The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-27
Mr. Tilton was first known tn me "a a ,onorte


editor Of the Independe"t. to which had been
from the start contributor. One Of the induce:
ments held ont to me was that Mr.. Tilton
from routine Office work. In this relation be-
came very much attached to him. We used to
s'f s to the sllc,ifs and prnt-shops; and dine
and with enthusiasm upon all questions: l used
to pour ont my ideas of civil affairs, public pol
often spoken with grateful appreciation, and
mourncd at later day over its cessation. August
was my vacation month, but my family repaired
during September and October. My labors con-
filming me to the city, took my meals in families
OF my friends, and rom year to year became SO
familiar wit their children and houses that
went in and out daily, almost rs in my own hul,sc
Mr.. Til!"n often alluded to this habit, and urged
me to do he same by his house. He would often
speak in cx'r.vaGant terms Of his wifc's esteem
and affection for me. After began to visit his
house, he sought to make it attractive. He
nr="'l me to bring my papers down there, and
use the study TO do my writing in, as it was not
pleasant to do my writing at the office of the
!ndcRe"drnt. When went to England. in 1873
Mr. Tiltcn took temporary charge Of the Inde-
pendant. On my return paved the way for him
to take sole charge Of it. my name remaining for
Esar and nc then becoming rcspon,sibic editor
violent assaults were made upon me by lilton in
the l"depfndent on account of my Cleveland let
te: and a temporary discrimination of publica-
ton Of my sermons in that paper broke OFT my
connection with it. Although Mr. Titon and I
remained personally on good terms, yet there was
Our social relat ions very kindly. and as late
~ 1852, at his request, sat to Page some fifty
times for portrait. 1t was here that I first met
and talked with Moulton. whose wife was Il mem
Der OF Plymouth Church, though he was not Il
member, or even regular attendant: During this
any member of his family the slightest hint that
there was any issati>fHc ion with my familiar
relations to his household A late, I think. as
leciuring tour he said: " | wish you would look
In often and sec that Libby is not lonesome. or
Soss not ct want any'hnT wrTs to that cSet
my visits to his family until after he BE-
gan gan. to fear that the I"Iche""fst would b.:
into Violence until on the " eve of ,Ss Gs
from both the papers. the independent and tn"
Brooklyn Union, owned by Dir. Bowen. Durin.
treated as father or elder brother. Children
were born: children died. They learned to love
me. and to froic with me as if was one OF
themselves. loved them, and had for Mrs.
1ilton a true and honest regard She seemed to
an atioctionatc mother. Il devoted wife. look
lag up 10 her husband as one far above the
mon race of men. and turning to me with arilcss
familiarity and with entire confidence. Childish
in appearance. she was child like in nature. ana
l would as soon have misconccivcd the contid"nc"
OF the little girls as the unstudcd affection which
she showed me. Delicate in health with self
cheerful air, she was bountll"ss in her sympathy
Cor those in trouble and lahorcd beyond her
strength for the poor. She had the charge. one
time. of the married womcns class At the Bethel
Mission School, and they perfectly worshipcd
books when published. sometimes sent down
from the farm flowers to be distributed among
q dozen or more families. and she occa-
eionaily shared. The only present of value ever
gave her my return iron, Europe in 's;,.
when distributed souvenirs of my journey t"
some nifty or more persons and t" her savca
simple brooch of little intrinsic value. So far
from sHpposing that my presence and influence
was alternating Mrs. Tlton from her family rca-
tons. thought, on the contrary that ii was Civ
Ing her strength and encouraging her to hold fast
a maj VII 1v ipfo I,pr
sociatons, and liable to be immersed by unusual
self.conceit. regarded Mr.. Tilton as in a very
critical period of his life, and used to- think it
about him. During the late years o: our friend
ship Mrs. Tilton spoke very mournfully to me
about the tendency of her husband to great lax
ity of doctrine in religion and morals. She gave
me to understand that he denied the divinity of
Christ, the inspiration of the Scriptures and
his views as to the sanctity of the marriage rela-
tons were undergoing constant change in the
direction of free love
In the latter part Of July. 1870. Mrs. Tilton was
sick, and at her request visited her. She seemed
much depressed but gave me no hint Of any
,r"able having reference to me. l chcercd her as
best could. and prayed with her just before
leaving. This was our last interview before the
trouble broke out in the family. l describe it he
cause it was the last. and its character has bear
iny upon the latter part of my story. Concerning
ali my other visits. it is sufficient to say thar at
no interview which ever took place between Mrs.
Triton and myself did anything occur which
might not have occurred with perfect proprirty
between a brother and sister. between a father
and child, between man OF homer ard the w,fe
OF his dearest friend, nor did anyt hing hap,
pen which she and sought to conceal from her
husband.
Some years before any open trouble between
Mr.. Tilton and myself, his doctrines. as set
forth i'll the leaders OF the independent. aroused
storm Of indignation among representative
ton"rcgationalists in the West, and, as the
organ, was written to on the subject. In reply.
l indi ynantly disciaimcd all rc~pon*hiliiy for the
views expressed by Tilton. My brother Edward.
stranccs, addressed to Bowen. concernin. the
coarse of the paper under Mr.. Titon's manage
mcnt. 1t was understood that Bowen agreed IN
rcnnn<trancc, to remove Iilton. or suppress his
peculiar views; but, instead of that. Theodore
seemed firmer in the saddle than before, and his
Loose notions OF marriage and divorce began to be
Swallowed edi ORALLY. This led to the startin. of
the Adtance in Chicago to supsrsede the ln"<-
Ps"de"t in the Northwest: and Mr.. Bowen was
seriously injuring his business. and Titon may
have felt that his position was being undermined
by OF ms HeMs I with whom ne suhSe
Vague. limitations of his feeling hard"
toward toward. me l ascribed to this mi<con-
h hsP@ him My iss1 ne rfp o% n"
the West, in December, 1870. u Young girl whom
Mrs. Tilton had taken into her own family c,',-
mony, understand. is before tn" commi,tcc) WAS
sent 70 me with an urgent request that would
visit Mrs. TltOn at her mothers She said that
Mrs. Iiton had left her home and gone to her
mothers in consequence of ill-trratment Of her
husband. She then gave an account of what she
had seen of the cruelty and abuse on the part of
with d"wncast look she said that Mr. I'iI.on had
Visited her chamber in the night and sough, her
, mt, to his wishes. l immcdistcly visited
count Of her home life and of the dcspotism Of
acr husband. and of the management Of a wolns'.
whom he had made hou>:&cspcr, which seems
i'm nj tTl1t ygNn h6
"hrther she should 20 back or separate forever
from her husband: asked permission
whose Judgment in all domestic relations
.hou:ht better than my own, and Accordingly
second visit was made. The result of the INFER
view was that my wife was extremely indignant
toward Mr.. Tilton and declared that no Consider
alton on earth would induce her to rcil'in AL
nour with man who had treated her with i,
as strongly a she did, but hc<;ta'cd a: always
do, at giving advice in favor of separation. Ii
greed that my wife should give her ina!
advice at another VISIT The ncxt DAY. ~. When When
was company and the children were present. ard
s" wrote on scrap of paper, incline I"
ion and settlement of support will be wi.rsl,
md that in his present desperate state her pres
him is far mere likely to pro.!"cc
hatred than her absence Mrs. Titon did no;
tell me that my presence had anything to d"
with this trouble, nor did she let me know thai
On the July previous he had cxtortcd from her
On the cvcnin. of Dec. 70, 1870, Mr. Bowen. on
his way home, called at my h"usc and handed
me IA letter from Mr.. Tilton. 1t was. as near y
| can remember, in the following terms:
''HENEY WARD BEEcHEE:
For reasons which you explicitly know. and
which forbear to state, demand that you with
draw from the pulpit and quit Brooklyn Is Il res
,Gcncc.
(S;gped) "THEoDoEE TILToN."
read it over twice. and tErncd to Bowen and
add This man is crazy; this is sheer insan
Iy." and other like words. MIR. Bowen pro
'essrd TO be ignorant Of its contents. and
handed him the letter to read. We at once fell
into conversation about Mr.. Tilton. lie gave
me some account of the reasons why he had re-
anced him from the editorshp Of the I",ie
penIent to the subordinate position Of contrbu
tor, viz: That MIR. Ti;tons religious and social
views were running the paper. But he said that,
as soon as it was known that he had go far
broken with Tilton, there came pouring in upon
him SO many stories of Mr.. Tiltons private
life and habits that he was overwhelmed, and
that he was now considering whether he could
consistently retain him on the Brooklyn Union,
as chief contributor to the Independent. He
narrated the story Of an affair at Winstcd, Conn.,,
some like stories from the Northwest, and the
charges brought against TlltOn in his own Office.