Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-01
The Beecher.TiItOn Scandal.

COIuWu al IlClC LOuOAlhS SAO DCCShOA
scandal. It is defence of Mr.. Tilton
against the charges Of Rev. Leonard
Bacon, moderator Of the late Brooklyn
council, that Mr.. Tilton has been
cowardly slanderer of Beecher, whose
magnanimity, alone saved him from
disgraceful expose. Having suffered
in silence for four years from these and
similar misrepresentation adroitly put
before the public by Plymouth chuech.
Mr.. Tiltou says neither patience or
duty will permit him longer to conceal
the actual facts from the public. He
then goes on to say that be has never
slandered H. w. Beecher, but on the
contrary has sacrificed his own reputa-
ton to suppress the truth about him.
and that he never has refused to ap-
pear before the church aud answer
all question regarding the scandal that
might be put to him. Tilton gives
his reason for severing his connection
with the church as follows:
After | had been for fifteen years a
member of P ynouth church and had
become, meanwhile, an intimate friend
of its pastor, knowledge came to me, in
1870, that he had committed against
me an offense, which [ forbear to name
or characterize. Prompted by my
self-respect, Immediately aud forever
ceased my attendance on his ministry.
He publishes the following as 40
extract from a document signed By
Mr.. Beecher:
BROOKLYN, Jan. l, 1s7l.-I ask Theodore
Tilton's forgiveness, and humble myself be-
fore him as do before God He would
have been better man in my circumstances
than have been. [ can ask nothing ex-
cept that he will remember all the other
breasts that would ache. | will not plead
for myself. even wish that were dead
(Signed,D H. W. BEECHER.
New YORK, June Theodore
Tilton's letter to DR.. Leonard Bacon
is attracting the profouudest attention
here. The letter has been variously
interpreted, and few have caught its
true meaning. Mr.. Tilton purposely
made it vague, and to-day refused
point blank to make to make specific
charge. That part of the document
which troubles people most is the quo.
tatiou from letter of Mr.. Bcecher to
Tilton, under date of January l, 1874,
in which the preacher says: IL ask
Theodore Tilton's forgiveness, and
humble myself befor. him as do be-
fore my God" Mr. Tilton says to-day
that quotation is only a paragraph
from long letter. This made many
say to themselves, though they rebelled
against believing it: Mr.. Beecher had
guilty conscience when he wrote this.
He has sinned greatly. This accounts
for his refusa! to make charges against
Tilton, when challenged to do so in
church meeting" But the majority
of people think that the end of the
deplorable controversy is near; and that
the reverend preacher will come out
from it stainless That this may be so
is really the prayer of all thoughtful
Christian people, for it would actually
be almisfortune to humanity, to which
Mr.. Beecher may almost be sal to be
known, for this great teacher of practi-
cal religion to be proved hollow hypo-
critic.
At the regular Friday night meet
Ing Mr. Beecher presided as usual,
He made no reference to his troubles,
bat talked in his old genial way, one
minute having his audience in tears,
and the next convulsed with laughter.
Mr.. Beecher refuses to talk on the
subject of his trouble with Mr.. Tiltor
at present. B. N. Sherman, Clerk Of
Plymouth Church, says that the church
will take no further action on the
matter until specific charges are made.
He saya he feels confident that every
thing will SO be satisfactorily settled.
A personal friend of Mr.. Beechers
and \ man who stands high in the
church, says that it is probable that
oH cauOaJ I'LL oCOCutE Will make
Thorough explanation of the case in
stead Of preaching sermon.
General B. E. Tracy, a Brooklyn
lawyer of prominence, who is thorough
ly aquanted with the case, has made
the following statement: Mr.. Shear
man. above referred to, says it is very
fair one.
In hi, Communication to DR.. Bacon, Mr..
9ilton does net tell what Mr.. Beechers
sffesss IL bat he clearly shows " hat it i, not.
He shows that it 10 net an offense for which
one gentlemaA eoRld not apologize to an
other and not have the apology accepted.
Mr.. riltsn says explicitly that upon the
receipt Of information which led hin to
make the charge hs sought Mr.. BeecAer
and obtained from him Al explanation
which hs regarded and accepted - IN
apology. The past would never have dis
taFssd their public relations bat for the
mAnnsr in which Plymouth Church baa
treated his case during the Congregational
CounGI. Mr.. Tiltsa never charged Ar.
Besehef with criminal intercourse With