyn Etat exonpting me from hs
injustice Notwitha,andiae this public foenent in
las given riso to Injurious statements in the public
press at my claim q net s maae by
church member. 1 therefore, hcrH tD-n5Hht
not from any obligation Of membership since 1 nm
not member, alid not examined by my committee,
for no committee has examined me, but OF my free
will, prompted by my aels-rcspcct. and as mAtser
vital 10 my lie, md In order to say III Mr. Deocler'a
@ y L
mau whom haro sandcrcd. II, therefore, tho 1,iu-
lister Of tha church haB anything whereof to nccuhe
me- let hin, speak, mud shall answcr, as God Ii
my judge.
At tho conclusion Of Mr.. Tilton's statement a
profound silence onsued, which wna broken by
the buainoss-lko voice Of tho Moderator, who
called the question Of All amendment before tho
house. Mr. Wcst trlcd to gain hearing, and o
mesnbor moved that ho bo heard. This was fol-
lowed by short and perplcxing rush of points Of
order. amendments to amendments, until tho
question was finally settled fatty by laying it on
the table, In which there wn8 o heavy affirmative
yotc. MIR. Hswa. created aomo amusement by
his poraistency IN inquiring how tho menbora
could kuow in such r crowd whether the yoicoa
were those OF legitimate voters. hlr. Mckay
hnlu1 Buou-ull1upTEulys IL HN0lli4 like co KNOW
whether brotior Haws thinks ho hna got into q
ballot-box atufIng tistlict?" This was followed
by great laush at Mr.. 11awB' oxpenae. aud Lo
rotorted SHARPLY: II don't answer blaciguarl
remarks, for profess to bo goutleman!",
More discussion t'len ensued
T. NJ. .Edgerton.-AsI understand tho question
before lls now, it Ia tho orgnnl recommendation
brought il by the Examining Committee. I wish
to speak in opposition to That motion, und for
soyorat rcaBons. My frat il that think this all
I'm
eau walk into church and ont Of it OF his own
tree WILL When ho comeB in it requires two
partles to tho tranaact!on-tlo man to mako l,ia
application, the ch1lrcl, 10 recoiyo it-aud wllen
ho goes out thoro must also bo two parties. I
clalm tlat II re paas this resolution, It IL pre-
cedont which s contrary to all tho procodonts of
the past claim, tat from tho worry fact Of Alr.
Iiltons abscntitg hiinnolf from tho church III
the paHt fow yoars lo should bo disciplined In
tho proper manner. l object to tho
amendment for auothor roason although tho
question in not before ns, it IL known to oyery
member. that ohAfgea a.o proforred; 1t is
l{n0Wn that 1yhnr 1,na tnoo o1,+io