Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-19
The Beecher Scandal.

NEW YORK, May 80
The custodian of the covenant entered
into April 2, 1872, by Henry Ward Beech
er, Theodore Tilton, and Henry C.
Bowen, makes that instrument public this
morning, assigning as a reason therefor
the fact that Bowen has of late repeated
w 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
for injuries done or supposed to be done, and
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 c. 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 them-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. Bccchcr, and declare fully anC
without reserve that / know nothing which
| should prevent me from extending to him m;
| most cordial friendship and Christian fellow
ship, and / expressly withdraw all the charges
| imputations and innuendoes imputed as hay ms
been uttered by me, and set forth in letter
| written to me by Theodore TiltOn, on the frs
day of January, 1871 a copy Of which letter i:
hereuntO annexed, and | sincerely regret hav
| ing made any imputatiOns, 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 OF
deed, recur to, repeat, or allude to any on either
of said charges, imputations, or innuendocs.
| 2. And /, Theodore Tilton, do of my free
will and friendly spirit toward Henry c. Bower
| and Henry Ward Beecher, herewith covenant
and agree that | will never again repeat, by
word of mouth or otherwise, any of the allega
| tons or imputations or innuendOes contained il
| my letter hereunto annexed, or any other I'M
rious imputations or allegations suggested by
or growing out of thcm 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 c. Bowen and my
| self, or the said Henry Ward Beecher
| 3. |, Henry Ward Beecher, put the past for
| ever out of sight and out of memory. | deep
| ~ regret the causes of suspicion, jealousy and
estrangement which have come between US. II
| 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 il
all, and heartily covenant to repair and rein
state them to the extent of my power
{Signed} FL. G. BOWEN,
THEODORE Triton,
Fl. w. BEECHER.
BROOKLYN, April 2, 1913.
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
givenEto the world now to stop any further
scandal