The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-07-11
Mr.. BneecheF De mands an Explana.
O.''' .lal ~ tfOft. ST

| MEs bIEeeCuef LIE mands an EKnlana,
I a'a tad - lfOn. VI
NEW YoRk, July 1o.-The 7ri5un,
says that the Rev. Henry Ward Deecher
has demanded an investigation by Ply
mouth Church Of the innuendoes' agains
his personal character by Theo. 1ilton.
Inc request was promptly made on juno
9Th, the daty Of the publication Of Mr,
Ttlton's letter and special committe wa
appointed 70 conduct the inquiry, Il has
been In progress since the OH Of July,
and will probably be concluded in 0 lew
days. The inquiry has been conducted
IN private. MIR. Tilton was summoned
as q witness. Mr.. Beecher has not yet
testified and It Is said on the authority Of
Mrs. Pearman that he will not appear.
The next number Of the Christian
Union will contain the following author
lied history oi the demand for an inyes.
tigahon: On tho seventh Of Julv.
Mr.. Beecher addressed a note to the
Executive Committe Of the Plymouth
church, stating that he had requested Ger.
tain gentlemen, members ot tho church
and OF the society, to make q thorough
and detailed examination into the rumoFs,
insinuations or charges made respectine
his conduct, and asked them that II thev
approved Of the selection 10 add their
official appointment 10 his personal re-
quest. The letter asking the gentlemen
10 serve was iallows:
"BRooKIYN, June 81, 1874.
"Gsntlenlen-In the present stale Of
public feeling l own 1t TO my friends and
70 the church and the society over which
l am pastor 70 have some proper inyesh-
cation made of the rumors, inslnuations
or charges respecting my conduct, as
compromised by tho late publications
made by MIR. Tillon. Ihave thought that
both the church and the society should be
represented, and l take the liberty Of ask.
Ing the following gentlemen TO serve In
this inquiry aud to do that which truth and
Justice may require. / beg that each ol
the gentlemen named will consider this as
II It had been separately and personally
sent to him, namely: From the Church.
Henry W. Sage, Augustus Stores, Henry
M. Cleveland from the Society-Horace
3. Clatiln, John Winslow, s. " White,
l desire you, when you have satisfied
yourselves by an impartial and thorough
examination Of all sources of evidence. 10
communicate TO the Examination Com.
mittee or to tie Church such action as
may then seem to, you right and wise.
(Signed) HENRY WARD BRRcuER.
The Examining Committee, recogniz.
ing the representative character oi the
men thus appointed, unanimously adopted
the action OF the pastor, and formally
authorized the gentlemen named TO sct az
committee on It's behalf and report The
result Of their investigation for its infor.
nation and further action.
The ConaregattonaliSt suggested that the
charges against Mr.. Beecher should be
referred Tor examination to several dis,in,
guished men in several parts Of the coun-
try. But MIR. Beecher seems to- have
though ght that the matter might more an.
propriately be referred to the members Of
his own Church and the society whose in.
terest in the purity Of its pastor would
make them do their work thoroughly and
tmparttally, and who having been chosen
to official trust by their fellow members,
would especially command their conf.
dence. This, however, Is in accordance
with the principles and the genius Of cor.
gationalism, which imposes upon eyery
church the duty Of settling It's own dlai.
culties without needlessly troubling 9th.
ers. Mr.. Tilton's publication, 1t will be
remembered, was made on Thursday,
June 25th. Mr.. Beecher coming to town
Friday conducted his usual prayer meet.
ing, and on Saturday, June 9Th, wrote
the above letter asking the church 10
investigate the matter. The committee
has entered upon It's work, and will prose.
cute 1t to the heartiest possible compile,
tion. p" r ''9i
The second letter OF Beecher, also ad.
dressed to the examining committee, and
referred TO above, Is not contained In the
above article. 1twas obtained last night
BY Tribune reporter, and is as follows:
"JuIY 9Th, 1874. !
"Dear Brethren:: ] enclose 10 you q
letter In which ] have requested three
gentlemen from the Church and three
from the society of Plymouth Church
gentlemen Of unimpeachable repute, and
who have not been involved in any Of the
trials through which VIC have passed
during the year-to mako q thorough
and impartial examination Of all charges
or insinustions against my good name
and to report the same 10 you, and I now
respectfully request that you will give to
this committee the authority to act in
your behalf Also, 1t seems wise 10 me
that the request should proceed from me
and without your foregoing knowledge,
and that you should give 10 Il authority 10
act in your behalf insofar as thorough
investigation Of the facts should be con-
cerned.
[slgnedl "HENRY WARD BEEcHRR"
Mi. Sherman says that the committee
read the letter on Sunday, June 2s, and
went to work the next day, Their &C.
ton received the unanimous approval Of
the Examining Committee OF tho church
which met on July 9th, and the six gen
tlemen were made subcommittee of the
Examining Committee. They expected
to finish their laborS this week, although
they may be delayed by the difficulty
Of getting witnesses, not be.
cause Of the unwillingness Of the
witnesses to testify, but because Of the
absence Of 80 many of them from town.
Very few were present at the Plymouth
prayer meeting tonight owing TO the
storm. Mr.. Beecher did not attend.