Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-09-11
The BROOKLYN Scandal.
AN EXPLANATIONS FROM REV. THOMAS X
nuCCnER

in substance that his letter 10 MS sis.oi ;
Mrs Hooker, was aimed simply to caution
and dissuade her from costly act OF iana.-
icism. 1t was written without otneI
knowledge of the facts than sucn as sue
stated and such as were sincerely Deiie'eu
by her. To avoid controversy the trnta ol
her allegations was assumed. Since 1904 ne
has not had two hours conversation with
his honored brother, the Rev. Henry "ard
Beecher. and he cannot recall at any time
ever having had discussion with him on
the subject of free love. marriage, divorce
| the relation of the sexes or female sunra sc.
lie disclaims, therefore, being competent
witness as to his brothers views on sucn
subjects. of the Rev. Henry Naru
Beecher's personal truth. purity, honor anu
piety he never had for a moment DOUBT
that was based upon any Trustworthy IN,
formation, and he gratefully puts on record
the statement that he knows OF nothing
whatever, past or present, that binders MIN
from giving to his brother the most impiicH'
contented and loving credence. and ne CON
cludes with saying that any use OF ms letter
to his sister to his brothers DISADVANTAGE Is
a renewal of the indiscreet if not dlshoraoie
acts by which alone it became pubic pro-
perty at the first.
SPEECH OF RossITER W. RAYMOND.
At the meeting of Plymouth Church
August 25th, after the reading OF the report
of the investigating committee, Mr.. H. w
Raymond spoke as follows
In all this wi hole mass of evidence that has
been presented before the committee, part
OF which has been rolled upon the pubic,
there is not line, nor word, that dlsproNes
Mr.. Beecher' 5 story, except with that single
exception of that verbal evidence OF two
. b.,a Nd tho written IteQee
of the third party in the case, which the
committee report has so ably discussed this
evening. As you know, many OF you, am
the only man by concurrence of circum-
stances in Plymouth Church, or in the
United States to-day, not member Oi the
committee. and not a lawyer before the
committee, who happens to know all about
it. The circumstances, to which ailude,
are simply those of humble position OF
usefulness, on the outskirts of the commit
tee. 50 to speak, in which all the evidence
has passed through my hands. and all the
consultations have gone through my ears,
without my being, IN any sense, an actor
on the scene. On that account, because l
am not lawyer, nor committeeman, and
because | happen TO occupy, by that accI-
dent, that exceptional position, claim your
attention Tor a few minutes. Facts have
proceedings more Ineligible to you. What
Is the evidence against Henry Ward
Beecher in this case? 1t consists OF the al
legged confessions of Mr.. Beecher to Mr..
Tl.ton, and Mr.. MoultOn, of the alleged
confessions OF Mrs. Tilton. verbally. to
several persons, OF the alleged confessions OF
Mrs TlltOn in writing, and finally of the
letters brought forward OF Mr.. Beecher :.
That i all. Now what Is the story Of the
confession of Mrs. TIlton to her husband.
1t Is this, that, on the 81 day Of July, 1870,
she made q distinct confession of her criml- |
nal relations with Henry Ward Beecher, TO
her husband. lie was of course very in
dign=nt with Beecher, on that 81 of duly, |
1870, and should think he would have |
been all the more indignant that he could |
not convince his vile that adultery with
minister was wrong. That he was very IN
that day l. shown by the fact that |
the 81 of July, 1870, having been a Sunday, |
Mr.. IiltOn went over to the Office Of the In
dcDtuGeHs on the next day, which was Mon
day, and wrote the following indignant
passage about Henry Ward Beecher, which
was subsequently read in the proof, and
" hich appeared in the paper OF Thursday |
Of that week. Ii l. in an article called
. Preachers and Ihe0l0glans. The flaming
anger Of Mr.. Tilton finds expression thus:
1--WE doubt if Henry Ward Beecher ever mustered
systematic theology. We ieel yery sure tnat his
opinions are not susceptible %. formulation. Thee
10. cal professors have not cared = conceal their
contempt !or his views, but .nat the1lpg.An in the
'uutry III al his efullte mastery oil the lure q
he schools can LAY bare the human heart, can 50
iuickeu the human conscience, so LIT up into
rust the human soul ~ Laughter and appl-use.i
Mr.. Triton would have Us believe that on
The 81 OF july, $50, his wife confessed
with Henry Ward Beecher. to him,
md. vet. that on the 4th Or 9Th OF July, he
wrote that article on Henry Ward Beeeher.
Renewed applause. But casual exam
nation of the files OF the IaGtyeHdeHt for the
ear 1870, has revealed a number OF inter-
sting passages, which fall in that very in
'ortant period
On the 81 OF November. $50, Mr.. Tilton
las an editorial paragraph in the Iadeyca-
Tent. a follows. We are coming now pref
y close to the occasion when Mr. Tllton
ound 1t necessary to get Confession in
Writing Of matter which had been rank
NJ in his tempeSt-t0ssod bosom all summer.
Laughter
MIR. Beecher remarked rather comicaliy
n his speech at the meeting OF the Ameri-
an Board, that he sometimes thought JUS | ,
Ice had not been done in the popular esti-
iate vi his theological training But it | {
eeGls that he was mistaken. At meeting {
I the Congregational General Association :
( This state, 1t was reported that funds
'0uli be provided to found theological |
I'm mary in connection with Cornell Uni
er-lty, II Nr. Beecher would be president;
nd from another source a similar offer q
aS made If he would take the presidency :
a theological seminary IN Brooklyn. |
lrcy hS theology has risen above par .
! the theological market. But, Of course, q
Is useless TO try 10 remove Reecher from G
IS church, I
Yes, Mr.. Tllton, it is. Great applause !
ow we lind that during this time Mr. I
iI;0n has not only been guilty of all the J
agnanimity with which he charges him Y
IL, but Of all the superhuous magnanimity |
! the columns OF the Independent 1t is b
)t 10 be won icrcd at if the committee anu :
hers, in view Of this psychological cx- 4
erlencc OF his, begin 10 doubt whether his K
life did, on the 81 of July, 1870, confess v
lything. But the evidence before the o
'mmlttee shows thar IN the autumn of
80. Mrs. Tilton went away on visit, and /;
lat while she was there, letters passed be- u
Eeen her and her husband. This Is the v
ne whea. according to Mr.. Tilt0n, she b
a. away and waiting 10 know what would d
his magnanimOuS decision concerning IL
a ANsNAN AGAts 1t ludL IluiC. Att0rulHH / -
the evidence before the committee, evl- Il
nee from source entirely distinct from ?
rs Illton, and entirely unimpeachable, ! u
r. Tl!ton wrote him pleading letter beg 1.
NJ him to put away from hi room evil Il
% lasciyiOuS pictures, and to abandon the b
ciety OF evil and wanton women. She c.
rote that letter with tears and PRAYERS. II
aging the whole night before she sent il Il
went out, and she waited four DAYS for Ia
G reply, in cOmmingled agony of aDpre- Is
nsIon and hope. When the reply came. y
e said to her friend, when mat letter lie
mes, 60 up stairs and read il with me
IN sure Gud will answer my PRAYERS. and
re me back my husband. and save him
IN bis evil courses" This friend had Of
N the letter that went, and was to see 70 70
letter which was TO come Mrs Tilton In
mt up ,tairs, and when the poStman came mi
tn the letter. her friend, not having the sal
ne hrm faith in TheodOre's repentance. al
the letter up, and waited awhile be. no
e following 1t, IN order that she should be
herself lnirude upon its first reading. so
yer lew minutes she went up and tn
ocSeu al Mrs. Hilton room, and received pa
answer. knocking again, and getting on
answer, she opened the door. and entered an aa
room to find Mrs. 1ilton unconscious on ple
floor, with the letter in her hand. As mes
was already invited to read the letter. wa
tells the committee that she glanced iiel
II It's pages. Her description of that ths
Ter Is that Mr. Til,on swore at his wife are
m the beginning to the end that he g hu
her he would havr as many pictures. AFT,
whatever kind of pictures, in his room
be liked ; that be wOgid 20 with as many No
men, and any kind Of women. that he az
I'd, and that she should not interfere he,
n, or dictate to. him concerning his NJ,
raj Character or habits Kisses When h.
: Hilton was laid upon the bed, after a of
z Il ne OF nncOnsciou mess from the pro ~
nd iainting fit, she came to herself. and bs,
OF the hrst things she SAID was. that nn
lie had had a terrible letter from Dory.'' mo
'nd after they had left her for awhile. IN
en- they returned, he letter was not ba,
!. Mrs. Titon sail she had DESTROYED n na.
md no living being should ever see it: pc
this remark that make Tonight. If il -