New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-18
THE PROCEEDINGS-FERBATIM
MR.. BREcHER's CRITICISM OF DR. srORRs.
| The Court met at II o'clock, pursuant to cd

for brief moment & letter oil Mr. Beechor crclsins
the OF Dr. siorrs IN connection with the copnn
Of things out of which IL originated, and the OBJECT IL
obviously sought TO accomplish. You viii remember
that at that time council of ministers were sitting III
quug into Tic discipline and acton OF Plymouth
Church possibly among things with reference to
Mr. TIon. That inquiry necessarily involved the very
matters witch are undcr consideration, The west
charges before had been e.orc the church JUDI
cat0y and the inquiry before the Council involved the
question OF the regularity OF the action of Plymouth
Church in regard to N Triton Under these circumstances
Mr. Beechcr addresses this letter 10 Mr.. MouOn, Of
course INTENDED 70 influence Mr.. Tlton after the Rev.
DR. storTs had made address upon the subject matter
pending before the Council. to that body In which,
nudge the letter Of Mr. Beecher, he commented with
very considerable severity upon the attitude and action
of Mr. TltOn TOWARD MI Beecher ard Plymouth Church
Mr. Beccer Indignant he says at the expression II
Mr. storrs asserting that, pretending sympathy and
friendship for Mr. Tt0ns he had turned against him IN
the most yenoIno;l manner and with nsneery, charg
ing this clergyman with public assault III u JUDICIAL
quasi judicial body upon prominent ctt=.i. venomGs
in its character and insircSre in its purpose. he
charges that ali re professions Of faith and
affection OF Mr. scrrs fer Mr.. Beechcr are
hollow and fafthless. Then Ellis object g PLAIN, says
Mr. Beecher "he Is determined tn force conflict be-
tween you ard me- "That 10 his game. BY stinging
Theodore he believes that he viii driven into
which ne hopes VIII ruin me. II man betrayed
borne so much win Nc unwilling he hil in stors's
hand TO strike ut friend" and ending with the Ita
cized expression referring to the speech, ought to
damn. StOrTs."
This letter is written under These by Mr.
Deecher concerning clerical riendo of 25 years between
whom and Mr.. Beecber there had existed the most init
mate religions association and apparent sympathy aud
the most friendly expressions and acts of general regard
Il was written obviously in apprehension that the sub
ect about which Mr.. storrs speaking and acting,
involving the relation OF Mr. TOn to Plymouth Church
would bring under consideration all the complications
which surrounded VT Beechcr In his difficulties with
Mr. Tlton AMI his family 1t il perfectly evident that
Nj Beecer through this letter, attempting to cxcr
else influence which would restrain Mr. Triton IRON
any attempt at servndication from any effort by an
exposure any truth, by the exhibition Of the letters
and documents which presented to this jury, from
yindcatng himself in that mode before that Council.
Mr. Bcechor tatit would inevitably involve his ex-
posure a. full, complete. deTOgatory rs ia made
through the evidence in this And he does not hes
tate to usc his own language, in this venOmous and
npacable manner, to condemn this friend ana ieHoW
pastor charging him with nsncerity and charging his
speech made in the performance O. his duty IN Chnrc
Counti as an cbullition that ought 10 damn him. What
must have te motive driving air. Becchcr 10 this
mclllcti0n upon hOnored pastor and gentleman lie
WIS not only friend of % years but he eminent
ia hs prOfes>i0n q learned scholar. an eloquent orator
pure and pOus gentleman, renowned for bis sound
this-eonlnunity the whom other men IN their
sorrow and anllcons go for advice and comfort. He
was the vino little while ago, III the City VI New
York. delivered Grafton at an anniversary OF TIE New
York society grand its historic 0wledge
perfect psled, and complete thai WILLIAM GU
len Bryant moved vote OF thpk andmy learned 'pd
Mr. Evars with his accustomed eoquence and uIbdnity,
seconded IT, What must We think Of Christian pastor
IN Ter these circumstances all uniting to suppress even
inst Indignation moved and Influenced NY tie inter
course Of % years Of respectful friendship and at
tacll1ncnt. speaking OF such a man as Dr.
Starrs. induleng, TO such man ~ they SAY
NouIton u.s. such they TitOn is in these
vile expressions of eondemnatio What influence will
conduct like this upon the standing OF hc clerical
prolessonl How much Will 10 promote Christianity
Christian example worldly respect !-how much viii II
elevate the members of the clerical professlon Mud
what must have been the necessity repeat under which
course Of this character adopted ~ Mr.. Beechcr
Did he fear that woud transpire in that examination
that he had advised Mr. Bowen to dismiss from his ser
vice man whom he believed TO be corrupt. and, 20 far
"a the world concerned. notoi1osy lroigate ana
dcbauc hedf Did he fear that, under the advice
OF his wife and Dir. Bel, when lie hal
counseled Mrs Tilton to separation, al
lie fear that II would be revealed in the thicai
enod investigation before that Council that he had un-
consciously attracted the love of Mrs Tiltoni As intel
icpnt men observers Of life and HE world would such
man as Mr. Rccchcr utter such language concerning such
man ne Dr. St0rs from motives Of that character AMI
under n goading apprehension Of that limited eXtntf
apparent If this stood alone disconnected Win
nus other uteIanees, unassociated with That deep and
feeling Of despair and remOrse, could sensible
men hesitate as the application and meaning TO he a.
tached 10 letter Of that characteri Another circun-
stance in connection with this inquiry to the motives
and which Influenced these decarato nsand
oup0urngs OF Mr Beecher on the night OF Dec 80 lSo
Mr. Bcecier credible and sapparcnt from all The
Ar ed hat
his wife 10 make false charge against Mr. Beecher-a
charge dishonOring 10 him and friend OF Iheo
dor Titon dis graceful his personal character viola
ton Of al his obligations God eoeiey the church and
this family II sincere he believed that Theodore
Tilton had this with base purpose, with mag-
nant design against himself And yet. from that infer
view impressed with this conviction, he comes TO Theo-
dare Triton and for three years bears the continual and
constant testimony Of his admiration and respect Not
only does lie accept him with professions OF friendship
and the most earnest Communications for his ongsufcr
in. and patience ard generosity. teaching to
the wife whom lie had forced TO a lie that
her husband was the most generous Of mOrtals,
wondering II Elizabeth knew how noble and
Inaganiuous Theodore Tilton had been; and this
high priest OF the Lord bound to rebUke sin, bonnf to
dsrce hypocrisy bound 10 denouBoe the false eaul-
naforn his own maniness and dignity bound to resent
the false and arUcious charges which this man. through
the agency Of a compelled wife, had manufactured
aganst him And we are to believe with oar knowledge
OF motive. Of nature with our experience OF the world,
we are 10 believe that Mr.. Beccher under those circu
stances Lot only was quiet and Submissive under dis
honorng complaint but that he took the and TIE helcr
to his heart and cODeDeel Aye, and not Ouy that hut
over his published his reliance N his nobility
and hon sly Of character in his own paper permitted
eulocy To be written by his friend, Samue
Wilkeson, commencing this man, corrupt anal
Infamous TO the confidence Of the Christian world!
How long will Christianity stand, how long will the
Church honored and respected. how long will her min
listers be revercncod il this man, Henry Ward Beecher
the eeatest church of the land can stand up bearing this