New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-22

20 raise protless excitement when we need 10 oaVe
There are already complexities enough. ,...,,u,.
We do not want the rick OF the ~ @
cnnro In o s%cs free from for
him. and there would he strong tende n ne or enber
ship without attendance. sympathy or doctrna' agree
ment. a. ...u, tor,rel md NOT vita or
svmpstbetc why should It continue with all the rsk OF
provoking irritating measures Every end ,hat
r will he the stronger and b. the weaker for It.
sHy 'nai letter is Written ha better very
short simply announcing withdrawal, and perhaps
with an Of sa Be- rsGs town Monday and
OF Tuesday. Shall hear from youf
December 8, 1871.
But when the meeting of the church was held for
that purpose it was charged there that Tilton had
slandered the pastor, Tilton therefore took the
stand and said in substance that if he had uttered
any ISLANDERS against Beecher he was ready to an
swer them, as God was his witness. Beecher there
upon stated that he had no charges to make and
the matter dropped. But when the resolution
was passed, instead of beingl put so to exon
crate Tilton, it was declared in substance that.
whereas certain charges had been made against him,
and he pleaded to those charges non-membership'
his name be dropped from the roll.
This action of the Church very much exasperated
TIltop, who thought that Beecher should have pre-
vented such a result and that he might have done
so if he had stood by him fully and fairly as agreed
In that, however, 1 believe TiltOn was mistaken
because Mr.. William +. West, who preferred the
charges against Titon, did it against the wish OF
Beecher and without any consultation with him. as
appears by the following letter Of June %, 1875 pro-
duced here, and marked IVY:
MR.. WEST TO BEECHER.
NEw-YORK June IS, 1873.
Rer. Fl. W. BEEcHER-DearSir: Moved BY sense OF
duty a member OF Plymouth church, nave eeelneu
Tilton and have requested Brother Halliday to call
meeting Of the Examining Committee IN order that
may make the charges before them go
Thinking that you would perhaDs like to be made &C
quanted with these facts, called last evening AT MI
Beachs house, where was informed that you had re-
therefore write you by early mail today WON Yours
very truly, "A' f. We'll
Meanwhile. through the Intervention of DR.. storrs
and Others as understood ecclesiastical council
had been called The acts of this council in attempt
ing to disfellowship Plymouth Church were very
displeasing to Beecher, and caused him much
trouble especially the action of Dr. StOrrs which he
expressed to me in the following letter. dated March
q, 1874, which is here produced and marked
"WW":
BEECHER TO MoCLTON.
[Confdenial
MY DEAR FRANK: am indignant beyond expression.
storrss course has unspeakabie outrage AFTER
has turned against him in the most venomous manner
and sincere His professions OF falth ana anec
taetic His object is plain He Is determined to force
q conflict, and to use one or us 10 destroy tue otncr
believes that he will be driven into which he
hopes will ruin me- II man betrayed another he
much will he unwilling 20 be fail In Storrss hand TO
strike friend. There are one or two reasons Gun
phac. for rafting until tue end OF tue COUNCIL pcioie
taking any action. . GU, , .,o
l. That the attack on Plymouth Church and the
threats against were so violent that
the public mind is likely to be absorbed III tue eccesr
asca elements and not in the personal . fy ,a
at me and the church far seyerer than at him. Inati
Council not d.fello|shp Plymouth Church then,
Storrs will 20 of Presbyeranism as ne
almost without disguise, threatened In MS speech anu
in that case the emphasis VIII be uere T. Ae a' rae,
any that would be one among so many as 10 lose
effect IN degree, and after the batte OYER Que eau
am patient know how to be- but pretty nearly USED
up with inward ana must must run away lor
Cordially and trustingly yours, H. W. d.
March rs. 1874.
of such o speech will be. ought TO damn Sto'Ts
While these proceedings were pending, the Rev.
Mr. Halliday the assistant of Beecher, called upon
him and upon me to endeavOr to learn the facts
about the difficulties between Beecher and Tlton
stated to Halliday that did not think that either
he or the church well employed in endeavorlng
to reopen a trouble which had been adjusted and
settled by the parties to it, and that 1T was better
in my Judgment, for everybody that the whole mat
ter should be allowed to repose in quiet The result
of the interview between Halliday and Beecher was
communicated to me in the following letter. I'M
dated and unsigned, so that l cannot fix the date
but it is in Beechers handwriting, and is here pro-
duced and marked Xxx:
BEECHER To MOULTON
SUNDAY. q.
MY DEAR FRIEND Halliday called last night Us
interview with him did not satisfy but disturbed 10
the same with Bell who was present IL tended
rery benefciai and gave confidence. Ths must be
looked after 1t is vain to build If the foundation sinks
I shall see you at 1890 tomorrow-if you return By
way OF 40 Remsen.
The anxiety which Beecher felt about these stories,
and the steps he took to quiet Them together with
the trust he reposed in me and my endeavors to aid
him in that behalf, may perhaps be as well seen
from letter headed 81 p, 73" which believe to be
June 25 1873, and directed, Ny dear yon Moltke,"
meaning myself, and kindly complimenting me with
the name of general having command of a battle.
1t is here produced, and marked "YY":
BEECHER TO MOULToN.
My DEAR yos MoLrKE: 1 have seen Howard again.
He saws was from Theodore that Gkison got the
statement, but from Carpenter
vda we would eome WITH Carpenter il he could be found
and at any rate by tonight ito see Sorrs but did
~ sent Cleveland with my horse and buggy over to
Will you put Carpenter on his guard about making
From him these bear the force Of coming from head
quarters, Yours truly and ever, III. W. BEECHER.
Meanwhile Halliday had had an interview with
Tlton the result of which. unsettling the matter
between Tilton and Beecher. very anxlousy
awaited by Beecher, who communicated to me, and
who was also quite as anxious that TiltOn should
take no steps by which the matter between them
should get into the newspapers OF be made in any
manner a matter of controversy. With this view he
stated the situation the same night of the inter-
view of Halliday and Tilton in the following letter.
which is without date and was written in pencil III
great haste AMI is here nroduced marked WIZ;