The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-15


tanned any degree of eminence among the ad.
vocates of liberal sentiments, it seemed as if
those who claimed a monopoly of reform selected
such persons as the special victims OF charges
and hlthy SANDER. was by no means the only
clergyman who was made the text for their
private gossip, while it seemed as ii no woman
of any distinction within the land was lett out
of their pool of scandal. All the history OF
their past lives and even the graves OF their
friends were raxed over to furnish material and
pretext for their loathsome falsehoods. 1t was
inexpressibly disgusting to me, and would not
associate with these people. Yet Mr.. Tilton
and Mr. Moulton had some strange theory con-
corning them in the management of this par
ticular affair, which always made. it in their
Judgment necessary for them to maintain
friendly relations with this group of human
hyenas.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH GETTING UNEASY.
From this circle and from Mr. Tiltons init
mite associations with it, many rumors and
suspicious arose among my own congregation,
wnlch led them to press me with questions and
to originate Investigations especially into the
affairs of Mr.. Tilton, from whom alone. as gen
orally believed, the rumors against me origin
ated. In this was constantly and vehemently
assured by Moulton that they were mistaken,
and yet their zeal in my defence made them
impatient of my silence and anxious to deal 10
a summary manner with Mr.. Tilton. Had l
allowed them to do this, it was obvious that
Mr.. Tilton would have been greatly enraged,
that all his former unjust suspicious OF me
would have been confirmed, and that he would
have had every motive which was necessary to
induce him to break up the peace between US,
and to make some such public attack upon me
as he has finally made.
FREE-LovE DON'T PAY.
have no knowledge Of Mr.. Tilton's friend
ship for Victoria Woodruff other than that
which the public already has. That he mani
Tested his admiration for her publicly, that he
wrote her biography, and that he presided at
her Stenway Hall lecture, mention only be-
cause by this he aroused against himself great
indignation and odium. The winter following,
1871 and 1872, Mr.. Tlton returned from the
lecture field in despair Engagements had
been Cancelled, invitations withdrawn, and he
spoke of the prejudice and repugnance with
which he was everywhere met as indescribable..
urged him to make prompt reputation of
those women and their doctrines. told him
that no man could rise against the public conf
dence with such load. Mr. TIlton's vanity
seldom allows him to regard himself as in the
wrong or his actions faulty. He could never be
made to believe that his failure TO rise again
was caused by his partnership with those
women, and by the want of sensible work,
which work should make the public feel that
he had in him power for good. Instead of this
he preferred. or professcd to think, that was
using my influence against him; that was al
lowing him to be traduced without coming gen.
erously to the front to defend him, and that my
replied that unless the laws OF mind were
changed not Almighty God himsel could lift
him into favor if those women must be lifted
with him. Nevertheless,I sought in every way
to restore peace and concord to the family,
which was made to feel had been insured by
me, and was dependent upon my influence for
its recovery.
But one thing was constant and apparent.
When Theodore, by lect1ring or otherwise, was
prosperous he was very genial and affectionate
to me, and whenever he met rebuffs and was in
pecuniary treble he scowled and threatened me
as the author of his troubles, and Moulton
himself seemed at times to accuse me OF indlf-
ference to Tilton's misfortunes 1t was In the
midst of complications like these, though it
may be that part of these events happened
shortly afterward, that in thoroughly worried
and depressed mood discouraged by apparent
helplessness of extricating Titon from his DIFF
ficulties or of saving his family from the blight
which he since fastened upon it with even more
destructive effects upon its members than
then feared, wrote Letter to Moulton of which
Tilton has given extracts
1.-THE following is the full text of that letter
BEEcHER TO MoULToN.
MONDAY, Feb 5, 1872
My DEER Friend-I leave town to-day and expect
to pass through from Philadelphia to New Hav ZEN.
ago met 7. in the cars going 20 B. We talked
the least anxiety in far as his feelings AMI actions
were the occasion of apprehensions. On returning
home from New Haven, where / am three days in
the week delivering course OF lectures to the theo
logical students, found note from E. saying tn at
T. felt hard towards me. or was going to see or write
to me before leaving for the West. She kindly add
ei 'Be not cast down. bear this almost always,
but the God in whom trust will deliver us all
safely. | know you do and are willing abundantly
There were added words of warning but also of
ISOLATION for believe E. is beloved Of God, and that
her prayers for me are sooner heard than mine for
myself or for her. But it seems that a change has
come to L. since saw him in tue cars. Indeed.
since &c he has e more the force
his enterprise, he has growingly felt that had
power to help which did not develop, and believe
that you have participated in this feeling 1t is nat
ural yon should. I. is dearer to you than can be-
He is with you. All his trials lie open to your eye
daily But see you but seldom and my personal
gers and perplexites you cannot see imagine. If
had not gone through this great year of sorrow,
through my experience and be alive sane
have been the centre of three distinct circles,
each Of which required clear mindedness and pecu-
The great Church; Second-The newspaper; Third
Tho book-The first could neither get out Of nor
slight; the sensitiveness of SO many of my people
would have made any appearance of trouble any
remission OF force an occasion OF alarm and notice
ana haye excited where it was INTENDED that rumors
did roll of my mind, did but little except give gen.
eral directions and in so doing 1 was continually
not be helped.
The "Life of Christ long delayed had locked up
no ssp5ai OF the firm and was likely to sink them
that was? The interior history Of it will
never be written. During all this time you literally
were all my stay and comfort. should have failed
on the way but for the courage which you inspired
and the hope which you breathed. My vacation
ness Of death was passed but ~ troubles brought
back the cloud with even severe sunerings. For all
this fali and winter have felt that you did not feel
satisfied with me, and that 1 seemed both to you
and T. as contenting myself with cautious or slug
glsh policy, wiling to save myself; but not to risk
heart to see whether 1 was truly liable to such
feeling and the response is unequivocal that l am
moi.
No man can see the difficulties then enyironipg
me. unless he stands where do To say have a
church on my hands, is simple enough, but to have
the hundreds and thousands of men present eyeing
me, each one with his keen suspicion or anxiety or
zeal to see tendencies which, if not stopped would
break out in ruinous defence of me; to stop them
Without seeming to do it; to prevent any one ques
tionng me- to meet and allav prejudices against T.,
which hal their beginning years before his; to keep
cheerful at home and among friends, when L was
suffering the torments of the damned; to pass Sleep
less nights after and yet to come up fresh and full
real thing cannot be understood from the outside
nor its wearing and grinding on the nervous sys-
TEN.
God knows have put more thought aud Judgment
and earnest desire into my efforts to prepare way
fold. AS to the outside public have never lost an
opportunity to soften preju1.ces, to refute false
hoods, and to excite a kindly feeling among all
Ii
lie men and generally the makers of public opinion
and have used every rational endeavor to repair
the evils which have been visited upon T.. and with
increasing SUCCESS but the roots Of this prejudice are
long.
The catastrophe which precpitated him from his
place only disclosed feelings that had ext ted long
Neither he nor you can be aware of the feelings OF
classes in society other grounds than later
mention this to explain why know with absolute
certainty that no mere statement letter. Testimony
or affirmation will reach the root Of affairs and REIN
state them. Time and work will, but chronic evils
require chronic remedies.
fmy destruction would place him all right that
shall not stand in the way. / am willing to step
down and out. No one can offer more than that
That do offer. Sacrifice me without hesitation if
you can clearly see your way to his happiness and
safety thereby, do not think that ANYTHING would
be gained by it. / should be destroyed; but he
would not be saved. Elizabeth and the children
would have their future clouded. In one point of
view could desire the sacrifice your part. Moth
ing can possibly be bad the horror of the great
darkness in which spend much of my time.
have Gin the world. Life would be pleasant if l
could that rebuilt which is shattered but to live
ON the sharp. ragged edge of anxiety remorse fear
despair and yet to put all appearances of serenity
and happiness, cannot be endured much longer am
well nigh discouraged.
If you, too, cease to trust me, to love me- I am
Alone have not another person in this world to
whom could go. Well, to God commit all: what
ever it may here. it shall be well there. With sin
cere gratitude for your heroic friendship and with