Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-14
Why 100000 Were Voted Beecher

1t is well known that Henry Ward
Beecher is not a wealthy man. He
has earned a great deal of money in
the cause of his life, but he has dis
pensed great deal in the way of char
liable contributions. He was not pre-
pared to meet the heavy expense Of
the recent suit against him, and his
congregation could not vote money
directly to pay the costs. Hence they
increased his salary to the sum of
$780, 900 for this year. At meeting OF
the pew holders OF Plymouth Church
last Wednesday evening, one Of them
Mr.. S. WHITE, said
l wish to express, in regard to the
action of the Plymouth pew-holders
at this time, this thought. There has
been kindly mention made here, Sir,
OF two classes of persons who have
done their work in this great case-the
Committee which sat last Summer
and the lawyers who have gone through
this long trial and presented the case
so ably before the jury. 1 want to say
one word in recognition OF what Ply
mouth -holders-members of the
society-have done, and how their &C.
ton in the premises tonight, il this
resolution is unanimously carried, will
be interpreted in the future. am not
unmindful that the Committee sat
through the heat of the Summer, and
L am also mindful OF the
gathering in Plymouth Church in the
heat OF summer of vast concourse OF
people, to attest their earnest interest
i'll the proceeding. / know that not
one word was spoken by members of
Plymouth Church to the Committee
to influence its action. We have heard
of the hundred eyes of Briarens, and
the hundred arms or Argus, and the
gold of Midas, but there has been moth
ing on the pert of Plymouth Church
but to simply stand and wait. appeal
to every man connected with the de-
Tense of this case for the truth of the
statement that not one word has been
spoken in the way of Intermeddling.
1t has not been the business of the
Church to intermeddle. Mr.. Beecher
began by mortgaging his house, and
has pledged all his available funds to
carry on this case. Now the time has
come when Plymouth Church can
speak. Plymouth Church has been
in the habit of taxing itself for
the benefit of the poor in the
neighbOrhood Of the wharves, and
there stands in Hicks street a building
costing $75 5000, which has been dedi-
Gated to the poor of this locality.
When Henry Ward Beecher was at
tackled, your wife and mine, and
every member of Plymouth Church,
was assailed; and we are compelled
to listen to the sneer that Plymouth
was trying cover up a crime in the
person of their pastor. Now, these
things have been investigated, and
Plymouth pew-holders can spend
something in behalf of this legitimate
ly. Now, there may be those who
think 100000 is large amount, but,
if you will, remember it. has been a
six months trial, that witnesses have
been brought from all over the Unit
ed States, that expensive counsel have
been brought from all over the Unit
ed States, that expensive counsel have
been engaged, that the amount of costs
goes as high as SIS, 200.
There is just this one thing to 5
further, and this is the moral eflec. 90
the attitude of Plymouth Church in
standing firm to defend itself. Let it
be understood that Plymouth Church
stands 5000 strong, in every hand a
spear and in the future there will be
hesitation before men rush upon those
spears. Applause Let future liti-
giants take warning that not one word,
that not one dollar, will be spent in
the defense of the wrong, but that Ply
mouth people stand upon the defensive
when they are attacked, and that they
propose that all the money that is
ne sgep IN II need ib oe rab
Long applause. AS to how we shall
raise it, when you find Henry w. Sage,
Reuben w. Ropes, Horace B. Claflin,
Mr.. Freeland, and the rest of them
voting TO pay 100000, you needn't be
a whit concerned; trust them for that.
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