Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-20

| for a change for the better, IS It was pro
! posed 10 drop him from the list of
| members for non-atJeudance; and he
! asserted 10 me after his withdrawal,
| this might have been done but his wife sill al
/ tended church and hoped for his restoration. 1
gecoilcct having with him conversation IN which
| he dimly iutjmated 10 that he thought il not
! Uniilciy that he might =" back into his old
| position. lie seemed 10 nr IN 4 mood to regret
the past. and 50, when ] urged by the Exam
| lining Committee 10 take some steps, said WAS
| not without hopes MEANWHILE wing of the
fcIuac-Sutrage party had cot hold Of the story in
distorted and exacgeratcd form. such - had
never been intimated 10 me BY Mr.. TIltOn % his
friends did not then suspect what now know
thar these aIrociously false rumOrs originated
with Mr.. IlltOn himself l only saw the evil
growing instead Of diminishing. and perceived
that while was DIef,-ed 20 silence and therefore
could not speak in nv own defense. some one
was forever perSeyering IN faisehOod. growing
continually IN dimensions, and these dlulculIyS
We're Immensely Increased by the alfllatlon oi
Ar. Iilton with the Woodruff clique.
In May, 1871, Mrs. WoodheIl advertised forth
coming article shadowinE an account Of dis
5grbancs III Nj. T.son.s family. but without
ii>3Ng names. II was Cc.aECG OSten>lD!y oy NJ
1ltOn influence with Mrs. Woodruff GnlI
November. 1872. During this suspension OF ker
pEo!ltlJIon she became Inc heroine OF NJ. AoUl-
ION 2nG Mr.. IitOn. She was made welcome 10
both houses, with the liberation aUJ not the cor
Clal consent Of their wives. ! heard me most
cNtrayagant eulogics upon her. >he was repre-
>thleu a 3 genius dorm ana reared among -it.'
influences. bVI only needed Ia b. surrounded 0y
refined society to show d uuh.c and commanding
nature. did not know much aboa: ncr, ana.
though ny impressions were uufav0Tablc. NcT
real character was not then really known 10 the
world. net her three times. At the first interview
she was gracious. At the second she was cold
and naughty, but ST the third she was angry ana
threatening for had pCrcmpt orily refused 10 pre-
SIDE at q lecture She was aUoUI 10 give al Stem
way Hall. The most strenuous efforts had been
made by bOtn IIltOn ana MOuItOI 10 iuuuc" ny
10 preslue AZ TINS lecture ana 10 Identity myself
publicly with Mrs. Woodruff. II wa represent
ed 10 me that / need nor, N 30 doing. expressly
CIV assent 10 her doctrines, especially WITH re
'[arU 10 the marriage relation, upon which point
she was beginning 10 be more explicit IN 0ppOSI-
ton the views which I. in common VITA all
Christian men, entertained; but il was plausjbly
urged that could preside AT the lecture ana intro
duce her upon the simple ground OF advocating
-ree speech and liberty OF debate; Dut. Is 1 III
dersto1d that sne was about 10 aEoW doctrines
which ahhOr. l would not be induced by tAis
plausible argument TO give her public COuuTc-
nance and after continuing to urge me up 10 the
very day OF the meeting without any distinct
Threats. but with obvious intimu!i0l that M
personal safety would be better secured ny
Went over to New y DIRK and presided
at the meeting, where Mrs. v u0uhuIl
gave Tent, a. understand, ios the Hgst time
III public to the tuu exposition OF her ft"u-loye
doctrines. The vary thought thai / should
have been asked under any circumstances
and upon any excuse 10 preside or be present III
such meeting was incXpressibly CALLING 10 ME.
h8teNes my establishment might lave been. the
motive 81 Dir. TiltoI and Mr.. IUUj0u in asking
such thing, l had not ut the Time d. clear a
perception az | now nave. The r.
quest was nevertheless hUmilatiug. At about
the same time l found that the circle OF which
Mrs. Woodruff formed part WAS The center or
loathsome scandals, organized, CLASSIFIED and
perpetu&tcd win greedy and Uucltan appetite
for everything that vas foul and vile.
Mr.. BGeChtr here details his efforts 10 prevent
the scandal being made public which was threat
ened By the trial Of IiltOn by the church. and
says Oi Tilton: | was so determined TO carry out
my pledges to Mouton for him and do all III
n
waS ready 10 resign ii thai would STOP the
scandal. 1 wrote letter of resignation. not IT,
tening TO the charge against me. bait declaring
that l had strITen for years To maintain secrecy
concerning scandal affecting family in the
church, and that | had failed I herewith re-
signed. This letter was nGv9rsent. A little cnlnpr
thought showed ME how futilci it would DE TO stop
the trouble. mere useless sacrifice; but / showed
il 10 Mr.. MOuton, and possibly he copied il. |
have found the original of it in my house. If |
could NJ this moment remember any Of the other
letters which have written 10 Mr.. M0ultOn |
would do so. Ii he has reserved Ill my illusions
OF feeling he must have a large collection. l
wished him to bring them all before the commit
tee. should have been glad to get such hints ~
they may contain to refresh my recollection OF
facts and sequences. / have no fear OF their full
and fair publication. for, though they would
doubtless make q sad exposure OF my weakness,
grief and despondency, they do not con
tain q line cOnfessing such guilt as has
been charged upon ME, q word incon-
sistcnt with my innocence, any Other
spirit than that of generous remOrse over
a great anu more ana more llreparaOIc evil. But
however intense and numerous may be these cx-
pressions OF grief they cannot possibly ever state
the anxiety which constantly felt for the future,
the perIls Of which it is now clear did not eIan
gerate, nor the sorrow and remOrse which | felt
originally on account OF the injury which [ sup
posed had unWittingly done TO i beloved family,
and afterward for the greater INJURY which ] be
came satisfied had done b. my unwisa blind
and useless efforts TO remedy that injury only, az
it proved. a the expense of my maine. the
happiness of my own family and the peace OF my
church.