New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29
MIR. BEECHER ACQUITTED.
Continued from First Page.
THE COMMITTEE vINDIcATE

~ nv che singing OF the 660th hymn Of the Plymouth
c.,oo,,on Mr.. Gabett was called upon to lead in
rsr He said, among other things; oh God Thou
ts.., for thine eye is upon the that has
,oa al many together-that the union OF church
.Iovsbp has not brought us all together. Thou know
~, ,bv we are here, and we ask Thy blessing upon
80. we ask Thy blessing upon him, who has been 30
80, our teacher our uDder-shepherd hore, 10 lead
,de the still waters and into the green pastures Of
rhine eternal love; and we ask. God as he Is sepa-
,,ed from usin distance but not in heart-that Thou
wilt bless him and pour Thy spirit upon him and give
aim great comfort May he not fear for Thy people
are may he remember Father! that Thou hast ever
,aen near 10 them. Do thou I'll his mind with Joy and
great peace and In Thy mercy spare hun unto us,
and bring back resume his great work here
10 teach us again the way, through the Creator.
through the broodng of Thy love- make him the insru
pent OF bringing souls in darkness into Thy mar
Vicious light"
Mr. lshearmsn then moved that the reading OF the
minutes be dispensed WITH which carried Prof.
Raymond then read the report Of the Examining Com
uiltee, as follows:
REPORT OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE.
Tho Examining Committee Of Plymouth Church beg
leave to report that consequence OF the publication
of certain Theodore Tlton the Commit
tee we're requested by the pastor OF the church to au
thorize an investigation by a subcommittee into the
,mputaons made against his character. On the eth OF
July 1874 the Committee accordingly appointed Broth
ers H. W. Sage and II. NJ. Cleveland such committee.
rcouesting them associate with themselves Messrs
Clahin winslow Storrs and White, who are not men,
hers OF the Examining Committee. No charges having
been proved TO the church to the Examining COM
mittee against pastor II was the duty Of the sub
committee simply ascertain whether there was any
foundation in fact for charges and trial before the
body OF the church. Tue subcommittee has, in our
Judgment. faithfully and impartialy discharged It's
duties and has presented 10 us report which is here
annexed.
Here the report of the Investigating Committee was
resdl
The evidence taken has also been transmitted to
Most OF it has been already made public The publca
ton Of the emander will be considered by us at ur
Their meetingone point, however. beng settled that
nothing shall be withheld from publication winch can
afford preex for Of the pastor of this church
Tbs expectancy OF publishing evidence injurious TO
other parties question which cannot be hastily de-
termined While we should have unhesitatingly done
our duty in case different conclusion had been
reached rejoice 10 say that, without one dissenting
voice. this Committee lind nothing IN the evidence to
justify suspicion OF pastors integrity and
purity and everything justify and commend, on the
part of Plymouth Church and the Society," degree OF
confidence and affection toward its pastor greater II
possible. than 1t yet felt to him.
1t is not the Office Of this Committee to review bis
errors of judgment in managing complex trouble and
struggling against the most infamous conspiracy known
10 the present age Applause 1t for SIMPLY TO
upon his part and Of this find no proof, although
under deuson artully brought abbut by his enemies
our pastor for long time made to believe himself
In fault.
In conclusion we recommend to the Church the adOp
ton OF the following resoutions
Resolred That the evidence laid before the Exanin
ing Committee only does not afford any foundation
putting the pastor of this church, the Rev. Henry
perfect satisfaction Of his church his entire lnno,
and absolute personal purity with respect TO all
thu cl.ar nuXNo ne pTufOr
Theodore Tlton. Much applause.l -
RESOLVED That our confidence IN and love Tor our pas,
tor 80 Tar from being diminished, is heightened and
deepened by the unmerited suferngs which he has so
long borne, and that we welcome him with sympathy
more tender and trust uDbOunded than We ever
felt beforeto his puDr iaoors among u.s. to our church,
families, our homes, aud our hearts
ID. W. TALLMADGE, Cielk OF Examining Committee.
Mr. Blair, who began to speak on the floor OF the
Church. but obliged to ascend the platform i'll ODE
dience TO calls from the audience, then spoke;
Mr.. MODERATOR AND FRIENDS: move that the re-
port be accepted the resolutions adopted aud hav
Jog made this motion, desire to few words This
report needs advocacy at handsit Is Its own
gumen-it carries convection by the irresistible sweep
Of its logic (Applause] do not stand here therefore
TO talk In advocacy Of the report. but
wish to express my sense Of the work which
this Committee have done and the way
in which they done aud to congratulate you, Sir,
and the Committee that have given report which
will forever put silence those who said the Committee
was constituted for the express purpose OF " white
washing" Mr.. Beecher. 1t natural that such
charge should be made; 1t not surprising that it
should be made it was made even by those not
unfriendly 10 Mr.. Beecher II was seen that the Com
mittee was chosen by Mr.. Beecher himself, and
consisted OF those who his friends. who loved
pm, and honored him, and trusted him; but it was
suggested that if the charge against Henry Ward
Beeeher be investigated. it not proper and
right should he first invest gated by the Church,
aud If committee should be selected by the Church.
how could they be composed Of his friends and those
who loved HINT lApplausel But it Is clear that this
Committee had before them difficult task. They
MI Beechers personal friends; they had sat under his
ministration for years; they had him in public
and in private life; they loved him, they honored him.
they sympathzed with him In the grief they knew him
10 feel when called upon TO ask them to investigate the
charges affecting his good name; and yet, having lis
tened to this report attentvely throughout,
WINGED 1 afiirm-and 1 am satisfied that this
gregatiOn will bear out IN the assertion
nay, that the millions who may read 1t tomorrow
will bear that this Committee have far subdued
their impressions and sympathe and have risen
such GA moral hight to do absolute justice between
our pastor and his far the evidence would
permit them and have gone far and have done as
much as they could TO get other evidence have
fnoned every witness named to them and have received
all the evidencetoffered them. What more could they
have done than this that having dvested themselves
OF their prejudices they Ihave given us report which
we can accept as the final conclusion Of this matter
iApplausel.
REMARKS OF RossITER W. RAYMOND.
Rossiter W. Raymond greeted with great up
plause. He said
MR. MODERATOR MY FRIENDS: Henry Ward Beecher
has been charged with a crime black enough In ITSELF
doubly black If IL committed by clergyman, but
attended also the circumstances OF the accusation
itself by every accessory that could deepen its guilt
He is charged only with the crime Of adultery but Of
betrayng the confidence Of friend, seducine the child
like innocence Of a womaD occupying. with possible
3lasphemy and hypocrisy. the sacred desk, and sti
committing series Of such acts; denying before man,