The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-09-14
THE BEEcHER.rIEToS CASE.
Report of the Invs.IlgAtIns Committee
lit Declares Henry Ward Bssehef NOT
GuIlIy--sIr. Bssnher'l Church Sis.
taiAs tho Verdict or the con,,ittss.

Nultty-~hEs nNSNuuE'h ShuIpu huh=
taiAs tho verdict or the 6o&ii,tttse.
The report o. the Committee APP.
pointed 10 investigate the charges made
against the Rev. Henry Ward Beethef,
was presented 10 Plymouth Church.
By The report Mr.. Beecher is declared
mol guilty Of the charges preferred
against him, and the church, by IN al
most unanimous rising, voted acqui.
escence in the decision Of the commit.
tee.
The Examining Committee beg leave
TO report that, In consequence Of the
publication OF certain statements by
Theodore Tilton, the committee was re.
quested by The pastor OF the church to
Authorize IN investigation by o SUBJ
committee into the imputation made
AGAINST his character. On July 6, 1874,
the committee accordingly appointed
brothers H. W. Sage and H. NJ, oleye.
land such committee, and requested
them 10 associate with themselves
MessrS. ClaAin, Winslow, Stofrs, and
White, who are not members of the
Examining Committee. No charges
having been proved TO the Church or
to the Examining Committee against
our pastor, it was the duty Of the Sub
Committee simply to ascertain whether
there was any foundation in fact for
the charges and o trial before the
body Of the Church. The Sub. Com
mittee has, in our judgment, faithfully
and impartially discharged its duties.
The investigating committees report
follows. It is lengthy document, oc-
cupying an hour and a quarter in de-
livering. Tho committee soy they can
not refrain from referring to the mex
pressible regret which they in common
with all good men feel, that uncon.
trollable circumstances have made 1t
necessary to discuss in the most public
manner the unhappy scandal which is
the subject Of the present inquiry.
But accepting the situation as we
found 1t when we entered upon the high
and solemn trust thus imposed, we have
been profoundly impressed from the
beginning with the grave Importance Of
the work before us.
They say that most oil the persons
summoned before them have appeared.
The most notable exception is Carpen-
ter, the artist. Referring to the letter
OF Tilton requesting Beecher to resign,
they say that on or about 1853 Mr.. Til
ton began to urge Mr.. Beecher to visit
his (Tilton's) house, and he became
more intimately acquainted with Mr..
Tilton's family. He urged him to do
much Of his editorial writing in his
study, rs ii was more convenient to
write there than at the Office Of the In.
dependent. Mr. Beecher visited his
house, and o friendly relation sprang
up between the wife and family Of Mr..
Iilton and Mr.. Beecher, which con.
tinued down to December in 1870.
They then refer TO Tilton's opinions,
which caused the Establishment in
Chicago OF m opposition paper TO the
Independent, which Tilton then edited,
and the trouble and anxiety this change
caused 10 Mr.. Tilton, extending even
to q separation between the two. oaus-
ing The sending Of the letter referred
to, Mr.. Beecher, on reading this letter,
expressed his establishment at the re.
ceipt OF such letter, and denounced
its author. Mr.. Bowen then derided
the letter, and gave him some account
Of the reasons why he had reduced Til
ton from tile editorship Of the Lnde.
pendent TO the subordinate position OF
contributor.
The committee say that Mr.. Tilton,
before the committee, referring in time
to December, 1870, states his grievance
and cause OF complaint OF Mr.. Beecher
touching Tiltons business relations
with Mr.. Bowen in these words: "That
he (Mr. Beecher) then participated in
conspiracy to degrade Theodore Tilton
before the publicity loss Of place,
business, and repute." II is clear that
on the Goth day Of December, when the
so.called memorandum OF confession
was procured from Mrs. Tilton, the
chief melting cause Of that step on Til.
toms part was his belief that MIR.
Beecher had caused him "loss Of place,
business and repute."
After referring to the distress which
Beecher felt at being the cause OF this
trouble To Tilton, the committee go on
to analyze the charges made. The first
thing Is BeecherS letter OF apology to
Tilton. They say:
"This paper, which Is dated Jan. l,
1871, was intrusted by Mr.. Beecher to
Mr.. Moulton's keeping without read
ing it, nor was 1t read to him. This pa
per-sometimes called the apology, aud
sometimes the coniession-is in no
proper sense Mr.. Beecher's production,
or q correct report OF what he said. No
man will believe, for instance, that Mr..
Beecher said: 4 humble myself be.
fore him CTilton) as I do before my
God Another sentence, Her forgive
ness have, Mr.. Beecher states that 1t
was not said, nor the semblance OF it.
Pausing here, a very important ques.
ton arises in this connection. To what
does the apology refer II declares
Mrs. Tilton 'guiltless, and yet Tilton
says It refers 10 adultery, which Mr..
Beecher denies. Without now consid-
ering the weight Of credit to which the
respective parties are entitled where
there is o conflict between them, we be.
lieve, and propose to show from the
evidence, that the original charge was
improper advances, aud that as time
passed, aud the conspiracy deepened,
it was enlarged into adultery.
"That the so.called apology was not
for the main offence Tilton himself in
his discrimination clearly proves.
Mark bis words He says that the day
after it was procured he was in Moui-
toms room and there met Mr.. Beecher,
when the following scene occurred He
(Beecher) burst ont in an expression OF