The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-09-03
The Committee Thinks He Didn't.

" IHc ClluiCu nClOrt NnOm II was lnNcSti- |
gated, Everything pointed to that result. |
MI beecher himself named the men to
compose the committee, in the letter ask |
ing for investigation, and thus it was
organized to acquit How many of the |
men undoubtedly guilty would be convicted |
il they were permitted to name the ,juries?
An impartial jury is the very first requisite
10 a fair trial
The report OF the committee is very
loASr making six u eight columns Of The
daily papers Ii rehearses the evidence.
aud makes al elaborate argument for the
defence of the accused 1t vas read on
Friday at Beecher's church, which vas
hlled by an immense audience. The room
was decorated with flowers, IS for a testi-
val. The report concludes as follows
TIE CHARACTER OF TIT ACCCsER,
Finally, who is this accuser, that he
makes 80 bold 4 face? We may learn
irom the testimony, as we'll a. by common
report. without descending 10 unpleasant
Particulars or personalities. that Theodore
hilton has IL recent wears become 4 very
tlferent man from what he MAS formerly
1cputed to be He will hardly deny that
beta before and after his e6pcusal OF tic
nc" marital philosophy, signs OF desou-
eracy were setting in. which made him
'AscredUed man III this community,
Ii the now role his elimination and
doNnflll ais well stated i'll recent words
IS Ii able writer, wha, IN -kctching his
career. says. In the process OF time he
lemu3 before III Eorld a. tht indorscr Of
Victoria c Woodhull. and lends his name
- : Biography Of her which ould have
uni any man reputation anywhere for
Common 3ensC such & bool. is Il tomb
trom which Nc author rlses again Such
g. tnc accuseI Who is the accused
-HE CHARACTER O. THE ACCUSED.
d Is Henry y ard L>echer The Pastor
Il Plymouth Church has JCen a lle.gy
man, with harness on, logty years.
twcntv-seyen OF these Years he has been
uero in this Church, which. as all the
world knows. has So often been stirred to
good deeds and to better life by his elo-
quent minlstration This man has beer
living in the clear light Of MONDAY before
his people aud before ali men, life OF
Christian usefulness and great work.
None have known him but to admire and
love HIM They VINO have been most
intimate with him, at home and abroad.
report nothing Of his life OF conversation
but what comes Of purity OF soul.
We are asked By Theodore Tilton and
his coad]utor Moulton to believe that this
man, with his long and useful life and high
character to sustain, Is unworthy of our
confidence, regard or respect A Christian
character and great services which are
liz e
and defence when ono is assailed, are to
60 for nought, according 70 Mr. IiIton.
We are invited to give up this beloved
and eminent man, and send him and his
good name and fame into the vortex OF
moral destruction. We are to Go this upon
what Upon some wild, absurd and con-
Trajectory assertions of Mr.. Tilton, who
in all this work does not succeed in dis.
guising his malicious and rcyengelul de-
signs.
No tribunal administering justice ever
held a charge of adultery proved by mere
alleged words, written OF spoken, that are
denied and not connected with circum
stances and appearances pointing unmis-
t1kably to the guilt Of the accused.
Upon 4 review Of the evidence, with an
earnest desire to find the truth and advise
what truth and justice shall require, We
feel bound to state that, IN our Judgment,
the evidence relied upon by the accuser
utterly fails to sustain the charges made
We herewith submit q stenographic copy
Of all the evidence before the Committee
with some unimportant or irrelevant eN-
Ceptions,
STATEMENT OF CONCLUSIONS.
Ejrst-We find from the evidence that
Rev Henry Ward Beecher did not COM
NIT adultery with Mrs Elizabeth r. Tilton
either at the time or times, place OF places,
set forth in tie third and forth subdlvis-
IONS Of MI Tiltons statement, nor at any
other time OF place whatever,
Scrond--Ne lind from the evidence that
Nh. beecher has lever committed any I'M
claete OF improper act with Mrs. 1llton,
nor made any unchaste or improper re-
mark, protter or solicitation to her Of any
kind OF description whatever.
Third-lf this were Il question of errors
OF judgment on the part OF MI Beecher,
it would be easy to critlcise; especially ID
the light Of recent events In such crit
cisln even 10 the extent OF regrets and
con2uru VIC are sure no man would join
more sincerely than MI. Beechcr himself.
Fourth--We tind nothing whatever IN
The evidence that should impair the perfect
confidence of Plymouth Church, Or the
world, ii tho Christian character and
Integrity Ct Henry Ward Beechlr
And now -el th9 peace Of God, t4at
1a5-eth al understanding. rest and abide
with plymouth Church and hcr beloved
and eminent pastor. 50 much and long
afflicted HLNRI W. sAGL,
HrNFT u. CLITLLANL,
tLC. SIQhRS
HORACE 3. Claim.
Holm WIHsLow,
s. w. WHITE
Committee Of Invest cation
Dated Brooklyn, Avg n, 1874.
BLFoRI or TIL L1A9I19ISc, COMMITTEE.
After the reading OF the Investigating
Committee report Mi Raymond read the
report Of the Examining Committee of
Plymouth Church, which accepted and
Endorsed the report Of the special commit
tee as having faithfully and impartially
discharged its duties.
While we should have unhesitatngly
done our duty in case different conclusion
had been reached, we rejoice to say that,
without one dissenting voice. this COM
mittee find nothing IN the evidence to
Justify the least suspicion of our pastors
integrity and purity, and everything to
Justify the demand on the part of Plymouth
Church and Society, degree Of confidence
and affection toward its pastor, if possible.
more than it has ever yet felt towards him
In conclusion we recommend to the Church
the adoption of the following
RESOLUTIONS:
Resolved, That the evidence laid before the
Examining Committee not only does not afford
any foundation for putting the pastor of this
church (ReY. Henry Ward Beecher) upon trial
but on the contrary, establishes to the perfect
satisfaction Of the church his entire innocence
aud absolute personal purity with respect to
all charges now or heretofore made against him
bv Theodore Tilton.
Resolved, That our confidence and love for
our pastor, so far from being diminished, are
heightened and deepeued by the unmerited suf