New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-31
Mr.. MOULTON'S DEFENSE.
WHY lie ATTENDED THE MEETING AT PLYMOUTH
CHURCI-HIs EXPLANATION OF AN IMPORTANT
LETTER.

CHURCH-HIs EXPLANATION OF AN IMPORTANT
LETTER.
Since the meeting of Friday, Mr. Moulton
has freely given explanation to several quesoners OF
his reasons being present at the meeting and has
spoken somewhat charity OF his intentions WITH regard
to further action the His for his presence
are forth In his card. With regard to his attitude
toward Mr. Beecher he told reporter on Saturday that
he could hardly realize that he was acting in
antagonism toward the man who has honestly, earn
esty and fully repented for the sin which he has COM
mtted." Mr.. Moulton gave reason for his admit
ting "a selfcOnfessed adulterer" to his house, Mr..
Beechers repentance for his SIM Mr.. Moulton Is re-
ported to have added: 1.-THE expression OF sorrow, OF
grief OF INSTRUMENTATION Mr. Beechers part, made
with all the eoquence that belonEs to his better
self induced me to espouse his cause. and gave my
time, my heart, my money with lies in his behalf and
now he turns upon me- was warned in the beginning
Of this controversy against his natural treachery re-
fused TO believe that he man that could be guilty
the perfdy which with his matchless art as writer
and his personal influence he has brought
against me-" Claiming that Mr. Beecher had
himself presented the issues between them Mr. Moulton
asserted that would prove Mr. Beeceer to DO liar
bertine and q sneak" He said that he thought that
Mr. Beecher would still continue pastor OF Plymouth
Church and that he had often told Mr. Beecher that he
could any time during the last four years have made
plain confession Of the truth To his congregation to-
with expressions OF his pentence and his people
would stil have rallied about him. Mr. Moulton said
further that belief OF his explained the express
sion In one his TO Mr. Beecher You can stand
IL the whole case were published tomorrow ana that
his exact meaning was that Plymouth Church would
not throw Mr. Beecher for such a wrong II he
showed grief and repentance He declared that others
had given Mr. Beecher advice similar to his own, and
that iu his opinion. If Mr. Beecher had anticipated the
Committee by public acknowledgment or his ofense,
accompanied with suitable expression OF pcniten sor-
row. he would have stood higher in the community TO-
day than he ever hope to stand now"
1t is stated that Mr. Moulton's new statement is
ready and that il is direct aud contains documents
of which the public has known nothing The following
is his card to the public:
To N, Public. will explain the reason OF attend
auce at Plymouth Church last evening immediately
after the publication OF my extended statement 9 Aug
81 left tine ci to attend business affairs IN
New-E gland not returning until Yesterday morning.
During my absence learned, 10 my SURPRISE from the
public prints that had refused to submit 10 cross
rTamnatIon by the Committee. and that the Commit
tees forthcoming report would state ths Tor TACT
Immediately sent by telegraph the following message to
the Committee ~
To JBEExAH RoBysos: ind ia The Boston Gos the follow.
ing: They e Commte) asked him aoutoa three times TO
h,1 ber received such request nor INSIDE such
se and hGa ny. shdy to appear on n0"
Having sent the above message. and not wishing TO
delay the Committee, took the first tram home IN order
the presentation of their report TO the chureh' On
reaching Brooklyn yesterday morning learned that
previous day to Mr. Sage 10y Mr. Woodruff in person.
waited for message from the Committee, put none
came At length the hour having arrived for the pub
lie reading OF the Committees report, went TO the
church hear it, My right to speak was the same az
have been member of the congregation for many
years. and my wife member OF the church. Durins
the reading of the report 1 was panied 70
hear its Misrepresentation OF me- and fet It
my duty as 1t certainly was my right, 10 ask
put to In order that might treat the meeting
with entire courtesy. wrote 10 the Chairman brlei
To say a word. Francis d. Moulton' Nothwlrhstand
ing this request and Notwithstanding Mr. Blair speech
who had augh to against the report TO speak then
and there or ever after hold ms peace, ana hotwth
not permitted 10 be heard During tne proceedings
young man. Mr.. Raymond, whom Mr. Beecher had once
brought to saying that could confer with him III his
Mr B's) absence chose to ding down upon me some
false and offensive words to my dshonor, IN reply 70
which felt 1t incumbent me to characterize MIN In
language appropriate to the provocston ana ior winch
Mr. RAYMOND Wanted himself as the only member OF
| the congregation who. with the exception OF MI
Ravmond will be chagrined 10 that have letter
from Mr. Beecher in which the writer says tht ne INF
RI knows nothing whatever OF the facts of the case
Win add that the hearing which last night denied
10 me In place where had the most right 70 demand
few days The only delay the publication will arise
from preparation OF fac-simile copies OF letters ana
papers including Mr.. Beechers written certificate OF
Mr. Raymond's safe and trustworthy ignorance Of the
case have sought for four years for the SAKE OF the
nnoce Mt children OF two families, TO shield MI Beecher
from the exposure Of his crime OF adultery; but MI
Beecher his Committee aud his church nave United 10
compel me- for my sefprotecton To reveal Nun TO
the world AS shall shortly do, 10 sun worse hght
than that wherein he now stands: - ,
BROOKLYN, Aug. 20, 1874 FRANCIS IL. hoULIof'
| Rossiter W. Raymond Saturday wrote letter
which was published In The Brooklyn Eagle Saturday,
in which he regrets had not time in his speech on
Friday evening say things that ought to have
been said' He adds that he would have been glad to
| hold up little more completely to Mr.. Francis d.
Mouon the mirror which he has himself furnished "
| the world n bis various acts and statements. The
public selling two salient points In the case has
formed IL s true notion generally correct and definite
., tb. mana character and behavior but, after ALL 10
has not done him half justice Only study OF his per-
fopsnces and utterapoes and the collation. Of them