Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-02

as important here, except so far as they had
connection with Tilton.
Mr.. Evarts. That's all propose to do.
A. We co-Operated on the subject till
1869, be having meetings at his house Oi
the Equal Rights Association. There were
several forms of the movement under diff
ferent names, and in 1869 what is called
the Boston wing of the female sutragists
had a convention in Cleveland and formed
a national association, of which l was
elected President, not knowing that there
claimed to be another national association
in New York called the New York wing,
and thus found myself between two fe-
male national societies. He was President
of the one, and | was President of the
other. After l had consented to let my
| name 20 before the convention, l recOllect
having a discussion with Tilton, and he
was very urgent that l should not do it,
and almost persuaded me to send a tele-
gram Withdrawing my name. After
the formation Of the society, and before
the next May, a more thorough
| organization into a national society, by the
absorption of the Equal Rights Society into
national one, and TIlton was elected
| President Of that, and in the May anniver
saries Of 1870, we appeared respectively at
the head Of our charges in the two halls in
| New York, and exchanged letters of cour-
tesy, Overures proceeding from him to us,
and replies from US to him and his AssO-
| ciationAs
Q. Now, Mr.. Beecher, what was the re-
| latiOn between TiltOn and yourself and
/ Plymouth Church from your early ac-
| quaintance with him? When did he be-
| come a member of the church, and how
was he as for caring for the religious duties
Of the church in early days? e
A. In early days? l cannot say when
| he Joined; it was early; my impression is
/ he Joined the church before he was married
| in 1856; no, it was his wife who Joined the
church in 1851.
Q. Previous to his marriage?
A. have very little recollection of his
connection with the church previous. 1
only know he was at an early day either
superintendent OF second superintendent Of
the Sunday-schOel, and l remember he
used TO be in our Friday night prayer meet
ings, which were also conversation meet
ings, and he used to take part in them. l
looked upon him as one Of the men who
was destined to be very useful, especially in
the Sabbath-schOol work, that l knew Of in
many years.
Q. About up to what time did this cor
dial or devOUt relation to the church con-
tinue?
A. think about the time TiltOn began
to be apublic speaker. He found himself
so much absent and so much called upon,
that he gradually fell of from attending
church. Should say about 1860, when he
absented himself, but in 4 number Of his
g Il,
was not his way to be at church constantly,
as persons who lived here all the time.
q. When did you first know of any mOdi-
ficatiOn or changes Of religious opinion and
action?
a. Well, l think it was after he and l
were on the Independent together.
q. How often were these matters the
subject of conversation and conference?
A. Not in the way your question i'm
plies. The general theme Of religious life
and belief was a matter of conversation,
and a great deal that was more particularly
in its relations to psychology, the practical
development of il and its adaptation to the
present time in which we live. l never re-
collect to have had strictly dOctrinal con-
versatiOn with him.
.. Prior to the time this letter was witt
ten in 1867, had you become aware of the
changes in his religious faith OF doubt in
his mind concerning the substance Of its
forms of government?
a. had.
Mrs. TIItOn Seeks p astOFaI Advice.
q. In what way did you become aware
OF that?
4. found that his wife was distressed !
on the matter. l was called, as pastor, to !
confer about it. / never expOstulated with |
him, and so brought il out. / accounted Il |
simply the drift which 4 faithful mind |
takes often when passing through transit |
tiOns from traditional beliefs TO personal |
and its own feelings, and | believed that |
time and experience would rectify it.
Q. It was in that period that this letter /
was written?
4. In that period, but the special occl-
sion Of It, if | don't misremember, and /
state it subject to correction, after assuming |
the responsibility Of the Christian Union /
there appeared one or two articles.
q. Of the Independent
a. OF the Independent, l should say. /
There appeared one or two articles which /
excited very great alarm, to my personal |
knowledge and excited dishust Of him, which /
/ thought was just in one measure, and was /
also injuring the Independent, and the In
dependent was always dear to me, and il /
was brought home to me because in the
Northwest, where my brother, Rev. Ward /
Beecher, lived, was held responsible for
his observations.
q. For Tilton's?
a. Yes; it led me to have some CONVEX
satiOns with him. l don't recOllect them
Individually.
Q. And it was in that stage of knowl-
edge on your part Of his opinions that this
letter was written?
A. Yes.
Mr.. Evarts. Now, Mr.. Beecher, 'di d you
form the acquaintance of MOulton at the
time of your sitting at Pages?
a. l don't know; l can't say exactly. /
had seen him before, but l did not know
who he was until met him there.
. Yes. How did it come about that
you fell into his company on that occasion?
\. MOultOnihad already sat to Page for a
very excellent likeness, and Mrs. TiltOn
had been sitting for one also, and several of
the family friends, and MOultOn was &C
quainted with them all. / think George
II. Robinson and wife were among them.
In going out from the stufiO, we walked
down to Fulton Ferry together, and the
was very pleasant to me and
created a desire to see him again.
Q. Did you meet him there more than
once?
\. l remember one certainly; my i'm
preston is there were several.
Q. And did you find him to be an edu-
Gated, cultivated man?
\. Yes, sir; an acute man, Of a good |
critical turn of mind, fond of art, cOnn0i-
than an artist, and very fond
of literature; apt to quote a great
deal; wOrshipper of Jas. Russell Lowell
and Shakspeare's sOnnetts.
z. And you found him an agreeable,
man?
a. Most agreeable.
Q. Now, up to the end of 1870, was that
the extent and form Of your acquaintance
with MOultOn?
A. Yes, as / remember.
Q. Prior to December, 1870, had you in
any way formed the acquaintance Of Mrs.
MOultOn?
a. knew her as I knew a thousand per-
sons in my church, l knowing her rs Ee- !
longing to that set, but without being able
20 call her by name; no more than that.
My memory of names is so poor, and l see
20 many people and so many faces, think
L probable one-half my church, whom ! I
lIiOw to be my church members, / could
not call by name / am acuuaintpd with ! ,