New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-22
Mr.. TITON'S CHALLENGE TO MR. BEECHER
IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

That closes the discussion of the direct evil
dence this founded upon the testimony OF I'll
tom Moulton and Mrs. MoultOn the testimony derived
from Beechers letters and all that mass of moral evidence
which springs out Of the particular subjects We
have hitherto been considering May | now
ask your attention TO few crcumstancesf
Il was a somewhat notable event. gentlemen. when Mr.
Tton appeared in Plymouth Church. upon an occasion
when the question was whether not he had sanderd
its PASTOR and the face OF tho Atom and of the
pastor, deaed and challenged investigation. Now
member tho circumstances. The West charges were
under consideration, the third specification of which
charged upon Mr.. Tlton the declaration to Mrs Brad
shaw Of sexual intimacy as between Dir. Beecher
and Mrs. Tlton It was upon the records OF
Plymouth Church and the question whether in that
allegation Mr. Tton had sandered Henry Ward Beecher.
Mr. Tilton offered himself TO investigation. You remem
Der tho letter which no wrote TO Mr. Becher Hearing
that was the purpose OF the Committee of the church
to charge that he had withdrawn himself from inVestlgI
ton and claimed immunity because hc not member
of the church. he went down with that letter Of Becher
waiying that immunity rendering himself, as
member of that church, to its jurisdiction, and
saying to the pastor in the face OF bis
congregation and with these charges pending upon the
records Of the church, II you have any complaint To
make against measanst me, who have charged you, ~
yonr records show with adultery with my wife,
here to answer it. not deny what siid"anl there
is no declaration in all that Theodore TtOn has written
upon that subject wherein he denies the fact that he did
charge adultery don't deny having made the ACCUSE
ton am ready TO meet everything that have said AMI
TO redeem all that have declared" We'll, would
suppose that when that church convulsci
with this difficulty, when Mr. West and other conscen
ous gentlemen OF that regton had for nearly three
years been pressing nyestigaton-it would seem when
the udicatores Of that church had Mr. Tton before
them submitting to their Jurisdiction, and when every
body saw that it for the interests OF the church
to wipe from Henry Ward Beecher the STAN OF
this scandal and condemn his audacious slanlcrcr;
it would seem that then the time when injured limo
cence and indignant virtue would have stood up. IN
the person OF Henry Ward Beecher. and would have de-
nOunced his beer cleared himself and his church from
the infamy of this scandal, and stilled the dis
quiet md discomfort which disturbing tie
peace Of his congregation. Would no not
have done so If innoccnti The only gu s.
ton involved there was whether Mr. Tlton h
falsely charged Henry Ward Beechef with alnltety with
his wife; other question. And Mr. Beeoher, he who
is proud and confident to-day, when, in that open
court in the temple of his God before the world Ine
odCre Ti,ton declared that he had nti red No uniruh
against Henry Ward Beccher and ch den ed him to tho
ssue-h6 skunk from the Issue. " / Save no ohlr'e
to make" says Mr.. Beccher. AMI wiz mott When
everything crowlin thus 10 the VtOn, VII
every ntercs demanded it, when he hal tho pTwer and
the control Of the tribunal which to cxamn5nd %
pronounce upon t-Why nOtl II must be answered.
gentlemen. 1t will not do 70 say that Mr. Beecher ~
fearful about the influence on Tltons family. II will
do to say that he understood that Mrs TLoon hail. I'M
sought conferred upon him her affections. The inquiry
involved such ISSUE such question NJ necessity,
necessity for referring to IT. anu up ID that tine
body had ever suggested it, 80 far As We can hear.