Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-20

were my own thoughts. The friend whom God
sent to me (Moulton) has proved above all friends
that ever had able and willing to help me in
this terrible emergency OF my life. His hand IL
was that tied up the storm that was ready to burst
on our heads You have no friend, Theodore ex-
ceptcd, who has 1t in his power to help yon so
vitality, and who Will do II with such delcAcy and
honor. 1t does my sore heart good to see in
Moulton an nnfeigned respect and honor for you.
II would kill me u l thought otherwise, He will
M brother could be to sister In him We have
common ground. You and may meet in him.
The past is ended but Ia there no futureg no
wiser, higher, holier future May not
this friend stand IS priest in the new
sanctuary of reconciliation and mediate
and bless Theodore and my most unhappy self!
Do not let my earnestness fail of its end. Yon
wholly and gladly in Moulton's hands, and there
must meet you. This is sent with Thcodore's
consent, but he has not read It. WIN you return
It to me by his own hand. am very earnest in
this wish for all our sakes, as such letter ought
not to be subject to even the chance of miscar
III. W. BKrcnER."
| have no recollection of seeing or hearing read
the letter of Mr.. Tilton of the same date. In my
letter to Mrs. Titon ! alluded TO the fact that
did not expect when saw her last to be alive
many days That statement stands connected
with a series of symptoms which l first eXpc.
rienced in 1856 | went through the Fremont
campaign speaking in the open air three hours
at a time three days In the week In re-
heNlilg my literary Work ltlI tHat must nave
given way. very seriously thought that was
going to have apoplexy or paralysis, or something
of the kind, On two or three occasions, while
preaching, | should have fallen in the pulpit If
had not held on To the table. Very often came
near falling In the streets. During the last fifteen
years have gone into the pulpit l suppose 100
times with very strong impression that should
never come out of il alive. Have preached more
sermons than any human being would believe
when felt all the while that whatever had got
to say to my people must say 1t then or never
would have another chance to use 1t. If l had
consulted physician his first advice would have
been, " You must stop work., but was In such
situation that could not stop work, read the
best medical books on symptoms OF nervous
prostration, and overwork. and paralysis,
ana formed my own judgment of my
case. The three points marked were: ] must
have good digestion, good sleep, and ! must go
on working These three things were to be rec.
oncied, and In regard to my diet and stimulants,
and medicines l made the most thorough and
searching trial, and rs II result. managed my
BOD body SO that ! could get the most work ont Of II
without essentially impairing It, If I had said
word about this to my family 1t would have
brought such distress and anxiety on the part of
my wife as could not bear. have for many
years so steadily taxed my mind to the utmost
that there have been periods when conld not
afford to have people express even sympathy
with me. 10 have my wife or friends anxious
about it, and showing 1t to me, would be just the
drop too much,
In 1863 l came again into the same condition
just before going to England, and 1t was one of
those reasons why was wishing to 90. The war
was at its height. carried my country In my
heart. had the IndependeW in charge, aud was
working, preaching and lecturing continually.
knew was likely to be Frustrated again. In De-
cember, 1870, the sudden shock of these troubles
brought on again these symptoms In a more yio-
lent form. was very much depressed in mind,
add all the more because II was one of those
things that could not say anything about. was
silent with everybody. During the Inst four
years these symptoms have been repeatedly
brought on by my intense work, carried forward
on an underlying basis of so much sorrow and
trouble My friends will bear witness that in the
pulpit / have very frequently alluded to my ex-
pectation of sudden death.
feel that have more than once already been
near stroke that would have killed or paralyzed
me, and carry with me now, M l have so often
carried in years before this trouble began, the
daily thought of death IA door which might
open for me at any moment, out of all cares and
labors into welcome rest
During the whole of the year 1871 was kept in
state Of suspense and doubt, not only as to the
future Of the family for the reunion and happi-
ness Of which had striven SO earnestly, but as
to the degree to which might personally be sub
ject to attack and misconstruction, and the
trouble be brought into the church and magnhed
by publicity. The officers of the church sought
to investigate into Mr. na at9ns religions views
been deceived into the belief that he was not In
fault AZ to the religious views, / still hoped
for change for the better as It was pro.
posed to drop him from the list of
asserted to me after his withdrawal
this might have been done; but his wife still at
tended church and hoped for his restoration. l
recollect having with him u conversation In which
he dimly intimated to me that he thought II not
unlikely that he might go back into his old
position. He seemed 10 be In a mood to regret
the past, and so, when WAS urged by the Exam
ming Committee to take some steps, said was
not without hopes. Meanwhile, one wing Of the
female suffrage party had got hold of the story In
u distorted and exaggerated FORM such as had
never been intimated to me by Mr.. Tilton or his
friends. did not then suspect what now know
that these atrociously false rumors originated
growing instead of diminishing, and pei ceived
that while was pledged to silence, and tn, refore
could not speak in my own defense, some one
was forever perscvcring In falsehood, growing
were immensely increased by the utilization Of
Mr.. Tilton with the Woodruff clique
In May, 1871, Mrs Woodruff advertised forth
coming article Swallowing an account Of DIS
using names. 1t was delayed ostensibly by Mr.
Tlton's influence with Mrs. Woodruff until
November, 1872 During this suspension Of her
publication she became the heroine Of Mr.. Moul-
ton and Mr.. Tilton. She made welcome to
both houses, with the liberation but not the cor
dial consent of their wives. l heard the most
extravagant eulogies upon her. She was repre-
."nted Ms genius born and reared among rude
Influences but only needed to be surrounded by
refined society to show noble and commanding
nature. ! did not know much about her, and,
t"ough my iHipressions were uhiasoraoie, ncI
real character wac not then really known to the
world. met her three times 1.-THE first interview
she WAS gracious. At the second she WAS cod
and hanghty, but OF the third she was angry and
threatening, for had pcremptory refused to pre-
side at u lecture she was about to give at Stein
way Hall. The most strenuous efforts had been
made by both Tilton and Moulton to induce me
to preside at this lecture and To identify myself
publicly with Mrs. Woodruff. 1t was represent |
ed to me that need not In SO doing, expressly |
give Assent to her doctrines. especially with re-
gard to the marriage relation, upon which point |
she was beginning to be more explicit In oppos. |
ton to the views which /, In common with all |
Christian men, entertained; but 1t was plauribly |
urged that could preside ~ the lecture and intro
duce her upon the simple ground OF advocating |