New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-09

Mr.. Tons course toward me mas oeeh s""' VI "'""
Of honor and integrity 49,.
And vet Mr. Tton had to DO satisfied. because he had
IN take that alternative tho alternative OF inc OK
postre Of the whole situation and OF his compo'y I'LL o
movements and operations which to be sure MT
knew but little Of but which Mr. Tlton and MI Mouton
knew o great deal Of, and knew that an nvesus"'i'h
such "a We have had here would expose.
MIR. BEECHER'S STATEMENT TO THE CON-
MITTEE.
Now. gentlemen, will read you the state
meut that Mr. Beecher soemnly described then in june
1873 as TO be prepared by him. and then In july 1874
to DO prepared by him that would Dear tho ns"'
of the Judgment Day. and which, because Mr. Beecher
refused all efforts In 1874 20 have any further suppress
sion against an absolute investigation ana pubca'on o
did prepare And you gentlemen. are judge upon 'c
evidence of this cause whether this not such state
ment as will the Judgment Day and scrutiny OF 'o
AlSeeing God II 1t Is not statement that wouu pear
10 be the confession in the closet And having hcard H.
Won will then determine whether you have any dimcuy
in assigning these various letters OF MI Beccher t
are introduced as evidences OF guilt any other possoe
meaning than the overflow Of his feelings at finding NM
sf to the gree OF responsibility that lie ex
presses In this statement for the Judgment Day
WEDNESDAY July IS. 1874.
DEAR BRETHREN When at length the time came inat
could break the long silence of four years, thought
in accordance with all the principles s1 SG IN
teal tribune! whose authority 1 recognize as binding
81 PO Able and impartial men, because though my own
statement be in my Judgment the cner elciemu,
Which desired to- have investigated and finally deter
mined do not propose to enter upon ss sni satc the
facts which the original troubles ana lca'e "oho
| the tangled sequences.
| You NAV remember that the Committee had asked
from tho Clergyman. as a preliminary basis OF their
inoulres into tho tangled sequences or whatever else
| hof orre in0n
mon tho simple point Of what in truth and in fact were
the relations between him and Mrs. Tton, and this paper
| is confined to that.
NV acquaintance with Mrs. Elizabeth Tton dates
from front he s eT nature was Strongly devoona She
had genius of religious sentiment Had she lived ID
seemed to me to be one Of those who would have
inspirations and ecstatic visions Ny interest IN her
increased and she deserved the respectful anecoh wncn
she won from me. | loved her As one wOuid MS own
child. She had grown up under my teaching she iad
never known any other rel ous teacher aud she had
associated with my name. and umned 1t by her mag.
whatever worthy Of affection and trust nd moi sn
precatiye nature admiration might beget an enhl.
wife should cherish her husband 1t at length
tho sight OF the unappness disclosed In tho fany ana
me The full sense OF the wrong DONE in winning any
part Of that affection which belonged to her household;
criticism upon this gentle pure-mnded woman 1t Is for
me explicitly defend her from any charge OF criminal
ty Of conduct and to dssipae the shadow Of re-
nfooch pcn her interrupted honor and to join with her
husband who has again and again, with loyal affection,
an with justice, defended the personal purity vi Ms we
Although the sincere affection which grew up In me
for Mrs Tilton was honorable IN intent none n Sss
| condemn myself with unsparng severity for bringing
upon the most sacred Of human nstttions-the house,
hoId-geat harm and distress, which have since l0wSd
like a river. do not measure the blame by hgh NJ
standard. That our relations were not criminal In
the ordinary and legal sense OF the term !. does
iiovo me Of the sharpcst panss, Of sorrow Ss:
experience my knowledge snss OF 81 h nsr
When the full realization broke upon me OF household
deeply wounded by my and q e Sns aa
OF evils might beall father. MOTHER and the beantl
group OF children and that instead OF happiness,
on the aiicctionatc relations torrent OF misery
passed all bounds. To mutual friend poured out my
soul like water did not measure words; ! t h.,
to convey to Mr.. Tilton in language overcharged
| with feeling my profound regrets ana apologies.
made nn1 'pS and kind social relations wcre for
time continued would have continued until tins day
unookedior ways, and spread abroad exaggeratl0ns;
aud falsehoods whose direct EVIL was asd
ton false position. as one atacknGme' rather thah
Nor can any one who only looks upon affairs at the
present stage OF development be in situation to judge
Of the motives and which nave acted nd ~ v
and which. the sake of society OF the family OF child
OF secison which those most injured most earnestly
sought The policy OF silence has failed But 1t was the
right one, and ought to have succeeded . $780,,
was called at the earliest moment in this history to
determine my duty in other relations. was pastor OF
large church, the editor OF religious Journal and was
engaged important literary enterprises besides the
mutfarOus public and private duties OF miscellaneous
kind strictly clerical which fall upon clergymen In
profoundly suffering, it woald have been an unspeak.
able relief ii could have LAID down my burdens Il wa:
not honorable right to others to seek relief at
ae sent Of Cod and to let no one
know that I carried burdens but to rise 10 every
emergency only but to grow stronger by the severe
It was in this mood that wrote the Life Of Christ.
r Mcn Was led by my suffering
moral cyl to pity and sympathy for n th SSn doing
ture, In compassion and in its healing power which
was only And as in no STAR BART mas Of @ life as
ministry sprung from 80 pr. PROFOUND mn sese
c CO for the sorrowng struggling human kind
1t does not bet me to speak Of my own work but 1t Is
of very great trouble did not think that because had
| done wrong ought not to do right:
to the mercy q God Every heur anguish has opened
at length into peace The strife Of tongues the sorrow
for Others the suffering for myself have brought To me
the God Of alt consolation and he has from time to time,
mlnstered peace which passeth all understanding
unimpared have no use for myself except to labor
for the best s 81 y eO Hr anf S y
gec my earlier years But In what hcds or through
| what channels, leave to the Divine Providence
And Divine Providence has cared and will care for the
fields and the channels in which he shall ill out the life
that thus distinguished from other mems life only
by Its superiority and than by its superiority
in dealing with this this fault this misery this
selfreproach which, while it would have crushed most
innocent men in the calamity of public depreciation aud
assault and which, II there had been one sense OF con-
sciois guilt in the view that is sought to be impressed
upon you would have crushed this defendant or any one
else but which he met with that noble faithful senti
ment TO the Great Master Of his life, did not find any
warrant in the that had done wrong that should
| not do right"
Now gentlemen do not need to crtcise the language
of any particular letter have laid before you in the
proof the course the conduct the consciousness, and
the sentiments that followed from that course, that
duct and that consciousness II you believe that char
aa4ar aud lie are not "a great truthful product