Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-15
The Beecher.TiltOn Scandal.

New York, July l0.-Henry Ward
Beecher has demanded Of Plymouth
Church an investigation of the chrges
made against him by Tilton. The
probability is that at least part of
the truth will come out at the 10 esti-
cation which is to be made byboth
the Church and the Society ofPly-
mouth Church. Tilton's letter, ately
published, was printed first of i'll in
the Golden Age of June 81, but epies
were circulated two or three dys in
advance among newspapers. Mr..
Beecher's letter demanding inve,iga-
ton is dated June q, the sane day
that the letter was published. There
is reason to believe that Beachc: had
seen the letter, but thought it v,uld
not be published. The fact that it
was published with his own letter. in
which he humbled himself befor his
God, has driven him to demand IN in
vestigation. The demand was made
in two letters, one to the officers of
Plymouth Church and the other to the
officers of the Society of Plymouth
Church Both are brief; the tirt de,
mands an investigation, and the second
names three members of the Church
aud three of the Society whom Mr..
Beecher desires to be on the committee.
On the 7th day Of July addessed
note to the Examining Committee of
Plymouth Church, stating that be had
requested certain gentlemen, members
of the Church and Of the society, to
make thorough and detailed exami-
nation into the rumors, insin,ations,
or charges, made respecting bis con-
duct, and asked them, if they approved
OF this action, to add their Official ap-
pointment to his personal request.
The letter asking the gentlemen to
serve was as follows.
BROOKLYN, June II, 1874.
GENTLEMEN: In the present safe of the
iubic fee ling, owe it to my friends and
pastor, to haye some proper Investigation
made of the rumors, insinuatioIs or charges
made respecting my conduit, as com
promised by the late publication made by
Mr.. Tilton. have though that both
the church and society should De represent
ed, and | take the liberty # asking the
following gentlemen to serve il this inquiry
and to do that which truth and justice may
require. | beg that each of tie gentle men
named will consider this lettg as if it had
been separately and PERSONAL---VERY. to him
namely, from the church, Henry W. Sage,
Augustus Storrs and Henry 1. Cleveland !;
from the society, Horace 3. ClaHin j ohm
Winslow and j. V. White.
l desire you, when you have satisfied
yourselves by an impartial and thorough
examination ST all sourcesIf evidence, to
communicate to the examining committee,
or to the church, such actin as may then
seem to you right and wise
HENRY WARD BEEcHER.
The following is the second letter:
July 6, 1874.
DEAR BRETHREN moose to you a let
ter n which have requested three gentle
uCu iioHI euS CuuICll, suu Iultc lFOIH lue
society Of Plymouth Chdrch, gentlemen of
unapproachable repute, aud who have not
been involved in any of the trials through
which we have passed during the year. to
make thorough and impartial examina-
ton of all charges, or iasinuations, against
my good name, and to report the same to
you, and | low respectfully request that
yeu will give to this committee the author
ity to act in your behalf also 1t seemed
wise to me that the request should proceed
from me, and without your foregoing know
ledge, and that you should give to it the
authority to act in your lehalf, in so far as
q thorough investigation If the facts should
be concerned.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.