Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-06-12
The Beecher Scandal.


The custodian of the covenant entered
into April Q, 1872, by Henry Ward Beech
er, Theodore Tilton, and Henry G.
Bowen, makes that instrument public this
morning, assigning as reason therefor
the fact that Bowen has of late repeated
ly declared that he had never disavowed
his charges against Mr. Beecher, but that
he yet insisted upon their truth. The
covenant to which is attached the sigma
lures Of the above-named is as follows:
We three men, earnestly desiring to restore
each to the other the respect, love and frater-
nifty in which we once lived happily together in
our social life in Brooklyn, and as members of
the Plymouth Church, and earnestly desiring
to remove all causes of Offense existing, both
real and fancied to make Christian reparation
to efface the disturbed past and to provide con-
cord, good will and love for the future, do
declare and covenant each to the other as
follows
l. l. Henry G. Bowen, having given credit,
perhaps without due consideration, to tales and
innuendoes respecting Henry Ward Beecher,
and being influenced by them, as was natural
to man who receives Impressions suddenly, to
the extent of repeating guardedly, how
ever, and within limitations and not for the
purpose of injuring him, but strictly in the
confidence of consultation-now feel that
therein did him wrong. Therefore, disavow
all the charges and imputations that have been
attributed to me as having been by me made
against II. W. Beecher, and declare fully and
without reserve that know nothing which
should prevent me from extending to him my
| most cordial friendship and Christian fellow
ship, and expressly withdraw all the charges,
imputations and innuendoes imputed as having
| been uttered by me, and set forth in letter
written to me by Theodore Tilton, on the first
day of January, 1871, copy of which letter is
hereunto annexed, and l sincerely regret hav-
ing made any imputatons, charges, or innuen-
does unfavorable to the Christian character of
Mr.. Beecher and covenant and promise that,
for all future time, / will never, by word or
deed, recur to, repeat, allude to any or either
| of said charges, imputations, or innuendoes.
g. And l, Theodore Tilton, do of my free
will and friendly spirit toward Henry c. Bowen
| and Henry Ward Beecher, herewith covenant
| and agree that l will never again repeat, by
word of mouth or otherwise, any of the allega-
! tons or imputations or innuendOes contained in
my letter hereunto annexed, or any other inju-
| rious imputations or allegations suggested by
| or growing out of them, and that | will never
| again bring up or hint at any cause or differ
| ence or ground Of complaint heretofore exist
| ing between the said Henry G. Bowen and my
! self, or the said Henry Ward Beecher.
81, Henry Ward Beecher, put the past for
! ever out Of sight and out OF memory. deep
! ly regret the causes of suspicion, jealousy and
| arrangement which have come between us. 1t
| is JOY to me to have my old regard for Henry
G.. Bowen and Theodore Tilton restored, and a
| happiness to me to resume the old relation OF
| love, respect and reliance to each and both OF
them. If have said anything injurious TO
| the reputation of either, or have detracted
from their standing and fame as Christian gen
tlemen and members of the church, revoke it
all and heartily covenant to repair and rein
state them to the extent of my power.
(Signe0 II. Z. BOWEN,
THEODORE TILToN,
II. W. BEECHER.
BROOKLYN, April 2, 1878
The custodian of covenant says the pub
lie can understand the brave silence which
the great preacher has kept under the pro-
tracted storm of SANDER. He had Gov
enanted to bury the past and to maintain
peace and brotherhood. The document is
given to the world now to stop any further
scandal