The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-30
BEECHER'S DEFENSE.


THE POPULAR FEELING IN BRO oKLYN-wHAT
MR.. BEECHER PROPOSES DoING-THE PROB
ABLE ACTION OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
A correspondent to the Chicago Tribune
says: Theodore Tilton's letter to DIR. Leon
ard Bacon is attracting the profOundest at
IGNITION here. The letter has been variously
interpreted, and few have caught its true
meaning. Mr.. Tilton purDosely made it
vague, and to-day refused point blank to
make specific charge. That part of the doc
ument which troubles the people most, is the
quotation from letter OF Beecher to Tilton,
under date of January |, 1871, in
which the preacher says: II ask
Theodore Tilton's forgiveness, and humble
myself before him as ! do before my God"
Mr.. Tilton says to-day that quotation is only
a paragraph from long letter. This made
many people say to themselves, though
they rebelled against believing it: ''Mr
Beecher had a guilty conscience when he
wrote this. He has sinned greatly. This
accounts for his refusal to make charges
against Tilton. when challenged to do so in
church meeting" But the majority of
people think that the end of the deplordbls
controversy is near, and that the revered
That this may be so is really the
prayer of all thoughtful christian
people, for it would actually be a misfortune
to humanity to which Mr.. Beecher may al
most be said to be known for this great
teacher of practical religion, to be proved a
hollow hypocrite. At the regular Friday
night meeting Mr.. Beecher presided as usual.
He made no reference 10 his troubles, but
talked in his old genial way, one minute
having his audience in tears, and the next
convulsed with laughter. A dispatch to
the Chicago Times gives the following
int n - 8.
AN INTERVIEW
with the brilliant pastor OF Plymouth
church. Strolling along on the way to the
meeting OF the examiners, Mr. Beecher said
he had made up his mind that he ought to
take no notice whatever of the recent state
ments published by Mr.. Tilton. Taking the
writer's arm, and speaking frankly and for
chilly, Mr.. Beecher said 81 do not blame Mr.
Tilton. The whole affair is the fanlt o.
meddling ecclesiastics. and 1 do not fee
that ahl bound to CRAFTY them or the gen.
ersl public by noticing Mr.. Tilton s state
nsents. Ihave a large church under my care
and owe duty to my congregation first
Besides said Mr.. BeecEer, smilingly
81 am member of the press
and my paper requires considerable atten
! ton from me. The writer suggested that
unfortunately, there was much in what was
recently made public by Mr.. TilIon which
/ though not conclusive in itself, might c;
construed in worse sense against Mr.
/ Beecher and might seriously affect his powe
for good among his congregation. Mr.
Beecher-( earnestly ALI yes, that is true
do not pledge myself to remain silent il
view of developments that may possibly
arise, and even now 1 speak my own persona
I views when say am disposed TO make III
reply. My course, however, will depend
largely on what course the examination o
Plymouth church may think ii best for mt
to take. If they deem it for the good of tn
congregation and of religion that
] SHOULD SPEAK OUT
in reply, shall do so promptly and unmis
takably, and will put in its true light mucl
that thought best to pass over in spirit o
Christian charity.
Reporter-Do you intend to notice thi
matter i'm your parer3
Mr.. Beecher-No; don't think / ought 4
enter into any newspaper controversy.
must say frankly that i very much admir-
the tone and temper in which the press gen
orally has dealt with this matter. 1t is q sat
thing that this matter, which is mainly
personal one, both as regards Mr.. Tilton
myself and others, should be dragged forth
TO satisfy the pruriency OF some Of TIT
public.
Then Mr.. Beecher said: "Dont you thinl
i am right7"
| Newspaper rivalry seems to have been th,
chief original cause Of all this Tilton