The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-09

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spreading dirty stories about me, and
that we had both agreed that we had
been naughty, and promised we wouldn't
do 80 any more, according to the
reading of the. tripartite agreement.
Well, l said to Moulton, he wrote his
own article in it. 1t was written 30 as
to cover every ground Of difference be-
tween him and us, and when he found
out the money was sure, he slipped the
article out, and, just like him, fixed it SO
that he could keep his little grievance
to use when he wanted to use it, and
now II there is any complaint he ought
not to make that complaint. Well, he
said that the devil was TO pay, and some
thing had to be done. I said to him that
l had come to about the end of my pa
tience; that didn't intend to stand this
thing any longer, and that IL matters
must come to head, it was just as good
time for it to come to a head now as
any other, and that / wouldn't take
one single step in that matter.
Well, he / was unduly excited for a
Clergyman, and he soothed me some
what, and said the matter could be got
over; that he had influence; he knew
enough that he could hold Tilton, for he
informed me that Tilton was going to
publish card that night, and that be
was going to include part of that men,
orandum, letter of apology, or whatever
would be very dangerous and very dam
aging; and l SAID to Moulton: swell,
let him publish it. 1 am not going to try
to patch this thing up and hold it any
longer" l said something more--things
that were more emphatic than prudent,
and finally he said, "He won't publish it
tonight; now you may depend upon it,"
That day l wrote a card OF resignation
and showed it to Moulton at his house.
He took it in his hand and looked at it,
and read it all the way through, and
seemed to start back little. He read
it again. "Good Godp says he. He
read it third time. took it from his
nand as he rose, and he leftthe room and
told me to wait a moment. He went
down stars then. His footsteps had
hardly ceased to be heard before Mrs.
Moulton entered the room and closed
the door, and we interchanged some
words, but was in rather stern MOOD,
and the conversation was not general at
all; but after some few words, sitting
at table with my back to the fireplace,
L don't know, was engaged with some
paper, what it was l DON'T know:
Sne came up behind me, or near my
left shoulder, and said to me: 'sMr.
Beecher, l don't believe the stories they
are telling about you. l believe you are
a good man." and l turned little to-
ward her and looked at her: Emma
Moulton, l am a good man-you may be
sure of that-I am a good man." and
with that she put her nand around my
neck gently, SO as to lit my head up a
little, and kissed me on the forehead. 1t
was certainly kiss of inspiration; still
.l. .l,t tsp ,t
/ sat perfectly still at the table, and she
sat down,upon sofa in moment; and
then after a little while Moulton came
back again, and we had some slight
conversation, and / got up and went
home.
@. When you made this proposition to
Moulton, of your purpose Of ofresignation,
did you SO intend TO do if this publica-
Ition was made? A. just as sure as the
Lord lives L should have done it.
@. What was your4purpose in that res
ignation, under that contingency? A..
The publication of that card would COM
pei at once consideration OF the whole
subject OF my Church, and put me upon
trial in that Church, and I,believed That
would destroy the Church; at any rate
any defense of myself that should be
necessary on the publication OF that
card, could make better standing as a
private man, lighting a private man,
than standing hampered by the restric-
tions, rules and duties OF a pastor oil
a church.
Mr.. Beecher's letter to Mr.. Moulton
was then read.
@. Now, ask your attention to this
clause: Gle had condoned his wife's
fault; he had enjoined upon me, with the
utmost earnestness and solemnity, not
to betray mis- wife, nor leave his children
to blight" What fault of his wife, and
what fact in respect of what fact,
had he enjoined upon you not to be-
tray his wile, nor leave his children to a
blight? A. understood the matter to
be Simply that, as then understood it.
and assuredly believed it was, that his
wife had transferred TO me ner affection; !;
that in consequence OF such transfer she
WINS led to a separation between herself
and her husband, andto the almost break
ing up of the households; that regarded
as her fault, SO far as he was concerned,
and which ne had forgiven.
@. Now, toward the close of the letter,
you say: "Therefore there is no use in
further trying. have strong feeling,
and it brings great force with it, that l
am spending my last Sunday and preach
ing my last sermon" Now, sir, what
IacJ or IeeIiHP III TeSdru TO yourself or
health or condition did you refer to in.
that clause? A. Nothing whatever, ex-,
cept tnat l felt SO, for Ielt so not that.
time alone. Those conyersant with my
ministry know very well what that is.
@. Now, Mr.. Beecher, in regard to
temperament, in respect to depression OF
spirits-what is the fact in regard to
yourself? A. j have the very best and
highest. l pity any body that has any
worse ones than I do at tile other eX-
treme, although good spirits predomi-
nate; but illness, or oVer-work and eX.
haustion continued, bring me down
in day, and som etimes into consecu-
tive week of the most profound depres-
sion.
@. Does it 60 to the extent Of hypo-
chondria? A. 1t did in my boyhood; ]
think. as have grown older and tougher,
that it stops in that OF profound sadness
rather than in the more developed form
of hypochondria, which my fatner had,
and my ancestors.
@. Now, nave you at any time during
this course OF things had in mind any
purpose of suicide. A. No, sir; no, sir.
Q. Have you ever expressed any such
purpose to any one! A. No, sir.
@. You have spoken, Mr.. Beecher, this
morning, about one interview in which
Mrs. Moulton kissed you on the fore
head. You spoke OF it as 'a kiss OF in
spiration''-what did you mean by that