New-York tribune., 1874-09-19

Ter among men, crisp. direct, earnest; bri'nan imagi
native poetic; keen Damascus blade and true as
the needle its pole In his sympathies with the needs
OF man. he was surely designed by Providence for the
enjoyed the benefit OF his racy and gifted pen WIN be
oT4
under his He has consented TO perform ths
service in addition TO his abOrs as editor OF The Broo
cordially welcoming him in his new character and
grathed In being able TO say that his editorial connec
ton with The Independent terminates only with honor
and with most perfect satisfaction to himself we shall
10 our next ssne announce our plans for the future &C.
&c. - HENRY G. BOWEN.
Mr. Bowen in addition 70 hislpubshed encomium OF
me above quoted. gave me gold watch OF reputed
value OF $500; aud Oliver johnson, then the managing
editor of The Independent. TO whom had made sim
lar gift, me the following note Dec. 20, 1870;
DEAR THEODORE: Don't buy chain for your new
watch for have ordered one which want you 10 ae-
cept as New-Years present from me.
The above particulars OF retirement from The In
dependents editorial chair-a retirement which Mr.
Bowen said was TO my honor and which beneved was
to my proft-I have thus been compelled to give at
tedious length order that the exact facts may con-
front Mr. Beechers fal,e description of the same event.
when he said above quoted Four years ago Theo-
dore lton fell from OF the proudest editorial chairs
in America" The preceding record from The independ
enPs columns and by its editors touching the
circumstances Of my retirement from that editorial
chair, show how fell land may add that would
be happy to experience another such fall
AS had completed the above mentioned
ARRANGEMENTS with Mr.. Bowen, aud they had been
announced above quoted, he urged me 70 make
more prominet figure OF Plymouth Church in The DAILY
Union. and remarked on my non-attendance at the
church meetings. This led me to reply that
had a good reason for not going TO Plymouth
Church, and that I should never again SIT
under Mr. Beecher's ministry. On Mr.. Bowen's
urging me ito give this reason, reminded him
first Of his orepeaed charges against MI Beecher
q clergyman given to loose behavior with women and
dangerous to the families OF his congregation said
that had IN past times given little credence TO these
accusations being slow to believe Ill Of my pastor and
friend; but that had been informed by Mrs Tton,
few months previously Of improper behavior by Mr..
Beecher toward her, and that l should never again
attend Plymouth Church. Mr. Bowen instantly pressed
me 10 know the exact nature OF what Mrs Tlton had
told me- but declined TO put him in possession OF any
thing further than that Mr. Beecher had assaulted the
honor of my house.
This announcement famed Mr Bowen to a flame OF
anger against Mr. Beecher All his past griey-
ances against his pastor seemed TO be rekndled INTO
sudden heat He walked up and down his library, de-
nouncing Mr. Beecher as man guilty OF many aduter
les dating from his Western pastorate and running
down through all the succeeding years. Mr.. Bowen
declared that Mr.. Beeeher had in the preceding month
February 1s7O confessed to him certain OF these
aduteres and Mr. Bowen pointed out to me the exact
srot in his library Mr.. Beecher with tears and
humbeness had las Mr.. Bowen said) acknowledged 10
him his guilt. Mr.. Bowen in this interview declared
that and owed duty to society In this matter ana
that 1 ought to join him in just demand on Mr.
Beecher to retire from the ministry, to quit the
CITY, and to betake himself beyond the
reach OF the families whose homes he was III
vading like destroyer. Mr. Bowen challenged me 10
write such demand and begged for an opportunity 10
to Mr. BeecDer in person, saying that ne woud
support by great volume of evidence, and would com
pei its enforcement. wrote the spot the note men,
Mr. nn's tafa which seemed
please Mr. Bowen greatly. Just as was leaving his
house his word TO was, Henry Ward Beecher Is
wolf in the fold, and know II he ought never TO
preach another write another word In re-
gious newspaper he endangers families and disgraces
religion; she should be plotted out"
This interview with Mr. Bowen occcrred on the 10th OF
December 1870 partly in the presence OF over
Johnson who retired before It was ended On that
same day informed Mr. Moulton Of this interview, as
he he has noticed in his narrative also Informed Mis-
Tlton, who, she was then recovering from recent
miscarriage received the intelligence with great dis
tress She spoke alarmingy Of Mr. Bowens long hatred
of Mr. Beecher which seemed to her to be about TO
hreak forth afresh and said that IL Mr. Bowen and
should thus combine against Mr. Beecher she woud run
risk OF an exposure OF her secret She wept and
reminded me Of the pledge which had given her, SIX
months before to do her pastor no wrong. she sad'
moreover that Mr. Beeeher might not altogether under
stand my letter to him demanding his retirement for
reasons which he explicitly knew" because she had
not vet informed him that she had made her cones-
sion to me- surprised at this intelligence, Tor IN
the previous August she told that she had conmuni-
Gated 10 Beecher the fact that she had told me the
story OF their sexual association She went on pctung
70 me the heartbreak which she would suffer it, in the
coming collision between Mr. Bowen and Mr.. Beecher,
her secret should be divuged well remember the pit
iful accents in which, for the chldrens sake and her
own she pleaded her cause with me, and begged me 10
be gentle with Mt Beecher and to protect him from Mr.
Bowens anger; also, TO quench my own.
Living on her bed sick, she said that unless could
stop the battle which seemed about to open and could
make peace between Mr.. Bowen and MT Beecher-f not
for their sakes at for hers-and could myself be
come reeoncied TO the man who had wronRed me, she
would pray that she might die. She then begged
me 10 send for Mr. Beecher desiring me 10 see MN IN
her presence to speak to him without malice when he
came and him that would not proceed In the
matter Of his expulsion from the pulpit. declined
such an interview as not comely for sick woman's
chamber nor was willing TO subject her TO the NORTH
cation OF conferrng with her paramour IN the presence
OF her husband.
After this conversation with Mrs Tilton I notified
Mr. Bowen that intended TO see Mr.. Beecher face 10
face In response to this intelligence, Mr. Bowen
into my editorial at The Union Office and without
asking or giving any explanation but exhibiting
passion such as had witnessed In him before,
and speaking like who in fear and desperation,
he exclaimed in a high key that II diyulged to Mr..
Beecher story of HIS adulteries he Mr
Bowen) had narrated them, he Mr. Bowen) would In
terdict from again entering his office or his
house He then suddenly retired. This unexpected
exhibition on Mr. Bowens part could not comprehend
for did not dream that az. Bowen. who deter
mined an enemy OF Mr.. Beecher had meanwhile en-
tered into league with the object of his hate in
order TO overthrow. not Mr.. Beecher but myself!
Uniformed Elizabeth at once Of Mr.. Bowen's excited
interview. She believed that his excitement was only
aIfaa o0ofna NJ
Beecher She said that Mr. Beecher had often told her
how greatly he feared Mr. Bowen She was appalled,