Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-03

Mrs. Morse. why would it not be well to get
from her and Mrs. Morse statement, under
ments made easy and harmless--of the exact
variations which they made to him and to
othersy 1t would be well to have them say what
they ad before 6m he gets sas to Sha
keeps the dark and lurid past wildly before my
mind If she actually knew the conduct which
her priestly husband has been guilty of, believe
she would shed his blood; or, perhaps, sparing
him she would wreak her wrath on his victim"
After the publication of the tripartite covenant
was made Tilton deemed, from the comments
from the press, that the statement reflected upon
him, and he desired that in some way Beeeher
should relieve him from the imputation of having
circulated slanderous stories about him without
justification, for which he had apologized, and
by advice of friends he prepared a card for Mr.
Moulton to submit to Mr.. Beecher for him (Mr.
b. to sign and publish in his vindication.
Mr.. Beecher felt much aggrieved at this claim
on him by Tiltop, feeling that the matter had
been all settled and adjusted, and he answered
Tilton' s'appicaton in this regard by letter, un-
der date of June l. 1873, published in full in Mr..
Beecher's statement and beginning My Dear
Frank; The whole earth Is tranquil, and the
preferred against Tilton for the purpose of hay
ing him dismissed from Plymouth Church. This
action, which seemed 10 threaten the discovery
Beecher and Tilton, annoyed both very much,
and Mr.. Moulton feared that serious diff
fcultv would arise therefrom. Upon consultation
with Beecher and Titon, Mr.. Nj. suggested plan
by which that investigation would be rendered
unnecessary, which was in substance that reso-
luton should be passed by the church amending
its roll, alleging that Tilton having Voluntarily
withdrawn from the church some four years be-
fore, therefore, the roll should be amended by
striking OFF his name. This course had been sue-
gested by Mr.. Tilton. In a letter to Mr.. Moulton,
dated Dec. 81, 1871 Mr.. Beecher says to press ac-
ton in the case would only serve to raise profit
less excitement; there were already complex
ties enough. He suggests that " II letter Is
written il had better be very short, simply an
nouncing the withdrawal, and, perhaps, with an
expression of kind wishes, etc"
But when the meeting of the church was held
for that purpose, it charged there that Tilton
had slandercd the pastor. Triton took the stand,
and said in substance, that II he had uttered any
ISLANDERS against Beecher he was ready To answer
them, as God was his witness. Beecher therenp-
on stated that he had no charges to make, and
the matter was dropped. But when the resolu-
ton was passed instead of being put so as to eX-
onerae Tilton, II was declared in substance, that
whereas, certain charges had been made against
him, and as he pleaded to those charges non
membership" his name be dropped from the
roll. This action of the church very much cSas-
peratCd Titon, who thought Beecher should
have prevented such IA result, and that he
might have done so If he had stood by him fully
and fairly as agreed In that, however, Moulton
believes Tilton mistaken, because Mr.. VIII
liam +. West, who preferred the charges against
Titon, did it against the wish of Beecher and
without any consultation with him. Meanwhile,
through the Intervention of DR.. Storrs and 9th
ers, an Ecclesiastical Council had been called
The efforts of this council in attempting TO dis
fellowship Plymouth Church were very displeas-
ing to Beechcr, and caused him much trouble, es-
pcciay the action of Or, storrs, which he ex-
pressed to Mr. Moulton in letter,
dated March p, 1874, in which he says !:
II am indignant beyond expression. storrs
course has been an unspeakable outrage
| After his pretended friendship for Thco-
| dorc he has turned against him in the most
yenomous manner and IL il not sincere. His
| professions of faith and affection for me are hol.
low and iathlesS. They are merely tactical, His
| object II plain. lie Is determined 10 force con
| iiCt aud use one of us to destroy the other, II
possible. That is his game BY singing Thco-
| dOrc he believes he will be driven into u
course which he hopes will ruin me, II ever
a man betrayed another, he has. am In hopes
that Theodore, who has borne 30 much, will be
unwilling To be fail In StOrrs hand to strike al
friend. There are one or two reasons, emphatic
for waiting until the end Of the Council before
taking any action. First, that the attack on
Plymouth Church and the threats against Con
rregatioualism were so violent that the public
mind Is TO be absorbed in the ecclesiastical ele-
ments and not in the personal. Second, If Ply
mouth Church n disiCllowshiped, II viii cOnstl-
| tutc blow at me and the church lar seyerer
| than at him. Third, that If the Council
does not disfellowship Plymouth Church,
then undoubtedly StOrrs will 90 off into Prcsby-
| tcrianism AZ he almost without Disguise threat
| ened in his speech, and In that case the empha-
| sis will be there. Fourth, at any rate, while the
fury RACES In the Council, H. Is not wisc TO make
| any move that would be one among so many AZ
TO lose effect In degree. After the battle II over
one can more exactly see what ought TO be done,
| Meantime | am az patient as l know how to be
but pretty nearly used up with inward excitement
and must run away for day or two and hide aud
sleep, or there win be a funeral"
While these proceedings were pending, the
Rev. Mr.. Halliday, the assistant Of Beechor
| called upon him and upon Mr.. Moulton TO en-
deayor to learn the facts about the difficulties be-
! tween Beccher and Tilton, and Mr.. NJ told him
he did not think that either he or the church were
! justified In endcayoring 10 reopen trouble
which had been adjusted and settled by
! for everybody that the whole matter
should be allowed TO repose in quiet.
Mr.. NJ. here furnishes q letter from Mr.. b. IN
which he SAYS: Halliday called last nj ght. TIL
| tons interview with him did not satisfy, but dis
| turbed; but ii was the same with Bell, WHO was
present II tended directly to unsettling. Your
| interview last night WIS very beneficial and
! gave confidence. This must be looked after. II
II vain to build If the foundation sinks under
| every effort"
! Mi MouItOn here saws the anxiety which Mr..
Beechcr felt about the stories aoat, and the steps
! he took 10 quiet them, together with the trust he
! Ieposed in him tM) and his ability TO aid him in
a at 0S OF june SS Is 'Ssn have
not from Theodore that Wllkeson got
the statement but from Carpenter. II he re.
| porting that views ] have told Claiin that you
| would come with Carpenter II he could be found,
1 and at any rate by nine tonight, to see Storrs,
but / did not say anything about Storrs. ! sent
| Cleveland with my horse and buggy over 10 hunt
| Carpenter. VIII you put Carpenter on his guard
| about making such statemcntsF For these bear
| the force of coming from headquarters"
|
/ day had had an interview with Tilton, the result
\ of which. az uusettling the matter between Titon
| and BeeChcr, was very aDxiously awaited by Mr..
| Beecher, who was quite anxious that TiltOn
| should take no steps by which the matter be-
| tween them should get into the newspapers or
| be made ia any manner a matter Of contrO-
yergy. With this view he stated the stu
alton on the same night of the interview of Hal
| liday and Tilton, In letter, which IL without
date and was written in pencil In great haste, in
which he says: II. The Eagke ought 10 have
nothing tonight. IL IL that meddling which
| stirs up our folks. Neither you nor Theodore
| ought TO be troubled by the side which you
| served so faithfully. in public. 2. The Dea-
cons meeting, / think, Is adjourned / saw
Bell IL was IA friendly movement 3. The
only near next danger is the women Morrill,,
Bradshaw and the poor dear child. II the papers
will hold off month we can ride ont the gale and
make safe anchorage, and then when once we are
In deep and tranquil waters we will all join
hands In a profound and genuine tdas Dec; for
through such a wilderness only Divine Provi.
dence could have led ua undeyoured by the open
inouthed beasts tbat.lay in wait for our lives.
20 on the twelve O'Clock train, after slcepess
night. am anxious about Theodore's interview
with Halliday"
After saying that the committee had all the
letters and documents bearing upon the subject
matter OF the inquiry, Mr.. Moulton said he de-
srcd TO speak of single collateral matter.
Beecher never intimated to him that he thought
there was any desire on T1lton's part 10 black
mail him, and he knew there was no attempt on
- mar "a. nQf