The sun., 1873-10-30
THE BEECIIER SCANDAL.
PLTBOUTH CHrRCH TO TIKE AC-
1ION TO mo RROW.
Information from the Dcncsus Report
Ut the Grievance CoBmittre Ready-Mr.
Ncsf- Letter-Nhnt Theodore Tiiton
Huvs-A Question of verHchy.

thlOtWHNfNn from tue DcHfanS Two EFpnIi
ut the Grievance Conmi,tre Rendy-Mr.
Mcsr- Letuer-Wbnt Theodore Tinon
ruvs-A Question OF verRcity.
Tie Plymouth Church committee having
I'm charge the investigation OF the Beecher scan
dul as presented In accusations Of sander
against Theodore Tilton and Henry c. Bowen,
will make a report to the church at a meeting
10 hc held on Friday evening. 1hey will recom-
mend the expulsion VI Mr.. riton, and that pro-
position will be put to vote after an opportunity
shall have been given for It's discussion by
members.
The investigation was inauguratcd on the 1st
of July last by the Grievance Committee, which
f. composed Of twenty members OF Plymouth
Church, and Is a permanent body before which
difficulties affecting members regularly
brought. The FIRST meeting was held on the date
given. and the charges and specifications pre-
ferred by OK Deacon William r. West were read.
They were drawn separately against Mr. Bowen
and Mr.. Ttton. and we're full and explicit. They
set forth that the stories affecting Mr.. Beechcr
had been told by these gentlemen, both of whom
were members Of Plymouth Church and
sw"rahle to is authority, and gave the details of
the alleged ISLANDERS, the names Of the persons
10 whom they had been told, with dates and
places. There was fun discussion Of the mat
ter, and marked division Of sentiment was at
written his letter denying the truth of the de-
famatpry stories. portion OF the committee
argued that sIcn asweeping denial nom their
pastor was sufficient refutal, and that the whole
subject should be ignored. majority, how
ever. claimed that MIR. Beecher's power for good
was wehkehed 40 long az any shadow rested
upon his chlra ter, and that n full Investigation
would hurt nobody but those who deserved It,
A sUB-COMMITTEE.
Finnily Mr. West moved that a subcommittee
Of tnteC De appointed to wait ON Mr.. Hilton aud
Mr. BOwcn, acquaint them Of the charges
aSdinst them, and cite them To appear before
the Grievance Coz mittee. The resolution was
adopted, aud MIR T.. ~. Garbutt, Mr.. q. &. Dun
con, and Mr. samuel Belcher were named as the
committee. Then came the time for MIR.
BeeCher's usual vacation. and number Of the
GrievanCe Committee went away tn the summer
resorts. Consequently tue proceedings were
dropped and the subcommittee was instructed
To- report ON the evening Oi the -econd Thursday
of the present month la the mean time Mr..
West added some new specifications To those
which already supplemented the charges
against Mr 1ilton. basiLe them upon alleged
edge. i II came. aud The Grievance Committee
prepared 30 commence the Investigation In ear
nest II wHs agreed to proceed Irst with the
tn of Mr.. Iiiton. The varied nature OF The
charges and Specifications rendered II unfeasibie
to try the gentlemen Jointly.
MIR. Iilton wis waited ON, notified OF the ma
ture Of the aocusatiOns and Informally request
ed to appear before the committee. Tuis he
politely refused 10 do, giving A. a reason that
lac had not been a member Of Plymouth Church
during the past four yeiIs, aud therefore was
II tamcuahle to It's authOtily. lie called their
attention to the fact tnat SANDER was misde
meanur nun shable by the civil law, and invited
them to carry the matter into the courts, bat
he positively declined to be tried by Plymouth
Church. lie further claimed that Mr.. Beecher,
tie only possible aggrieyed party. had cleared
him Of all bldme-a statement ~ which some VI
the committee demur.
MIR. TIIToN DECLARED A MEMBER.
on the 18th ~ this month, at a meeting Of the
gneV nee committee, Mr.. Garbutt, ~ Chairman
ut thc -ub-ca IN uittee, reported their Intellectual
,nurts t. brtng Mr.. HlLOn tO the bar Ot the
cnuIch for trial. An examination Of the church
lnt La Nxua mazda.
1ilton's name had never been erased. Although
he had not taken any active part in the meetings
withdrawn nor been expelled. Mr.. Beecher and
his fellow Churchmen had always regarded ham
as member. aud were SURPRISED at his renunc-
alton ~ his connection with the church. There
wt- an evening Oi Argument over TINS new pnass
- the case, ending III the adoulOn Oi a Tesulu-
uoh igh. .rlnH ar. llltoh cialil uI noh-iheihper-
snip, aud declaring him subject To the authority
ol the church, No further act ion was tA>en un-
III n few evenings later when iull meeting
was held, and II WAS resolved 10 serve copy Of
the charges and SPECIFICATIONS upon Mr. lutun,
ana To formally cate MN To appear before the
committee ON Thursday evening last MIR. ID.
W. lalmadge the clerk uf the committee, wius
entrusted with THIS responsibility. The ne&t
day, provided with witness, ne called upon
Nit. iltun and served the lalefs. Mr. lutun
claims that the documents are unsigned, and
simply amount Ia mcmuianda. lac took thom,
however. and replied 'n a letter addressed To t1s
commit tee.
MR.. TILToN TO BE EXPELLED.
A c.eeting of the Grievance Committee, who
were thcu ready to commence the ih was held
Let la .Tsday evening. capt. DunSan presided.
! The Witnesses had been notified, and nothing
hut the presence OF MIR. IiltOn was lacking. ln-
stead uf that, however, bis letter was read. Ii
was brief, Simply repeating his refusal to appear
/ hef re them, On the x. uund that lie was not
member Of Plymouth Church. tbs left the
! committee choice OF two UourScs-to proceed
| win the investigation In the absence Of the de-
! feudant. or to rtcommend his expulsion for
/ refusing to obey the mandate Of TIA" church.
| Against the former II was argued thai The evil
/ deuce taken under such circumstances would
/ he ex pare anu that injustice 10 the defendant
lHl Nlaan
offered, aud passed by good majority after
/ long discussion, iecommeudlns NJ the expuls sion ot
J Nil. alton. Ihe report Of the COmui.toe Is
very bIict, and Wiil be presented to the CAuTen
as body Tor Adoption or reJectiun.
After Mr.. litOn's case II disposed of, the
meuhcis say that the Investigation OF the
eraIees aud specifications a2Ainst MIR. Dow,n
number of ilymouth Church members, ANA the
! investigation OF the scandal vail be very thor
/ "uth and compete. ne burden Il the prose-
| cation Will rest upon Mr. Wet, who brought the
/ Cu rgcs.
Nj neocAer has ne, attended any Of the meet
! ms ol thetunI n4ltco.
81 dc not know wn.t tuey have DONE he said
/ TO "a SrN reporter yesterday, nor the nature Oi
| Sr. liton spent yesterday at the residence Of
] Mt Frank MDulluh la bEIphIA where lac i.s
! fuunu by a ~ y Reporter. He said lh.t he " ~
/ falsely placed IN the position Of seeming 10 have
/ brought accusations against MIR. beecher and
| tlcu retu ing 10 suustantiAte Item but he de-
/ ruurd TO make any explanation furtuor than
| tu claim that Mr.. heccher had cXoneiated nm,
ana thai that should DC SUFFICIENT ~ satisfy tno-
]
QUESTION OF VERAClTY.
! ~ Ms Edi'ot ot The BtOaityh kdg,s:
Certain stHt mtnts m.de In yesterdays Ftgie,
which las n,nncr Vt Pp pmouth Church, and mt ?
| .st ln us welfare, cannot allow TO p.ss uEnouc d.
! The at.mruts were that Mr. Tlton hsd written no
Letter O the xanluing omnicc oi Plymouth Church,
hA he hAu NOT been cited to appear before theu, that
charges dad been made that there Sas no committee
AZ. tuat no Investigation Was contcml ated
I.t .huN' Htati.rnis are Incorrect la nearly every
particular. MIR, lltou has Tor the last three ytarr
bteu circulating scandaluus reports IN relation Mr.
Bttchtr. Knowing tms, and believing that thu only
way Tor Plymouth church to meet u.ese accusations
Wuh tu cali MIR. Tltun to account FOR mas iug thcu
preferred charges against him before the Examining
/ Committee on the evening Of July = 1873. Theto
tu.rEts were accepted bs the committee th4t time,
snu a. was my dcrrr, earnestly expressed, that lA
ui thr cast shouid lake lace At once For
sons, winch IL not nee shary here ttAtc thcse
cha ECH Wcrc not TO Mr. li,tuu until Oct. H. On
that daN the CltrN Of the cummit'e presented them
Mr.. litun, with request from the committee Tor an
answer. MIR. IltOn repred, uiat ha had be "A
member of the Church tor the past four year,, Te.
sItctiuly declined TO al sNcr the charges
Ihtht faCtt have alrc ady hcci published, and there
fore itcl hat an violating no e, uhdenCe in repeating
! them The Issue Win Mir liltOn Is pam uur. [
cha 50 nun Nh making scIndauuh accusations against
MI ttechcr, to the injury VI Plymouth Church, aud
! am renuY Al any time 10 prove my charges lrrgrrt
that IL, re- has uteu much delay hruglug case
g. ira nut am iulN couNturtd that Plymouth hurCh
VII tp dli tlkr uiraturts cau hr liltuu silt
account, ara 10 Thoroughly luNthtlgate The sC.uu L.