Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-08-31
BEECHER's TRIBULATIONs.
what Brother Clergy man Knows of
HIS Into ntfOuS I'm lS-3

q formal statement by the Rev. NJ. W. Patton,
ID. D., OF what he knows about the charges
against Mr.. Beecher. On Thursday last he re-
ceived letter from the chairman OF the Brook
lyn estigating committee, asking him 90 sp-
pear before the committee and give any infor-
nation In his possession touching the charges
sgainst Rev. Ii. W. Beeeher, or, IL he could not
appear in person, to send q written statement
OF the same. Mr.. Patton replied by a note, say
ing that be was unable 10 90 TO Brooklyn at the
present time, but tha' he would send q written
statement At his earliest convenience. On the
evening Of the same day Mr.. Patton forwarded
paper to the chairman OF the committee, from
which the following extracts are made:
Twas shocked TO receive on the first day OF
January, ISIS, letter nom my brother, resi-
dent in the city of New York, stating that he
had learned that Beecher WAS guilty, and that
be, being known with his wife 10 be q warm
friend and ardent admirer of Mr.. Beecher, had
on that ground been applied TO by Mr.. Frank
b. Carpenter, the artist. TO take stock in q new
daily paper, which was 90 be started in New
York, under the authorship OF Mr.. Beecher;
that MIR. Carpenter told him that Beecher was
guilty; that the fact was known 20 some Of his
intimate friends; that IL was necessary 70 do
something to break bis fall before the public;
that on consultation with Mr.. Beecher as 70 q
method by which he could withdraw from the
ministry without exciting suspicious unduly, 10
had been agreed to see whether q new daily
the ground that Greeley was dead, and Ben
nett and Raymond, aud thus no conspicuous
editsr remained; and that, a. Mr.. Beecher was
now 60 years OF age, and had now celebrated his
pastoral silver wedding, the time was auspi-
cious for him to withdraw from his pastorste
with yet unweakened faculties, and 10 give his
remaining years 70 an honorable and useful
work at the head OF 3 political party. NV
brother said further, that on his mentioning 70
Mr.. Carpenter that was likely 70 leave the
AdUdnoe, and that, possibly, IL would be well TO
engage me on the proposed paper. Mr.. Car
penter warmly assented and suggested that L
should be sent for. So my brother begged me
TO come on Immediately, whether l felt in
cliDes TO the project or not, as my advice might
be Of value In 30 important an affair.
This letter stunned me. Islept bat little that
night. The statements were so plain that 1
knew not how to doubt and as little could I
reconcile myself to believe. The next day I
wrete TO my brother th at If the facts were as he
represented on Mr.. Carpenters authority, 4
could have absolutely nothing TO do with the
proposed paper; that the scheme would be q
failure in all respects; was based on a wrong
principle, ard could not receive nay co-opers-
ton; but that 1 would comply with his urgent
request and proceed TO New York in a few days.
This did, informing no one bat my wife OF the
received, hut carrying around a heavy heart.
The letter from my brother burned, lest, by
any possibility, il should fall into other hands
January s, / think 1 saw my brother, who CON
frmed more at length what he had written, and
tried that same day to see Mr.. Carpenter, IS also
the neNt morning. but in vain. He did not come
from Brookly n that night, he devoting at that
time his whole energies TO Mr.. Tilton and Mr..
Beecher, TO the entire neglect of his own busi-
ness. But the second evening he came to my
brothers., and we spent two or three hours talk
IL z over the matter. He said that the newspa-
pers had been laid aside for the present, for
Mr.. Beecber thought il would excite suspi-
cioD, rather than ailay it, and because IL
was hoped that an investigation might be
ovaded, and Mr.. Beecber be able TO stand on his
past reputation; and vet he said that no one
could tell what a Gay might bring forth; that
Mr. Tilton was almost beside himself with ex-
ter Florence had learned it from Mrs. Morse,
Mrs. Tilton's mother, who said to her one day
up stairs: "Florence, in this very room, Henry
Ward Beecher committed adultery with your
mother" that FIorencohad threatened to rise
up in Plymouth Church lecture room and de-
maBd an investigation, and had declared that
there was but one name size hated worse than
TiltOn, and that was Beecher, and that she wac
a girl Of spirit ara might carry out her threats,
that Mr.. L. b. Carpenter told him Pattan) tia.
Mr.. Bowen proposed the note dem aEdIng Mr
Beecher's Withdrawal from Plymouth Church
and from Brooklyn, and offered To carry IL apd
back IL mp; that the note was taken by Mr..
Bowen; that he returned the Lext day In an op-
pcsite frame of mind, demanding tue Woodstock
letter and insisting on silence about il; that Mr..
Carpenter could not explain the change, batha1
heard that when Mr.. Bowen handed the letter
20 Mr.. Beecher he said, "See what a viper you
have Dursed in your BOSOM" that Mr. Beecber
may have told Mr.. Bowen something To Mr..
r.s disadvantage, or may have threatened
to attack Mr.. Bowen in some exposed part; that
all Eevents he dismissed Mr.. 4. on the spot
for refusing compliance with his demands.
Furthe rmore, when the arbitration was held to
recover damages for this breach OF contract, IL
was decided, first, that MIR. Bowen slfould paw
Mr.. Triton 3 GOO; second, that Tilton should
surrender the Woodstock lie ter; third, that Mr..
Bowen should insert conspicuously in the Iude-
pendent an editorial eulogistic OF Mr.. Titon;
and fourth. that MIR. Beecher should copy this
into the Christian Union, and should add fur
tber euloey of his own all of which was duly
carried ont. Mr.. Csrpente also said that DIR.
Oliver Jobnson had knowledge OF these charges
of Mr.. Bowen against Mr.. Beecher and of siIni-
lar matters. But after the publication OF Mrs.
Woodruff be had been put in as managing edi-
tor OF Mr.. Beecher's paper, the Christian l uion,
though he could not affirm that there was any
connection in the two facts. / remarked that
this appointment, in view OF Nr. JOhnson's
known sentiments on religion, which were IN
derstood TO have ousted him from the Indepen-
dent, excited much comment
He spoke as TO Beecher and Mrs. Ttlton
Though without Affirming or denying the broad
est for m OF the charges, except TO say that a
denial could be made OF the precise form OF the
statement made by Mrs. WoOdaull,) almost eK-
actly as given in the published statements Of
Mr.. Tilton and MIR. Moulton, including the
written confession or charge OF Mrs. Tilton; the
date and fact OF the interviews of Beecher aud
Tilton at Moulton's house; the visit to Mrs. Til
ton's sick room by Beecher, and the securing
the retracti0n; the written reversal OF that again
the same night by Mrs. Tilton; the way aud
time in which Mr.. Moulton obtained from Mr..
Beecher Mrs. Tiltons paper; the fact that
Moultcn had all the important documents, and
parties, &C.
word was said by Mr.. Carpenter implying that
Mr.. Beecher claimed to be innocent Of the
charge OF having st least made base proposals TO
Mrs. Tilton. On the contrary, be spoke freely
OF Mr.. Beechers admission OF guilt with respect
to her in this way, and Of the fact that several
persons in his congregation knew OF his i'm
purity, and quoted Beecher's words TO him Co
this effect: "Nen talk of the courage req uired
to face the lannon's mouth, but that is nothing
compared with what 1 have had 70 exercise,
these years back, in looking in the face and
preaching to persons who knew that had been
guilty OF such things"
Finally, he offered TO take me TO Beecher, that
I might hear the same things from his lips. NV
reply was al could not endure the pain OF
such an interview. These many years have
honored Mr.. Beecher a. q man and ~ q minis
ter, while differing from some OF his theological
and reforDatory views, the effect Of which I
fear, and our occasional personal intercourse
has been friendly, sD~ could not bear to look
him In the face In Il aour Of his humiliation
unless positive duty required II. But here are
his lifelong ministerial associates, Drs Storrs,
Budington and others. IL 10 for them TO deal
personally with him under such painful admir-
sions." = Twin only add that ~ made
written Wanda just after my interview with
Carpenter, while every thing was fresn and
deeply impressed on my mind feel certain q
the Substantial CORRECTNESS OF this statement, |
but subsequently,, at different times, inquired
Of my brother a. 70 the accuracy OF my mem