The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-08-03
AN INTERVIEW WITH F. D. HoLToN.

All About Tilton's Letter to Bowen-Mr.
Holton's Interview with Bowen and
Carpenter, and What He Reports Them.
rs Saying.
From an interview between the correspondent
of the Chicago Times and E. d. Holton, President
OF the Northwestern Fire Insurance Company, OF
Milwaukee, we extract
REPoRTER-When was Tilton's first letter pub
Mr.. HoLToN-It was in the spring OF 1872 II
you recollect,
had published statement in the fall previous, but
It was not noticed very much by respectable
people. Or course it was at once seized on by low,
prurient people, saloon Keepers and SO forth; but
among the really Christian class 1t had no effect
Some better evidence was required before any bad
could possibly be believed about Mr.. BeecDer. 1t
was followed, as say, by TINS first letter oil Tlton
REPORTER-Where old you first see 1t
came down one morning to breakfast and picked
UP paper, and there was thunderstruck to read
Tiltons statement. Here. thought, was such evi.
dence that it had to be considered. Tlltbn had
been a member of the church. and there were such
other names introduced that I did not see how it
was possible Tor the letter TO be passed In silence
One OF the allegations contained in the letter was
that Bowen had told Tilton that Beecher had been
Guilty OF ADULTERY
with members OF his co congregation. The infOrma-
ttOn startled me greatly. Now, had known
Beecher Tor years when was living East
REPORTER-Dd you ever attend Mr.. Beecher's
church?
him. He used to visit my house and l was q ire
Quent visitor at his. We hunted and hshed to-
gether and were Old friends. was thanderstruck
to see the things stated In that letter OF TiltOn's
What is more, there appeared 20 me to nave been
a great want OF Judgment q lack OF appeal to the
established rules OF procedure common Ia C0ngre-
rational bodies In the matter.
TIE PROPER WAY.
REPORTER-What should have been done
Mr.. HOLTOS-fhe proper course Of action TO have
been taken was that Mr.. rlton, II he said that
Bowen had told him such things respecting their
pastor, should have come at once TO the stand
Tilton should have been brought right up to the
ring. II, when he was charged with SANDER, he
then the ecclesiastical court oil the church would
have been through with Mr.. Tilton, aud the order
would have been to call up Mr. Bowen; they
should have said to aim, "Mr. Bowen, dtd you
say these things; and II so, bring forward your
proof" The course OF the church was pain under
the circumstances. II the charges had been proved
true, then Mr.. Beecner must have been treated
with the same discipline as the poorest minister
out on the praries OF Iowa or IN the hills OF New
Hampshire would have received. Aud II the
Charge was not sustained then Bowen ought 10
nave been excommunicated with disgrace. The
duty OF the church was simple.
REPORTER-What followed2
about The East for 1--WE or six days The subject
was working within me all the time. ! felt that
the matter bad got to be settled one way or the
other, and soon fully made up my mind that
when reached New York would
60 AND SEE BOWEN,
70 earn rom MS own lips whether he mad ever
maoe any socn statement as that which Tilton
had put into his mouth. About six days after
reading the paper got to New York went to
the Independent once to see what, II anything, I
was owing II, and also to see Bowen. You must
know thai was acquainted with Bowep. ana