Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-14

ton fro m which had sought to save the family
was likely TO be expended on other families, the
| church. and the commupity, with infinite hor-
| Tor of woe for ne; that my own innocence was
buried under heaps and heaps of rubbish and
nobody but my professed friend-'if even he"-
could save us, to his assurances that he could
| still do so 1 gave at least so much faith as 10
maintain, under these terrible trials the silence
he enjoined. Not until Tilton, having attempt
cd through Frank Carpenter to raise money
from my friends, openly assaiIed me in letter
| to DR.. Bacon, did break that silence, save BY
a simple denial Of slanderous rumors against
me year before. When, on the appearance of
THE FIRST OPEN ATTACK PROM Triton,
! i'm ne diately, without consulting Mouiton,
called for thorough investigation with a COM
the delay of the publicity or details of that in
vesugation. All harm which / have so long
dreaded, and have so earnestly striven to avoid
has come to pass. L could not further prevent
II without full surrender of honor and truth.
The time has arrived when 1 can speak freely
in vindicaticn of myself. l labor under gre at
Disadvantages in making a statement. NV
memory of the status of the matter is clear and
tenacious; better than my memory of dates and
During four troubled years, in all of which I
have been singula1ly burdened with public
labor, having established and conducted the
Christian Union, delivered courses of lectures.
preached before the theological seminary of
Yale College, written the Life of Christ. - de-
livered each winter lyceum lectures in all the
north and west. All these duties, with the care
of great church and Its outlying schools and
cbapels, and miscellaneous business which falls
uron clergyman more than other public men,
have kept in regard, and now, with the neces-
sity of explaining actions and letters resulting
from complex influences, apparent at the time,
find myself in position where
KNOW MY INNOCBrCB
without being able to prove Ii with detailed ex-
plantations am one upon whom trouble work.
inwardly, making me outwardly silent but re-
verberating in the chambers of my soul, and
when slS at lsngth DO speak 1t is psntuP food
inherit tendency to sadness, the remains in
me OF positive hypochrondria in my father aud
grandfather, and in certain moods of reaction
the world becomes black and see very despair
ingly.
III were in such moods to speak as feel 1
should give false colors and exaggerated pro-
portions to everything This manifestation is
in such contrast TO the hopefulness and courage
which L experience in ordinary times, that
none but those intimate with me would suspect
me, so full Of overfowing spirit and eager glad
someness, to have within me a care OF gloom.
Some of my letters to Mr.. Moulton reflect this
morbid feeling. He understood 1t, and at times
earnestly reproyed me for indulging it. With
this preliminary review proceed to my nara
tive.
BEECHER's FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH TILToN
Mr.. Triton was first known to me as reporter
OF my sermons. He was then youth just from
school, and working on the New York Observer
and from this paper he passed to the Iadepend-
emit, and became great favOrite with Bowen
When, about 1861, Drs Bacon, Storrs, and
Thompson resigned their places, L became ed
itor OF the Independent, to which had been
from sJarJ q COnJrlDut9r. On6 OF the induce
ments held out to me was that TiltOn should be
my assistant, and relieve me wholly from the
routine of ofice-work. In this relation became
very much attached to him. We used to stroll
to the galleries and print shops aud dine often
together. His mind was opening freshly and
with enthusiasm. Upon all questions L used TO
pour out my ideas OF civil affairs, public policy,
religion, and philanthropy. Of this he has
often spoken with grateful appreciation, and
mourned at a later day over its cessation.
GROWING INTIMACY.
h-,t, Enrz
lily repaired to my farm in June and July, and
remained there during September and OctoSsr,
my labors confning me to the city. L took my
meals III the families OF friends, and from year
to year became so familiar with their children
and houses that went in and out daily almost,
as in my own house. Tilton often alluded to
this habit, and urged me to do the same by his
house. He would often speak in extravagant
terms OF his wife's esteem and affection for me.
After began to visit his house he sought to
make it attractive. He urged me to bring my
papers down there and use his study to do my
writing in, as 1t was not pleasant to write at the
office of the TndspeRdeRt. When / went to
England, in 1868, Tilton took temporary charge
OF the Independent. On my return paved the
way for Lin to take sole charge of IL, my name
20 remain for a year, ana then he becoming the
responsible editor. Friendly relations continued
until 1896, when, owing TO the violent assaults
ade upon me by Triton In the IndepeRdsnt
on account of my Cleveland letter and the tenn
porary discrimination of the publication OF my
sermons in that paper, broke OF my connec-
ton with it. Although Tit0n and L remained
personally on good terms, yet there was q cool
ness between as IN all matters of politics. Our
social relations were very kindly, and as late as
1858, at his request, L sat to Page some fifty
times for portrait. 1t was here that first
met and talked with Moulton, whose wife was a
member Of Plymouth church, though he was
not member, Tor even a regular attendant.
During this whole period never received from
Tilton, or any other member of his family, the
slightest hint that there was any dissatisfaction
with my familiar relations TO his household. AS
late, think. as the winter OF 1862 when going
upon an extended lecturing tour, he said: /
wish you would look in often and see that Ii bby
is not Lonesome, or does not want anything; or
words to that effect. Never, by sign or word,
did Mr.. Tilton complain of my visits in his
Independent would be taken from him; nor did
be break out into violence until on the eve OF
The dispossession from both the papers-the
Independent and Brooklyn Uaion-owned by
Mr.. Bowen. During these years Of intimacy in
Tiltons family was treated as a father or elder
brother. Children were born; children died;
If was one OF themselves. loved them, and
had for Mrs. Tilton true and honest regard She
seemed to me an affectionate mother, devoted
wife, looking up to her husband as one Ear above
the common race of men, and turning to me with
artless familiarity, and with entire confidence.
Childish in appearance, she was childIike in
nature, and would as soon have misconceived
confidence of the little girls as the unstudied
affection which she showed me. Delicate In
health, with self cheerful, she was boundless
in her sympathy for those in trouble, and lab
charge one time of the married w0men's class
at Bethel Mission school, and they perfectly
worshiped her there. gave Mrs. Titon copies
of my books when published. sometimes sent
down from the farm flowers to be distributed
among dozen or more families, and she occa-
sionally shared. The only present of value
ever gave her was on my return from Europe in
1858, when distributed souvenirs Of my Jour
ney to some fifty or more persons, and to her
gave simple brooch, of little intrinsic value
So far from supp0sing that my presence and in
fuence was alternating Mrs. Tilton from her
family relations, 1 thought, on the contrary,
that it was giving her strength and encouraging
her to hold fast upon the man evidently sliding
into dangerous associations, and liza Bile to be
immersed by unexampled self-conceit.
TILT0N FALLING FROM GRACE.
regarded Tilton as in q very critical period
OF bis life, and used to think Ii fortunate that he
had good home influences about him. During
the late years of our friendship Mrs. Tilton
spoke very mournfully to me about the ten
dency or her husband to q great laxity of doc
trine in religion and morals. She gave me to
understand that he denied the divinity OF
Christ, the inspiration Of the Scriptures, and
most articles OF orthodox faith, while his views
as to the sanctity OF the marriage relation were
undergoing constant change in the direction
Of free love.
BKKoRRR AND MRS. Triton AS BROTHER AND
SISTER.