The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-23
Henry Ward Deecher's statement.
lie Absolutely DENIES Mr.. rlLroS's
STATEMENT.

This evening several Of the deacons Of
Plymouth church, with Mr. Sherman, Mr..
Ross, and General Tracy, met at Mr..
Beecher's residence, and after counsel
last night about three hours, drew up the
following statement Of Mr.. Bcecher's for
publications
do not propose at this time a detailed
examination of the remarkable statement
of Mr.. Theodore Tilton before the commit
tee of investigation, and which appeared
in the Brooklyn Argus Of July 2lst, 1874.
| recognize the many reasons which
make it of transcedent importance to my
SELF the church and the cause of public
morality that | shall give full answer to
the charges against me, but having re-
quested the committee of investigation to
search this matter to the botten, 1t Is to
them that must look for my yndication,
but cannot delay for an hour to defend
the reputation of Mrs Elizabeth X. Titon
upon whose name, IN connection with
mine, her husband has attempted to
pour shame. One less deserving of
such disgrace | have never known.
From childhood she has been
under my eye, and since reaching woman
hood she has had my sincere admiration
and affection. | cherish for her a pure
feeling, such as gentleman might honora-
bly, offer to a Christian woman, and which
she might receive and reciprocate without
moral scruple. / reject with indignation
every imputatlon which reflects upon her
honor or my own. My regard for Mrs.
Tilton was perfectly well known to my
family. When serious difficulties sprung
up in her household it was to my wife that
she resorted for counsel, and both of US,
acting from sympathy and, as it subse-
quently appeared, without full knowledge,
gave unadyised counsel which tended to
harm.
l have no doubt that Mr. Tilton found
that his wife's confidence and reliance upon
my judgment had greatly increased while
his influence had diminished in consequence
of marked change in his religious views
| "hi'h "cio tahluR pi'iCc uuiiHS tucsS
years Her mind was greatly exercised
lest her children should be harmed by the
views which she deemed virtually false and
dangerous.
was suddenly and .udely aroused to
the reality of the impending danger by the
disclosure of domestic distress, of sickness.
perhaps, unto death, of the likelihood of
separation and the scattering of family
every member of which | had tendcrly
loved. The effect upon me OF the dis
covery of the state of Mr. Tilton's feelings
and the condition of his family sur
passed in sorrow and excitement anything
that | had ever experienced in my life.
That my presence. influence and counsel
had brought to beloved family sorrow and
alienation gave,in my then state of mind,a
poignancy to my sufferngs which hope
no other man may ever feel of having offer
ed under the privileges of a peculiar and
sacred relations an indecOrum to a wife
and mother could not but deeply wound
any one who is sensitive to the honor OF
womanhood.
There were peculiar reasons for alarm in
this case on other grounds, inasmuch as
was then subject to certain malignant ru.
mors, and fragrant outbreak in his family
would bring upon them an added injury
derived from these shameless falsehoods
believing, at the time, that my presence
and counsels had tended, however uncon-
sciOusiY, to produce Il social catastrophe
represented as imminent. | gave expires
sion to my feelings in an interview with q
mutual friend, not in cold and caution.
self descending words, but eagerly taking
the blame upon myself and pouring out my
heart to my friend in the strongest Language
FASHIONED sorrow.
Had been the evil man Mr.. Tilton now
repre- seuts, | should have been calmer ant
more prudent. 1t was my honor of evi
imputed that felled me with morbid inten
sity at the very shadow of it. Not only
was my friend affected generously but h,
assured me that such expressions, if con
veyed to Mr.. Tilton, would soothe tn,
wounded feeling, alay anger, and heal thu
whole trouble.
, He took down sentences and fragment
of what had been saying, to use them a
a mediator A full statement of the cir
cumstantes under which this memorandum
was made | shall give to the investigating
committee. That these apologies wer
more than ample to meet the facts of tn
case is evident in that they wer
accepted; that intercourse resumed it
friendliness ; that Mr.. Tilton subsequent
ratified it in writing and that he has cor
tinued for four years and until within tw
weeks to live with his wife. Is it cor
ceivable if the original charge had bee
E what is now alleged that he would hav
: condoned the offence not only with tn
mother of his children but with him whor
he believed to have wronged Their
- The absurdity as well as the falsty {
this story is apparent when it is consdere
. that Mr.. Titon now alleges that he carrie
! this guilty secret OF his VIE S lnfdellty ff
n six months locked up in his own breas
/. and that then he divulged it to me only thu
there might be a reconciliation with I'M
l'ilton has since, in every form of lai
guage and to multitude of witnesses, d
clared his faith in his wte's purity. Aft
the reconciliation of Mr.. Tilton with M
:, every consideration of propriety and hon'
" demanded that the family trouble snou
g be kept in that seclusion which domest
=, affairs have right TO claim as a sanctuar.
and to that secluson it was determined
should be confined.
m Every line and word of my private Al
g confidential letters which have been pu
~ lished is in harmony with the statemen
"a which now make. My published corr