Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-04-16

WEDNESDAY,, July o.. lisa.
hEAE BRETHREN when, at length, the time
came that could break the long silence OF four
Year,. thought il proper. and in accordance with
all the prime Piles which Plymouth Church has de
tended mat should speak 10 you and through son
Z" the church. the only eccles astcal tribunal boss
authority recognize as binding upon me- asked
the apo ntment OF large committee OF able and
Impartial men, because, though my own statement
Was 10 he, IN my Judgment, the chief element vet
there were many incidental and collateral uues-
tons which desired 10 have investigated ana i'm
ally determined.
do not propose - enter upon the details o. 4
history running through four years. l shall state
the iacts which concern the original troubles and
.eave alone tne tangled sequences.
My arquantances with Mrs Elizabeth Tiltan
dates from her childhood my Intimacy in her
iaiuly, from about lsd2-i. Her nature was strong
y devotional she had genus OF religious sent
meht Had she lived in other days. and 10 the
Catholic church, she has always seemed 10 me To
De one u those who would have had Inspirations
aud ,cstatic visions. MY interest n her increased
and she deserved the respectful affection hch she
woe nom me. loved her as one would his own
child. She had grown up under my teachings she
had never known any other g0us teachersnd lie
had associated with my name. and illumined ID by
her imas nat"n, whatever was worthy OF affection
and trust. Nor did dream. tor a loug time that
IN such gentle ami apprecative nature nv al
miratlon and sincere affection nj ght beyet an en-
ihusiasm which would the entirety of tie
love which a wife should cherish for her husband
II was at length the sight Of the unhappness dis
closed IN the iasnily and The ind grant feproaches
OF her husband that aroused in me the full sense
OF the wrong done in winning any part Of that
affection which should belong TO her household
Leaving to others the unwelcome task M refined
moral criticism upon this gentle and pure minded
woman, II Is Tor me explicitly to defend her from
sny charge of miDaliy Of conduct and 10 dissip-
ate even the shadow q. reproach upon her un-
tempted hon r. and to Join with her husband who
has again and again, WITH loyal affection and with
justice, defended the pc slna purity OF his wife
Although the sincere affection which crew mn in
me for Mrs. Tilton was honorable in intent none
.he rs Condemn myself with unsparnS severity
Tor bringing upon the mos: sacred Of human insti
tutions-the acknowledgement harm aud distress
which have since flowed like a river / do not
measure the blame by light standard That cur
relations were not criminal in the ordinary and
legal sense OF the term, zoos not exonerate inc from
blame, nor does It relieve Of the sharpest panss
OF sorrow- MY age my experience, my knowledge !
OF her sensitive nature, should have been a shield
u her. aud my long and affectonate relations with
air Tilton. When the full realization broke upon
me OF household deeply wounded by my impru- |
dence. OF possible threatened divisions and |
ings, and the long train Of evils that ght
be;aIl iather, mother, and the beautiful group o,
children, and that instead Of happiness | had |
brought upon two persons with whom had been IN I
The most aiiectionate relations torrent ofmisery
whose influence might widen ndefnitely-my dis- |
tTess pas ed all bounas. To mutual friend l |
poured out my soul liks water. did not measure |
! wished him TO convey to Mr. Triton, in language |
overchars ed with feen :, my profound regrets and
Apologies The apology was accepted. reconcilia-
tion was made, and kind social relations for
time continued-and would have continued until
this day, had not mall external influences inter
Tered, in various ualU ,ked-for ways. and spread |
abroad exaggerations, peryersions, ard fasehoods,
whose direct evil was Aimed at me, but whose ind-
rest influence WIS to pisce MIR. Tilton in = false
position. as one attacking me rather than Us one
injured by me.
Nor can any one VII only looks upon aiiiirs at
the present stage Of de, slopment be in 4 situation
to judge OF the Inotive~ and influences which have
acted at various stages 81 history essentially pri
sate and domestic, aud shieh, for the sake Ot So
iiet,, of tho family, q. childhood, and Of woman
mood should have nai the privilege of seciusion,
which those most injured most earnestly soug h.
Tue policy Of silence has Jailed But IL was the
night one aud onght 10 have succeeded.
| was called, ST the earliest moment in this his
larry, to determine my outy in other rotations 4
vas pastor OF large church, the editor Of 4 reilly
Gus Journal, and was engaged in important liter
lry eater prses, besides the multiaro public and
private duties OF miscellaneous kind not strict
y clerical which fall upon eleryylnen in our day
Profoundly suffering, II would nave been an nm
peakable relief could have LAID down NV bur
lens. IL was not honorable right to others 10
e-k personal relief at their expense. therefore
determined TO accept my sorrow a schoolmaster
ent Of God. and ~ let no one know that carried
,urdens, but to rise 70 every emergency, not onIy
,rt to grow stronger BY the severe discipline laid
lpon me. IL vas In this mood that wrote The
Life Of Christ" which may veil DO called Bsnoni