Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-31
BEECHER,s SHAME.

On the evening OF the Doth Mr.. Theodore
Tiiton submitted his statement to tho COM
mittee OF Plymouth Church appointed by
Mr.. Beecher to investigate certain charges
which had been made against him, with
which the names Of Mr.. Tilton and his wife
had been 4unpleasantly connected. Notwith.
standing the committee endeayorcd TO sup.
press Its publication 1t appeared in print on
the afternoon Of the 2lst in an obscure Brook.
lyn paper, and all over the United States on
the morning OF the 2od.. The salient points Of
the statement arc given below. 1t is proper
TO add that the document Is sworn to by the
maker tHet
Mr.. Tilton prefacos his statement by re-
cital Of the circumstances which called II
forth, saying that grave offense had been
committed by Mr.. Beecher and duly apollo.
gized for, aud that all reference thereto would
have been omitted were II not that Mr.. Beech
er had chosen to put on before the public an
atfectationl of Ignorance and innocence con
cerning them, and had conspicuously appoint
ed a committee Of six Of the ablest men Of his
church, together with two attorneys, TO in
quire into what he led the public TO believe
was an unaceo1ntable mystery, rs II he had
neither committed an offense nor made an
apology, thus prompting the public to infer
that both were the fgments Of his (Tilton's)
imagination and that he was under some
frightful halucinRtion, living in 'dream and
forging a fraud The responsibility Of the
grave disclosures he was about to make rested
not with him, but firstly with Beecher, who
had prompted the Investigation, and next
with Mrs. Tilton, who had joined Kim In CON
spiracy which could not fail to be full Of peril
and wretchedness to many hearts.
The statement commences as follows:
WHEREAS, The Rev Henry Ward Beecher
has instigated the appointment OF a COM
mittee, consisting of six members Of his
church and society, to inquire and report
upon alleged aspersions upon his character
'by Theodore Titon; and
WHEREAS, Mrs Elizabeth r. Tilton, wife
of Theodore Tilton, has deserted her home
in order to cooperate with Beecher in Il
conspiracy to overthrow the credibility and
good repute of her late. husband as a man
and a citizen therefore,
Theodore Tilton, being thus authorized and
required, and. by published demand made
upon him by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
and being now and hereafter released by the
act of Mrs. Tilton from further responsible
ity for the concealment Of the truth touch
ing her relations with Beecher, therefore
Theodore Tilton thereby sets forth, under
solemn oath, the following facts and testi.
mony.
Here follow the specifications:
l. Setting forth the marriage of Mr.. and
Mrs. Tilton
2. That for a period of fifteen years an init.
mate friendship existed between Mr. Tilton
and Mr.. Beecher, which friendship was ce-
mented to such a degree that the 'subse-
quent dishonoring by Beecher of his friends
wife was crime of uncommon wrongful.
ness and perfdy.- -~..sE- ~ Fe--
3. That about nine years after, and between
that time and 1870, Mr.. Beecher had won the
affectionate love of Mrs. Tilton, and, after re.
peated assaults upon her mind with overmas.
tering argument, had accomplished the pos
session of her person, and had maintained
with her until the year 1870 the relation called
criminal intercourse, "this relation being re
garded by her during that period as not Grim
inal or morally wrong, such had been tht
power OF his arguments as clergyman tC
satisfy her Religious scruples against sucl
violation of virtue and honor"
Specifications 4 and detail the occa
sions and place when and where these rca.
tions were exercised.
6. That Mrs. Tilton, previous to 1868, al
though knowing that remarks were made de
rogatory TO Mr.. Beecher's personal purity
continued to receive his kindly attentions, be
ing convinced, as she said, that she could in
spire in him by her purity and fidelity an in
creased respect for the chaste dignity ofwom
anhood.
Z. That the first suspicion which crossed
his mind that Beecher was abusing the affcc
tion and reverence which Mrs. Tilton bor
her pastor was an improper caress given il
his library. That Mrs. Tilton confessed tina
Mr.. Beecher had done wrong and that sh,
had reproved him for his offense whereat IN
(Tilton) condoned the Ofiense. Another in
stance of suspicious conduct he observed OF
an unexpected return to his residence, whicl
was also explained by Mrs Tilton and for
given by her husband.
8. That in the spring of 1870 Mrs TiltoI
confessed the relations that she had beel
maintaining with Mr.. Beecher, and that sh
felt justified before God in her intimacy witt
him, save the necessary deceit which accom-
panied It, at which she frequently suffered.
o. That after the above confession, feelin,
that she had been artfully misled through re
ligious reverence for Mr. Beecher, and from
desire to protect the family from shame, h
condoned the wrong
TO- Gives the details of the Bowen -Tiltoi
quarrel, and the meeting with Mr.. Beecher
with whom he had not spoken since the con
fession referred to In the Sth specification
At that meeting the confession Of Mrs. Tiltol
reduced to writing furnished to Beecher tn
first knowledge which he had received tina
Mrs. Tilton had made such confession. A
this interview between Beecher and TiltOI
permission was sought by Beecher to consul
with Mrs. Tilton on that same evening. Thi
permission being granted, Beecher departed
and in about half an hour returned thither
expressing his remorse and shame, and de
claTnS tndJ ms lire ana WOrk seemed DrOugh
to sudden end. Later in the same evening
Tilton, returning to his house, found his wifi
weeping and in great distress, saying tina
what she bad meant for peace had only givel
pain and anguish; that Beecher had jus
called on her, declaring that she had slail
him, and that he would probably be tried be
fore council of ministers unless she woult
give him written paper for his protection
whereupon she said he dictated to her, ant
the copied in her own handwriting, a suitable
T. -. -.
council of ministers. Mrs. Tilton having KEEP
no copy of this paper, her husband asked he
to make distinct statement in writing Of he
design and meaning in giving it; whereupo
she wrote aletter detailing the circumstance
under which it was written. That subsequent
ly Mr.. Beecher returned the paper given hin
by Mrs. Tilton, and on the following day CAV
to Mr.. Moulton, tried friend, the celebrate,
letter of apology, asking Tilton's forgiveness
and wishing that he were dead.
IL. Gives letter from Mrs. Tilton stating
that cruel conspiracy had been forme,
against her husband, in which Mrs. Beeche
and her mother were the chief actors.
IL Gives letters from both Tllton an
Beecher showing mutual expressions of goo
spirit and also letter from Beecher to Mrs
Illton commencing Moulton for his effort Il
heal the differences between them.
Is. That about year after Mrs. Tilton'
confession her mind renained in the fixet
opinion that her criminal relations will
Deecher hau not Deen morally wrong, 81
strongly had he impressed her to the con
trary, but at length change took place il
her convictions upon this subject, and sb
wrote to her husband saying that a new ligh
had dawned upon her mind and she had be
come thoroughly convinced Of her sinful
ness a.
IA. That about this time Mrs. Woodruff de
tailed the wicked and injurious story which
she published a year after. Meanwhile TiIton
desiring to guard against any temptation L
s. woodruff to publish the grossly distort
B..- IN which she gave to Tilton, ant
90 ysrB,.. onward attributed to him, sough
when she alSS @ryices and kindly atten
by many personal - - such good. will 10
tions TO Influence her w nd remove' oil
ward himself and family as w., him viii
disposition or desire IN her to afflic, =. so
such publication. Iilton's efforts and Ss-
Citations with Mrs. Woodruff ceased in April,
1872, and six months afterward namely,
Ao.,' o 1870 shn mn hlishnd the scnndnl which