Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-27

e.. H.
unwilling TO be fail in StOrrs hand to strike at
6 friend. There are one or two reasons, emphatic,
for waiting until the end of the Council before
taking any action. First, that the attack on
Plymouth Church and the threats against Con-
gregaUOnaism We're violent that the public
mind is to be absorbed in the ecclesiastical ele-
ments and not in the personal Second, if Ply
mouth Church is disfellowshiped, it will cOnsti-
tute j blow at me and the church far severer
than at him. Third, that if the Council
does not disfellowship Plymouth Church,
then undoubtedly Stors will 20 off into Presby-
terianism, as he, almost without disguise, threat
ened in his speech. and in that case the empha-
sis will be there. Fourth, at any rate, while the
fury RACES in the Council, 1t Is not wise to make
any move that would be one among so many as
to lose effect degree. After the battle Is over
one can more exactly see what ought to be done
Meantime l am a. patient as l know how to be,
but pretty nearly used up with inward excitement.
and must run away for day or two and hide and
sleep, or there Will be funeral"
While these proceedings were pending, the
Rev. Mr.. Halliday. the assistant Of Beecher,
called upon him and upon Mr.. MoultOn to en-
deayor TO learn the facts about the difficulties be-
tween BeeCbcr and TiltOn, and Mr.. NJ. told him
he did not think that either he or the church were
justified in endeavoring to reopen trouble
which had been adjusted and settled by
the parties to it. and that it was better,
for everybody, that the whole matter
should be allowed to repose in quiet
Mr.. NJ. here furnishes letter from Mr. B. IN
which he says: Halliday called last night. Til
tons interview with him did not satisfy, but dis
turbed; but it was the same with Bell, who was
present 1t tended directly to unsettlng. Your
interview last night was very beneficial, ana
gave confidence. This must be looked after. 1t
is vain to build if the foundation sinks under
every effort.
Mr.. Moulton here saws the anxiety which Mr..
Beecher felt about the stories aoat and the steps
he took to quiet them. together with the trust he
Ieposed in him NJ and his ability TO ald nm IN
that behalf, may be seen by the following
letter Of June p, 1873: I have seen
Howard again. He says that it was
the statement but from Carpenter. Is he re-
porting that view? I have told Clatlin that you
would come with Carpenter il he could be found,
and at any rate by nine tonight, to see Storrs,
but l did not say anything about Storrs. | sent
Cleveland with my horse and buggy over to hunt
Carpenter. VIII you put Carpenter on his guard
about making such statements? For these bear
the force of coming from headquarters
Meanwhile (Mr. Moulton COntinues) Mr. Halli-
day had had an interview with Tilton, the result
of which, unsettling the matter between TiltOn
and Beecher, was very anxiOusy awaited by Mr..
Beecher. who was quite anxious that TlltOn
should take no steps by which the matter be-
tween them should get into the newspapers or
be made in any manner a matter of cOntrO-
versy. With this view he stated the stu
alton, on the same night Of the interview of Hal
liday and Iilton, in letter, which is without
date, and was written in pencil in great haste, in
which he says: i. The Eagle ought to have
nothing tonight 1t is that meddling which
stirs up folks. Neither you nor Theodore
ought to be troubled by the side which you
served so faithfully in public 2. The Dea-
cons meeting, | think, is adjourned. |
only near next danger is the women Morrill,,
Bradshaw and the poor dear child. If the papers
will hold OF month we can ride out the gale and
make safe anchorage, and then when once we are
in deep and tranquil waters we will all join
hands in a profound and genuine tduS Dec; for
through such wilderness only Divine PrOvi-
dence could have led us Undiscovered by the open
mouthed beasts that lay in wait for our lives. l
go on the twelve O'Clock train, after a sleepless
night. / am anxious about Theodores interview
with Halliday
After saying that the committee had all the
letters and documents bearing upon the subject
matter OF the inquiry, Mr.. Moulton said he de-
s-red to speak Of a single collateral matter.
Beecher never minated to him that he thought
there was any desire on TIltOn's part to black
mail him, and he knew there was no attempt on
TiltOn's part TO get any more than what he be-
lieVed his just due from Bowen. The question
whether WilkesOn knew or believed that any
offense had been committed will depend upon
the fact whether he knew OF anything that had
been done by Beccher or IiltOn 5 wife which called
for apology at the time he wrote the trpartite
covenant. The tripartite covenant was made
solely in reference TO disclaimers which Beecher
had made 20 HiltOn and Tilton had made to
Bowen: and Tiltons letter sets forth that the
only disclosure he made to Bowen of Beecher's
acts toward himself were of improper advances
made TO his wife, and that he so limited his
charge. in order TO save the honor of his wife.
Mr.. Tilton had 10 his personal knowledge never
made demand on BeeCher for money or pecun-
iaty aid in any way or form. He only asked that
BeeCher should interpOse his influence and power
to protect him from the ISLANDERS of those who
claimed to be Beechers friends; while Beecher
himself, with the generosity and kindness toward
TiltOn which had always characterized his acts
during the whole of the unhappy controversy, of
his own motion, insisted through Moulton in aid
ing Tllton in establishing his enterprise of the
Golden Age, for which purpose he gave him the
sum of $1,000, which he was to expend III such
manner as he deemed best to help the
enterprise along; and if TitOn at any time in
need, personally to aid him. 1t was understood
between MoUtOn and Beecher that this money
was to go to Tilton as fit came from Moulton 5
Np1n orr ppT,+T l1tip h
that he should not know that the money came
from BecCher. or think that he was in any way
indebted to him for it.
Mr.. MOultOn also presented in this connection
q statement OF account. showing that between
MAY ,. 1873. ard May Do 1874 he had received OF
Mr. BeeCher $1,000 and paid to Mr.. Tilton at vari-
Gus times sums amounting In the aggregate to
S4550.
Mr. Tilton had more than once said to him he
could and would receive nothing from Beecher in
the way OF pCcuniary assistance. Beecher had
told Moulton that he willing to furnish
money to pay the expenses of Tilton and his fam
lily abroad, III order that Tilton might be saved
from the constant state of irritation which arose
from the rUmors he was daily hearing. MoultoT
rather limited at than informed Tilton of this fact
and he repeled even the intimation of such &
thing with the utmost indignation and anger
Therefore he (MOultOn) only undertook the dis
burSement Of this sum at the most earnest anC
voluntary request of Beecher.
The first iutimation of the insanity of TlltoT
arose in this wise: Prior to Sunday. March %
1874. q publication was made of a statement by
reporter OF the brooklyn CHLOH. puTpOrill5 10 D(
the result of an interview with Thomas g. Shear
man. clerk of Plymouth Church, to the effec
that Tilt0n was insane. and that he stated tina
Mrs. Tilton had medumistic fits, whatever diseas,
that NAV be. in which she had stated matters
affecting the character of BeeCher; and TO th
statement of neither of them for that reason
was any credit 10 be given. This publication
as it tended not only to excite Tilton 10 defens
of his sanity but as also coming from the Clerl
of Plymouth Church, might be supposed to be al
authoritative expression of his pastor. It an
noyed Beecher very much and he wrote lette
to MOultOn giving expression to his feelings a
follows: x Is there 10 be no end 0
trouble? Is wave TO follow wave in endless sue
cession: I was cut 10 the heart when G. showed
me that shameful paragraph from the Union. 1t
cruelty Is beyond description. felt like lyin
down and saying. am tired, tired tire
of living or Of trying to resist the dew
of mischief I would rather have had
jayelin launched against me a hundred time
than against those that have suffered so much
The shameful indeicacy Of bringing the most s.
cred relations into such publicity fills me wit
horror. But there are some Slight alterations
The paragraph came when the public mind Wa
engaged with the Council and with Theodore
letters. I hope II Will pass without further nc
tice. TiltCp demanded letter of retTaCtiOn. an
as it was not forthcoming. Mouiton visited Shear
man. and. receiving no satisfaction, subsequent
called with Tilton. and shortly after obtained
statement that he was satisfied what he had PR
viously said IN the published interview was errt
neous.
Meanwhile Il had come To he srraad sbO11t tbs