Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-14

Mrs. Tton from her family relations, thought
OIL the contrary it was giving her strength and
encouraging her to hold fast upon man evil
IDENTIFY sliding into dangerous associations and
liable to be immersed by unexampled self-con-
cet. / Iregardod Mr.. Tilton as in very critical
period of his life, and used to think it fortunate
that he had good home influences about him.
DURING THE LATE YEARS
of our friendship, Mrs. Tilton spoke very sor-
rowfully to me about the tendency of her hus-
band to great laxity of doctrine in religion and
morals. She gave me to understand that he de-
MED the divinity Of Christ, the inspiration OF
the Scriptures, and most articles OF orthodox
faith, while his views in regard t0the ecanctity
Of the marriage relation were undergoing con
stant change in the direction Fof free love. In
the latter part OF Jsly, 1870, Mrs. Tilton was
sick, and at her request, l visited her. She
seemed much depressed, but gave no hint of any
| trouble having reference to me. 1 cheered her
as best could, and erayed with her lust before
leaving This was before the trouble broke out
in the family. allude to it because it was the
last, and ts character has bearing the latter
part of my story.
CONCERNING ALL MY OTHER VISITS.
it is sufficient to say that at no interview which
ever took place between Mrs. Tilton and myself
did anything occur which might not have oo-
Cured with perfect propriety between brother
and sister, father and child, or man Of honor,
and the wife of his dearest friend, nor had any
thing ever happened which she or tried to con-
ceal from her husband Some years before any
open trouble between Mr. Tilton and myself, his
doctrines, as set forth in the leaders of the m
dependent aroused storm Of Indignation among
the representative Congregatonalists in the
West, and the paper was still very largely sup
ported, 1t was supposed to be my origin, and l
was written to on the subject. In reply 1 indig
nantly disclaimed all responsibility for the views
expressed by Mr.. Tilton.
1t was understood that Mr. Bowen agreed that
in consequence of proceedings arising out OF this
his peculiar views, but instead of that
THEODORE SEEMED FIRMER IN THE SADDLE THAN
BEFORE,
and his loose notions of marriage and divorce
began to be shadowed editorially This led to
the starting of the AdUdnce in Chicago to super
sede the Independent in the Northwest, and Mr.
Bowen was made to feel that Mr.. Tiltons mana
cement WAS seriously injuring the business, and
Mr.. Tilton NAV have felt that his position was
being undermined by opponents of his views,
with whom he subsequently pretended to be-
lieye | was in league.
After Mr.. Tilton's return from the West, in
December 1870, young girl whom Mrs. Tlton
had taken into the family, educated, and treated
like child, was sent to me with urgent re-
quest that would visit Mrs. Tilton at her moth
er's. She said that Mrs. Tilton had left hsr
home and had gone to her mothers in conse-
quence of i'll treatment of her husband. She
gave an account of what she had seen of the
cruelty and abuse on the part of her husband
that shocked me, and yet, when with down
cast look she said that Mr.. Tilton had visited
her chamber in the night and sought her to con-
sent to his wishes. Immediately visited Mrs.
Tilton at her mother and received an account of
her home-life and the
DEsPoTIsM OF HER HUSBAND,
and of the management of woman whom he
had made housekeeper which seems like night
mare The question was whether she should go
back or separate forever from her husband.
" a
in all domestic relations l thought better than
my own, and accordingly second visit was
made. The result OF this interview was that my
wife was extremely indignant toward Mr.. Tilton,
and declared that no consideration on earth
would induce her to remain an hour with man
who had treated her with an hundredth part of
such insult and cruelty. felt as strongly as she
did, but hesitated, as always do, at giving ad-
vice in favor Of separation. 1t was agreed that
my wife should give her final advice at another
visit the next day when ready to go. She visited
q final word but there company and tho
children were present, and
WROTE ON SHEET OF PAPER,
~ incline to think that your view ia right, and
that separation and a settlement of support
will be wisest and that in his present desper-
ate state her presence near him H far more like
ly to produce hatred than her Absence" Mrs.
Titon did not tell me that my presence had any
thing to do with this trouble, nor did she let me
know that on the July previous he had extorted
me. On the evening of December 27, 1870, Mr..
Bowen, on his way home, called at my house
and handed me letter from Mr.. Tilton. 1t was,
as nearly as 1 can remember, in the following
| terms
| Henry Ward Be cher
| Forreasons which you explicitly know, and which
| forb state, demand that YOU withdraw from
the pulpit and quit Brooklyn as a residence.
THEODORE TILToN.
| Mr.. Beecher here pauses to tell of Mr.. Tilton's
expulsion from the Brooklyn Unlon, and of the
counsel which he gave TO this end, though he
| has no doubts that such would have been done
| without it, and resumes
| On Tuesday evening, December 80, 1870 about
o'clock, Mr.. Moulton called at my house, and
with intense earnestness said 81 wish you to
60 WITH ME To See MR.. TILroN."
replied that / could not then, as 1 was just 60
ing to my prayer meeting In very positive
manner lie said ''You must go; somebody else
| will take care of the meeting"
| Iwent with him, and on entering his house
Mr.. Moulton locked the door and sent me to the
| front chamber over the parlor, where Tilton re-
ceived me coldly, but calmly. After word or
| two standing in front of me with memorandum
| in his hand, he began set oraton.
| He charged me, i'll substance, with acting for
| a long time in an unfriendly spirit that | had
sought his downfall, and was using my place and
| influence to undermine him had spread iniuri-
ous rumors about him had advised Bowen to
DISMISS him, and much more that l cannot re-
| member. He then declared that had injufe ed
him 80 that his family relations had joined with
his mother-in-law in
PRODUCING DIscoRD IN HIS HOUSE;
had advised separation had alienated his
wfe's affections from him had led her to love
me more than any living being had corrupted
her moral nature, and had tau5h her to be insIn-
cere, lying, and hypocntical, and ended by charg-
ing that had made wicked proposals to her.
Until he reached this had listened with some
contempt. With the last charge he produced a
paper purportinB to be certified statement of
previous confession made to him by his wife
of her love for me- and that had made propo-
sails to her of an impure nature. He said that this
confession had been made to hun in July, six
months previous that his sense of honor and
affection would not permit any such document to
remain in existence that he had burned the
original and should now destroy the only copy,
and he then tore this paper into small pieces II
had been shocked at such statement was
also utterly thunderstruck when he closed the
interview by requesting me to repair at once to
his house, where he said Elizabeth WAS waiting
for me, and learn from her lips the truth of his
stories 30 far as they concerned her.
WENT AT ONCE,
and found Mrs Tilton lying upon her bed. She
made no motion, and gave no sign of recogni-
ton of my presence. / sat down near her and
very serious charges against me and sent me to
you for confirmation" She made no reply or
sign, yet it was plain that she was conscious
and listening. repeated some of them and
asked "Elizabeth, have you made such state