The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-29
REPORT OF The BEECHER
COMMITTEE!
Beecher is Cleared of Every
Charge, but is Shown to
Have Lacked Good
Judgment.
They Say that Tilton and Moulton
have Changed the Original Charge
and are conspirators.
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING At PLYMOUTH
CHURCH, AND RESOLUTIONS OF
TRUsT IN MR.. BEEcHCR.
MoULTON BARELY ESCAPES BEING
MOBBED,
M0ULTON BARELY ESCAPES BEING
MOBBED.

New YORK, Aug. 2S, The Plymouth
Church Investigating Committee submit
ted their report to the church meeting to-
night The report begins with copies OF
Beecher's letters to the examining commit
tee asking an investigation aud nominating
the members of the committee whom he
desired appointed. The COMMITTEES first
express regret that uncomfortable circum-
stances made the public discussion of this
unhappy scandal necessary, but state that
in accepting the situation as they found it,
as solemn trust, they are profoundly inn
pressed with the grave Importance of the
work before them, The committee refer
to letter of Titon to DIR. Bacon, maxine
charges against Beecher's character, which
were afioat, and all Of which he desired in
quired into. They say in conducting the
investigation they have faithfully endea-
vored to make it thorough and impartial,
and to obtain such facts as are relevant to
inquiry from all attainable sources of evi-
dence. For this purpose they summoned
or requested the attendance of the follow
ing persons to testify before the committee.
Mrs. Elizabeth r. Titon, Mrs. II, W.
Beecher, Samuel Wilkinson, j ohm r. How
ard, Theodore Tilton, Samuel 4. Beecher,
Mrs. N. B. Morse, Oliver johnson, Rev
r. S. Storrs, d. D., Dwight johnson, Isaac
ii. Bailey, Mrs. Putnam, John w. Mason
Rev. w. w. Patton, Mary G. Ames, Rich
ard Z. Buck, Frank B. Carpenter, Albert
4. Norton, Thomas NJ. Vail, e. NJ. Holmes
Hon. N. B. Morse, Mrs Mary B. Brad
shaw, Joseph Richards, Miss Elizabeth A
Turner, Francis W. Stiles, M: D., Charlie
Corez, M. d., DIR. Mention, Miss Oakly
Mrs. Elizabeth A. Ovington, Mrs. Wal
lace, Rev. 0. B. Halliday, Thos. u. Shear
man, Benz. f. Tracey, Francis D. Moulton,
Franklin Woodroff, John w. Harmon, and
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Most of the
persons named attended rs requested be-
fore the committee. One notable excep.
ton is Francis b. Carpenter. Francis D
Moulton promised to testify fully, but ha
failed to do So He has submitted thre'
short statements in writing to the commit
tee, consisting chiefly of the reasons VIII,
he declined to testify and of promises tt
testify at the call of the committee. The
committee has called him three times, witt
the results stated. The committee cal
attention to the fact that the letter OF iii
ton on which the investigation was baset
charged no definite offense, but only mad
vague allusion to an offense of some sort
said to have been committed by MIR. Beech
er against Mr.. Tilton, and for which he ha'
apologlzed. Therefore the questlonlbetor
the committee was what offense, II any
Beecher had committed against Tilton
The committee then recite the fact OF lii
tons s appearing before the committee ant
definitely stating the charge alluded to IL
the Dr. Bacon letter as that OF adulter
with Mrs, Tilton at various times and var
. ious places during 1868 and 1870. The.
cell attention to the fact that the oftense a
first alleged by Tilton was an improper SO
licitation by Beecher to Mrs. Tilton. Bu
as time passed and purposes matured thi
charge passed and matured into anothe
form and substance. The committee the
recite the facts deducted from the evidenc
before them of Beecher and Tilton's int
; macy and friendship while they were to
gether editing the Independent, shown
that the former was urged by the latter
visit bis house and to do his editorial wor
: there, and that in every way he understoo
and approved of the friendly relations eS
isting between Beecher and Mrs. 1iltor
: They find that the friendly relations be
tween Tilton and Beecher continued unit
December, 1870, when Tiltou's condut
having injured the independent especial
/ in the West, he having come to deny tn
,pspiration of the Scriptures and the dlylr
itv of Christ, and his social views hayin
about this time undergone radical chang
| in the direction of free love. This chang
, in her husbands character affected Mr.
TiIton deeply, and being very religion
woman she naturally songht her pastor ie
: counsel and sympathy. She set forth ]
/ strong terms the suffering her husband
!, course was causing her. 1t now appear
= that during those years Mrs Tilton becanl
strongly attached to Mr.. Beecher, and,
Julv. 1870. confessed to her husband a
Iovershadowing affection for her pastor.
: On or about December, 1870, Mrs. Tito
left her husband, going with her childrel
y 10 her mothers house. She sent for Nj
!. Reecher and told him of the safferir
e and abuse her husband had subjected hi
!. TO. which greatly shocked Beecher, an
n he. with Mrs. Tilton's permission, sent h
g wife TO her, as he considered her ludg
:, ment 10 such matters better than his ow
II Subsequently he agreed with his wife
+ advising Mrs. Tilton to leave her husban
o lilton, however. forced her to return
E. his house by sending for, and obtalnlI
D. possession Of the youngest child who VI
/ sick with Group, during Mrs. Tiiton $ tel
= porary absence from her mothers hous
:. She suffered miscarriage, the next day
At ter her return. on the 4th, which result'
a in a serious illness continuing after the
sr of January.
The committee then state that early
December Bowen gave Tilton notice
IL. I-aLa=.a frnrn the editorshin of d