The Republican journal., 1874-07-02
MAINE, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1874.
Serious Charges against Mr., Beecher

Serious Charges against Mr., Beecher.
A New York despatch states that Thco-
dore Illton publishes a seven column let
ter in his paper, the Golden Age, OF this
week addressed to Rev. Leonard Bacon,
ex-moderatorI Of the Brooklyn Council,
which is calculated to make an eNtraor-
dinary sensation. Mr.. Tilton, after re-
marking that he had been for fifteen years
q member of Plymouth church, and had
become meanwhile all intimate friend OF
the pastor, says
The knowledge came to me in 1870 that
he had committed against me, an offence
which | forbear to name or characterize.
Prompted by my self-respect, immedi-
atelv and forever ceased my attendance
on his ministry. | informed him of this
determination as early as January l81 ,
in the presence Of 4 mutual friend, Francis
D. Moulton. The rules of Plymouth church
offered me a choice between TWO methods
OF retirement, one to ask Il formal letter
Of dismissal. the other to dismiss myself
less formally by prolonged absence, 1
chose the latter. Several powerful reasons
| prompted me TO this alternative
The pastor communicated to me in writ
ing an apology signed by his name He
also appealed to me to protect him from
bringing reproach to the cause of religion.
lie alleged that an exposure would forbid
him to reascend the pulpit. These and
other similar reasons had no right or di4-
position to disregard.
At length my absence from the church.
an absence the cause OF which not three
members of the congregation beside the
pastor knew, BEGAN to excite comment in
private circles. After many calnmnous
whisperings. near and far, weekly paper
in New York in November lS71, publish
ed a wicked and horrid scandal, publica-
ton which some persons in the church
ignorantly attributed in its origin to me.
Whereas | had previously spent many
months OF constant and unremltting en-
deavor 10 suppress tan cndeayor in
which, with an earnest motive but foolish
| Judgment | made many i'll directed sacri-
fees in my reputation.
In May, 1913, occurred the snrreptitiouS
publication. q tripartitc agreement, sign
ed by II. G. Bowen. Ii. w. Beccher and
myself; IN agreement which, 50 far as
was concerned, had for its object to pledge
me to silence against using or circulating
charges which Mr. Bowen had made
against Mr. Beecher
Titon then relates at some length the
steps taken by Mr.. West to cite him before
Plymouth Church on q charge OF circua-
ting scandal against the pastor The
charges formally brought few weeks
after, though nominally against himself,
We're really against the pastor. lie cheer
fully co-operated in defeating West, and
wrote q letter declining to accept copy
Of the charges addressedto him as mem
ber on the ground that he had four years
previously ceased connection with the
church. For this letter he received the
pastors prompt and hearty thanks.
An understanding was then had between
Mr.. Beecher and himself that Vests in
dictment was to be disposed of by q sim
pie resolution that he (Tilton) had four
years previously terminated his member
ship This was to put Vests case quietly
out of court without scandal. To Tilton'>
surprise and Indignation he subsequently,
learned that the report would declare that
whereas. he had been charged with SLAM
dering the pastor and had been cited tt
meet the charge. and had pleaded non
membership therefore resolved &c, and
upon appearing III person at the meeting
he was told by the report that he had
been served with the charges and request
ed to answer them, whereas the truth is he
was requested not to answer them. llt
, consequently arose in the meeting anl
oaid in Mr. Reerhnr's presence that if lI'
had slandered him he would answer for i
to his face, and Mr. Beecher replied in al
equally public manner that he had NJ
charge to make.
Next follows the history Of the Congre
gational Council, accompanied by letter.
from various persons and u criticism upon
the acts and language Of that body Ill
ton continues:
Il solemnly aver and no man Shall gain-Sa,
me that the reason why Plymouth Churcl
avoided an investigation into the scandal witt
which | was charged. was not because |, bu
another man, had brought dishonor on tn
Christian name; and yet the other person,
clergyman. permitted his church to brand m
before the council with an accusation. which
had | been i'll his place,and he in mine, woul
voluntarily have born for myself instead o
causing another. will add in another instance
by quotation from a letter which had orca
sion 70 address to Mr. Becchcr, dated May l>t
1874:
Henry JT1,rd Beecl,er.
sIE,-Mr. F. b. Carpenter mentions to me you
saying to him that under certain conditions nyolvin
certain disay yowals by me, of money would o
could be raised to send me, with my family to Europ
state explicitly that so long as life ana self respec
continue TO exist together in my breast, | shall b
debarrcd from receiving either directly or indirectly
any pecuniary or other favor ut your hands. rh
reason for this feeling on my part, you know $
well that will spare you the statement OF it,
Yours truly, THEODORE TuroN.
After some further remark, Tilton says
am at last forced to the disagreeahl
necessity Of publishing the following:
BROOKLYN, Jan. l. 1871.
| ask Theodore Tilton's forgiveness and hum
hle myself before him Us | do before my God
He would have been a better man in my cir
cumstances than have been. | can ask moth
ing except that he will remember all the othc
breasts that would ache | will not plead to
myself. I even wish that | We're dead.
II. W. BEECHEE.