New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-04
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


uefnl than ever was, but I do not believe there
~ to the beginning Of 1871, whom became acquainted
with the great vlckcdness which Mr. Beocler han com
N tied in his relations with Mrs. Ton. did not seek
lis knowedgc. II came 10 from Others ~ Mr.
B3eohor well aware. But after tha ~ ana not seem
pbsihe for me to go to church and hear him preach
or 10 take the sacrament fom his hands and stopped
ling But ut the same time. and for years aHcfNhu
hs very often house. sometimes two or three
times u day and. though saw him only Occasionally
when did see him he seemed to DO In dreadful dstre.s
the great sip which he had committed, and iul OF
and anguish account OF II, aud OF what then
thought was true cOntrition.
| always urged him 10 confess to the church as iny
he had done 10 my husband and 10 self; ana foit
that he did, with "a deep and heart-movng grief as
H. showed before u.s. The church would forgive him.
Certainly should have then gone back to IT, and, a.
thought. should have hopored him all the more for such
. noble act " confession aud reparation. But III 10
was willing to do that, something within me- which IL
seemed right for 10 obey would not allow me TO be
in his church a. had been before could not Win any
satisfaction hear him preach OF purity aud Christian Joy
while knew Of his secret agony and his Acknowledged
That ala not go elsewhere for worship and the sacra
III nj was almost wholly owing 10 HIM He begged me
again and again 10 back 10 Plymouth thucn, ana
said It would ccmor; and strengthen him much to see
there and when 1 said that could not I'LL he had
acbnowedged his SIN and 80 stoned Tor u ~ sr ~ ne
could he sad and depressed even 10 tears. 1tt
went away from Plymouth Church to any other, while
no was oil the Time coming 10 our house "oulu Oh
course excite attention. cause SUSPICION and embarrass
him very much a. well as my husband who Mss then
trying hard. under SIR Beecbers constant urgency to
keep the awful secret from the public should not know
what 10 say il was asked the reason for 1t and might
wanted 10 shield and help. Mr. Beecher too had
than any other represented TO me the Christian
reli son and to bring rcproach upon him seemed
an injdry TO it. So abstaned from going elsewhere.
things light which be was all the while afraid would
become known and which II did not belong to me To DIS
close. think now that did wrong in allowing myself
to bo moved rs much IA WAS by such considerations
know that lost much guidance and strength which
seemed TO be constrained to do OF tho time. Certainly
ana IL IRON no motve nu one OF , Me- ,;th "r H.
the Lord not interrupted, though sometimes won
soon as the necessity which seemed to be upon
removed went again, s9dly to the ssryiSGs ana
comfort and pleasure, "a well as strength. from then
world blame me for what did in his behalf. He
knows that could not speak the truth more perfectly
than have spoken here u Was standing tins moment
before Gods throne judgment when Mr. TItoDs
was dropped by you two years ago. told Mr. Beeeher
mne the way; and he then most earnestly as
that should be done; that he would SO
by his church II very likely known 10 all OF you that
late June, 1873 DO wrote about me 10 my husband
words which ~ that time thought wore sincere and
which me pleasure, though know thy were ex-
trayagnt and far beyond my merits Your noble we
has been 10 Of Gods comiortcrs. IL Is sch as
size thai renew a waning faith in womanhood" This was
after he knew well as he knows now OF my long ADJ
sence from church services on his account.
II does not to in the least right That yoI
should now accuse me before The puoIo oi hVe yeais
Christian ordinances. wien, IN point OF fact tho dluse
science on tnr hand. refusing to LIT go to your
church while knew what did about Mr. Beccher by
unwillingncss ON the other hand 10 expose ana harm
him by going elsewhere. 1 really do not SEQ how hr
Beechcr knowing wen as ho does the perfect truth OF
what sayknOTng how ae used 90 weep ~ our house,
ana heap shame upon himself his great sD and how
often he spoke to iny husband and myself or tue inter
despair which he would be except for our comfort ana
help cannot soc how it possible for him to stand
up and read this letter 10 me III your pcscuce without
his very soul giving way
THE CuURCu'5 LETTER ANSWERED IN DETAIL
As to the other parts Of tbs letter, there great
many thing. in which iniuriOs all
of which 70 is not worth while to refer to, but OF
which | may montion. You say tha might have
brought charge against the pastor in consequence or
my knowledge OF his wiokedncss with Mrs. Tilton Per
Ia might but IL did not seem part To do It, when
there were gentlemen church who knew the facts
almost as well as did. aud when the knowledge which
had about them had come to me in confidence 1t was
right for me- felt such knowledge when the law
required IT, or in sedofonse. or M ynilcation of others
Bu never wished make what he had comic .sed To
a means OF attack upon Mr. Beecher cruelty ~ no has
treated could no longer Keep his secret do
not know but should have been AFRAID 10 do 10 III any
case since my husbands experience IN one OF yor meet
ing, showed how violent your anger might become, aud
have not a mans strength.
You complain of me that did not ask for trial by tho
church did not know that 1t was my business, to 10
that was not conscious Of having done anything to
make trial necessary suitable. Tho Committee not
fled me they should recommend droppins my namci
and appeared and protested against u; on what
thought sufficient grounds. was at that time GER
tany member Of TIA cnurch and II seems to me II was
your business to put inc on trai you thought was
stating What was not true. | should not have shrunk
from It but did not know that under obligation
ask to be tried or that would DO considered that
had forfeited privilege ii did not
You complain that / would not answer questions in
connection with my protest against your P!oposedac-
ton declined 10 answer questions az that tme and In
that place because neither or them appeared to me SUIT
able The Moderator OF the meeting himself declared
the proposal 10 put thOn out OF order. But not only
did not decline, offered. ut the same time. to answer any
questions afterward To be put ny your ocers or COM
Inee think one can feel ce AMY no lady that L
was wrong my unwiIlingne.S to be suddenly and pub
lIcy catecnzed on so painful succt before so large
an assembly But and am ready. as then said to
answer any Questions at any s Tf n s pro Ia d sG
crate ana correct replies.
resented before yOu by counsel Am woman. entirely
uu9cestOmed To reading speaking IN public; and, as
my husband preferred not TO go to your meeting with
me asked my friend Mr. Pryor to go ~ my escort, aud
torcal M letter for mo- never supposed there coud
he any objection to this that it needed any stretch OF
couriesyi in YOU to allcw 1t.
Hn sax .iat so lar as the church the committee
purity OF Mr.. Beecher except ~ court OF Justice hu
IN that very court had stated under OATH that had
made precisely the same statement which had since
made in my protest To YOU long AGO. onneo lo eaning
members aud officers OF your church telling him tbat Mr..
Irecier5 sin adultery, ana mat lac AMI Mrs llt0u
had both confessed u 10 me- tho statement was rau-
der had declared the fact of my utefng The SANDER
before all the world and might months ago nave been
cslled 10 account for II.
You say testified in the court OF Justice under
cumunlSory process Indeed did; and nobody who
does not nave pass through the sort OF painful
trial will know how hard II was Tor Lo Ia submit TO
the cUmpulsiOn OF the conrt hut that compulsory
process was that compelled mo 10 tell the truth aud
nothing else however reluctant might be 10 declare IT,
testified "a. lu, III WOW N M O HID"
svraring ~ tl- life aud the next There process
of the court a. compel me 10 TESTIFY what dd II was
moi exactly and dToadiuy true ! do not believe that
sny torture could have made DIe do mch less The
inst aud kind OF Judge Nei5uu nnNcrknew before
that false swearing In court Of Justice Is Ocnse
vnlc the Church of Christ IL unwilling or unable to
punish. Aud you think that LED IN tnHt public man
ner and IN that solemn hour, that lied IN order To uie
thr min ster whom lad loved much any Of yOn.
aud whom Ind done my very best 10 upnoid and com
fort for three dismal years. through the time OF an
anguish which las carefully hiding from you, yOn
ought all the more think To have uied aud Condemned
me instead ~ dropping my name.
You say that tine rule under which my name was
dumped has bCeu applied ia about fly cases. with
from any body, and you try TO make the
that these cd-es were IN substance similar TO
mine never know boioie that In any single the
,ile had been applied VIXEN the member affected pro-
be allie Lel the anllcrN