Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-25
THE BEECHER SCANDAL.
Important and Conclusive Statements
Inv

enteTprising correspondent, Mr.. George Alfred
Townsend. IL IL IN the form Of an interview
with Mr.. MOulton, in the course of which that
gentleman detailed somewhat explicitly the
confessions which Dir. Beecher had made 10
him OF his adulteries with Mrs. Tilton and
others. II also includes some Important state
men's by Mr.. Moulton concerning the reverend
defendants conduct in other matters. In eE-
planning how he had become the mediator be-
tween Beecher and Tilton, Mr.. Moulton saws:
"Tilton had been wearing kind OF woeful,
wretched face for some time. The night drew
his trouble. My heart at once jumped 10 those
poor children, myself being deprived of g.
much family IS have desired, and struck
to me, to rebuild and compel harmony. had
no need of either of those men; no time for
years OF arbitration; no curiosity as TO their
dence exonerate Beecher is, that he Is the
guilty party. He was before a libertine aud a
minister; he is now liar and a sneak. No
word can be coined until the day of eternity 10
describe the mans perfdy TO me. By the adj
vice OF attorneys he has brutalized this issue to
the last degree and made the only noble deed of
years subject OF accusation of blackmail
against man whom but q week before he
clasped in his arms and called the noblest friend
God ever made for him.
z. DO you mean that in assisting Mr.. Tilton's
paper surreptitiously through You he was serving
Justice? A. Yes; 1 say that, having crushed
mat man like coward, first abusing his hospi-
tally and his household, and then meanly hav-
ing him discharged by Bowen to keep him poor
and uninfuential, Mr.. Beecher could do no less
in his contrite moments than to help Tilton's
paper to get on its feet. He has now sworn
away tnat sor.ary act of stonement by calling
me ling blackmail. There is no hell he has not
aroused: IL he believes the christian religion
he is a damned man.
Another of Mr.. Moulton's replies to the cor
respondent contains the following description OF
Mr.. Beecher's mental condition
In all his (Beecher'sl talk on tn at question be
proclaimed that he had sinned because he could
not help 1t; that he loved Elizabeth and was
loved by her, and that he could not feel the en-
ioyment of this love to be q sin. He said that
his wife had made his home a hell, where he
found neither appreciation nor sympathy, and
that she drove his relatives and her own family
away. She was jealous; wrote him anonymous
letters; disliked his popularity, and followed
him like a Nemesis. He found pleasant bower
at TiltOn's house, where he was proudly aud sf-
fectiOnately received. There he read his man
uscIipts to Mrs Tilton. and had the benefit OF
her criticism, which, on such topics, was good;
and, finally, a perfect communion of soul arose
between them, aid they fell 70 the earth In the
very eNaitation of piety. Beecher said God
could not punish man who led his domestic
life at home and was tempted by such a Gem
forter as Elizabeth. He told me they both
prayed over their sin, and we're assured thai II
had not the depreciation of Heaven. This par
ticular conversation Beeche- held lying ON his
bed. He seemed to think Tilbon never had any
original rights in the matter of his wife, who
ual enough for her.
In answering the inquiry whether Beecher
feared his sister, Mrs. Hooker, Mr.. Monitor
u.
bclder Beecher than he, with an equal sppe-
title for the world. 1 will tell you something
that will show the selfish depths of Beecher's
character; HIS sister was worked up on the
idea Of the falsehood of such a life as her
brothers, and had resolutely resolved to invade
his pulpit and make him show his hand. Triton
ard myself were equally afraid for Tilton's
tamily's sake. So Mr. TIlton went one night u
the house OF Mrs. Phelps, in 25d street, and
questioned Mrs. Hooker as to her intentions IL
Tins respect. She declared that She w0ulc
ha an nNav FFsaSf
Then, said hT. TiltOn, Il shall make an eqEal-
~ authentic charge against gOn, Mrs. Hooker,
and he named the specification. Tins stOppec
Mrs. Rockers mouth. When Henry Ware
Beecher had heard Tilton had done this he ap.
plauded Eis decision and success. 1t struck ms
with horror that clergy man could be willing
To nave his own sister charged with adultery e.
cover HE personal shame.
'ObseIve again." said B1r. MOuiton, chow
Mr. Beecher is running the intellect Of Mrs
Illtoh into contempt. The same woman whom
he calls in Spiritual lOve-etters "a saint beloved
Of God; a comfort 10 the mind and the SOUL
Nothing will stand between hun and the miser-
able life be mnst hereafter lead of self-enj0y-
ment on the faith and weakness OF Plymouth
Church. Elizabeth has made every struggle e.
save him consistent with her own character
He Is viper on the hearth. He wants his
neighbOrs field and his Deig b boris lamb
But, Mr.. MeultOn, your own wife hal sym
patty with MIR. Beecber."
"She did, >" said Moulton." "She heard the
story of adultery from Mrs-IiitCn. Ii was the
talk among Us all. At nv request, out OF the
tolerance of her nature, she kept slence on the
funeral bier. Mr.. Beecher speaks Of her a.
reyiving his faith IN woman's nature. She saw
him in those half genuine bursts OF remorse
and she advised him 10 go like man Of sorrow
and confess. She said: Your better life will
then come out; YOU will be more useful If more
humble. Preserve your reality; perform the
truth; then nothing can harm yOu.' Once or
twice he thought he would do 80, but he was 100
weak II ne had, the agony of terror would
have been over long ago. He not only could
not be the man but believe he renewed the
correspondence"
"Did Mr Beecher, ;" asked Gath, sever make
you the custodian OF more tnan one Of his let
ters in genersl?'
eyes, sir; he advised with me about the man
ner Of his life and parish. He said % me twice,
Can we be safe selling Plymouth church psws
ibis year, meaning would the scandal hang
over another year. He also advised with me
as TO the expediency, in the suspense of this
scandal, of buying more ground for the extern
sion OF Ply mouth church. and leavin' for Eu-
Tope. | EXPORTED against it, sayin. sIf Won
leave here this thing may burst and bsniah
YOU stordly ADVISED min to work as did
Or. Beecher said: i attend with greater faith
fnlness than ever 20 your ministerial duties,
keep up your pastoral work. Devotion will
give you sOunder sleep aud q greater heart
So got Tiltop started in another paper, to keeI
him employed and get his mind out of WORRY
and irritability. MIR. Beecher helped in this
sud now it lie blaekBail."
'Did you ever apprehend that Mr. Thou
would scorn Mr.. Beeeher's assistance, kno wing
il to be his?'i
Yes; l ventured once TO suggest that Mr.
Beecher, whom he had forgiven, ought TO help
him. Tilton fell in rage, and babe me never
to speak OF the subject again. Tilt0n woulC
have nothing of Beecher. but TO keep his ON1
partisans of their steadfast persecution. II
was nothing for Beecher TO help sustain Thu
paper, through my silent agency. Ali the new
papers, with a specific object are thus sustained
till they stand on their feet. believe that, bat
for Mr.. Beecher's duplicity, would have bu-
ried this crime below the present generation;
but he never felt safe while Theodore Tiltol
lived. AS long as that man could be q power
Beecher had to be q moral worm below him.
4" MIR. Moulton, do you think Tilton will live
through the long fight?
al do; he is very frugal and regular In his
living. He does not smoke at all. He break
fasts light and drinks nothing but claret at meals
He has, under ordinary circumstances, q self.
sustaining mind, fne health, and he has man
pers and speech of cOnsummate delicacy. ]
never heard him utter q word that could not b.
heard In parlor."
"was Mr.. Beecher equally circumspect?r
"No; the great animal. He once confessed t.
me q matter of adultery with q lady, which wa
the vilest ever heard. 1t il the same lady,
think, as she to whom Bowen referred when be
denounced Beecher to Tilton. The story goes
that this was q damsel of some literary name
and personal graces who had been intened by
Mr.. for his wife. While he was her patron
Me-