The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-18
THE BBECHER STATEMENT.
[cbncluded from third naos I

olten carried In years before this trouble
for his restoration. recollect having win him
a onyersation in which he intimated that he
thought IL not unlikely ihat ne might
get back into his old position f n
seemed TO be in mood to regret the past. and
so when 1 was urged by the examininS co ona
mittee TO take some steps. I said wss not
MID Ti,n hope, that by patience kindness
cbnoa,, would r come back again to his old
iore delayed decision upon this point for a long
nne. Many OF our member were anxious and
| trouble from this quarter. Meanwhile one wing
OF the woman suffrage party had cot hold of he
as had never been intimated TO me bv TiitoS o,
ms friends. did not then suspect what now
know, that these
ATRoCIoUSLY FALSE RUHoRs
| originated with Mr. Tilton himself Io,,Iv saw
that the evil was growing instead OF diminish,
ing, and perceived that was pledged TO silence
and therefore could not speak in my own de-
Tense Some one was forever persisting in the
faisehood, which was growing con 'inually in df-
mensi0n, and these difficulties were Immensely
Increased by the utilization of Tilton with the
woodruff clique. In May, 1871, Mrs Woodruff
advertised forthcoming article shadoTsno m
account of the disturbance in Er rs family
but without using names. II was DELAYED nv
Mr.. I. 5 influence with Mrs. Woodruff until M
verc Der, 1872. During this suspension of her nl,h
LEGATION she became the heroine of Mr.. Mouiion
and Mr.. Tilton. She was made yvelco,,a -
both houses, with the liberation. but NOT tho
cordial consent of their wives. l heard the
most extravagant eulogies on her. She was rem
resented as genius born and reared among
rude influences, but only needed TO be sur
noble and communing nature. I did not know
much about her, and, though my impressions
were unfavoTable, her zeal character was not
then known to the world. i met her three
times. At the first interview she was gracious
AT the second she was cold and naughty. but al
the third was angry and threatening. Tor had
premptOrily refused TO preside at n lecture She
S was about giving al Stsinway Hall The most
and Moulton to induce me TO preside at this leo
ture, and 20 identify myself publicly with Mrs.
Woodruff. 1t was represented to me that need
not, In SO doing, expressly give assent to her
doctrines, especially with regard to the marriage
relation, on which point she was beginning to be
more explicit in opposition 10 the views of
which l, in common with all chris
bly, urged that l could preside at the
lecture, and introduce her on the simple ground of
advocating free speech and liberty of debate.
But, as it was understood that she was about fo
show the doctrines which abhor, 1 would not
be induced by this plausible argument to give
to urge me up TO the day of the meeting without
any threats, but with the obvious Intention
that
MY PERSONAL SAFETY
would be better secured by taking this advice
Mr.. I. himself went over to New York and pre-
sided at the meeting, where Mrs. Woodruff
gave as understand, for the first time in pub
lie q full exposition of her free love doctrines
The very thought that should have been asked
under any circumstances, and upon any excuse,
to preside or be present at such a meeting was
inexpressibly CALLING to me. Whatever my as
constituent might have been, the motive OF Mr.
Il. and Moulton in asking such a thing, as to
which l had not at the time as clear q
perception as / have now, the request was.
nevertheless, a Illuminating one At about the
same time found the circle of which Mrs. w.
formed a part was the center of lOathsome
scandals, organized, classified, and perpetuated
with greedy and unclean appetite for every
thing that was foul and vile. 1 would not aSso-
ciate with these people. Yet Messrs. i. and
Moulton had some strange theory concerning
always maze it, IN their Judgment, necessary
for them to maintain friendly relations with
the group of human hyeanas. From this cir
mate associations with it, came rumors. Sus--
picions arose among my own congregation
which led them TO presume with quest ons, and
to originate Investigations, especially into the
case OF Mrs. T., from whom one,
mors against me originated. In this
sense they fastened upon with even more des-
tructive effect upon its members than l then
feared. L wrote letter to Moulton, OF which
TIltOn has given extracts, even more -ickedly
garbled than his other quotations, for he has
represented two extracts from this letter as con-
stituting parts of two separate letters and has
artfully given the impression that they We're
written in, after June, 1873, whereas IN letter
dated Feb, 1872. He further saws that this
letter was written for the purpose of beingehOwn
ing done, as the letter shows plainly on its face,
and did not authorize any such use OF that letter
received in the most sacred confidence. This
letter is as follows, as am informed. An in
spection of the original. would doubtless refresh
my memory concerning the circumstances but
this Moulton denies 10 me:
BEEcHER TO MoULroN.
MONDAY. Feb. 6. 1872.
My DEAR FRIEND: leave town to-day, and
expect to pass through from Philadelphia to
New Haven. shall not be here until Friday.
About three weeks ago 1 met at" in the cars D.,
going to "B.' He was kind, and touched me
much. He told me to go on with my work
without the least anxiety I'm so far his feenngs
and actions were the occasion of apprehension.
On returning home from New Haven, where
am three days in the week delivering a course of
lectures TO the theological studens. l found a
nose iT0m me- snS w sea' going e 10 hs e
me before leaving for the West and she kindly
added, "Be not cast down by this; bear
trust will deliver us all safely. 1 know you do
and are willing abundantly to help him, and
also know your embarraSsments." There were
added words of warning but also of consolation,
Tor be ieve r. is beloved of God, and that her
prayers for me are sooner heard than mine for
fayself or for her. But IL seems that change
has come to I. since saw him in the ears. In
force of feeling in society, and the humiliaiiens
which environ his enterprise, he has growingly
feil that had a power 10 help which die
Gpated in this feeling 1t is natural that you
should; r.. is dearer to you ihan
to your eye daily, but see you but seldom, and
ray personal relations. environments, neceSsi-
ties, limitations, dangers and perplexities you
through this great year of sorrow, ! would not
have believed that any one could pass through,
nay experience and be alive or sane. have been.
the center of three distinct circles each of which
required clear mindedness and peculiarly in
yentive or originating power, viz: First, the
great cnurcn: second, the newspsp per; third, the
book. The first L could neither get out of nor
slight The constituencies of so many Of my peo-
pie would nave made an appearance of trouble
or any remission of force an occasion of alarm,
and notice, and have excited where it was
important that rumors shodld die and every
thing be qu1eted. The newspaper did roll Off
doing but little except 10 give general directions
ana IN so doing l was continually spurred autf
As'pr ed by those interested. 1t could pof ne
aeiped. The Life of Christ, long deIaTe]i- fs5.
ocked up the capital OF the firm and was likely
o sink them. Finished 1t must be. Was ever a
book
BORN OF SUCH soRRowf
That was the interior history of 1t. VIII Il never,
10 xrriftane Dn,rinr oil lit H.. -