The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17

prove hs innocence Now, | doubt tho ability OF any
one OF you TO prove your innocence OF all crime from
your youth up TO the present time There
greater evidence against Mr. Beecher than the fact that
three years ago he associated with Mr. Francis D.
Moulton- Now he was in high places and Mr. Beecher
was to be condemned upon his word Plymouth church
could not soop to take any notice OF a certain pubhca
ton made in November 1872 The policy then pur
sued by the church Endorsed by all its members
The church did not want any denial IL was rumored
that Mr. Tton to some extent responsible for the
publication Mr. Tilton denied that he gave
any Information upon the subject But at
last there opportunity to make.
public denial, and the pastor accordingly made
demand made There must be
investigation by the church There demand
for anything else. Finally, well known divine sug
gested that there ought TO be an investigation by the
deacons OF the church. Up to this time there
accusation by any responsible person against the
pastor by any person who had character to lose 1t
then urged that the supposed author of the scandal
should be tried Tor SANDER II the Council desired IN
formation upon that 1t could readily be obtained But
there TACT that ought to be mentioned and that
that process had been commenced In October 1871
TO drop Mr. Tilton's name from the roll OF membership
OF tho church on the ground OF Abandonment That
process was still alive when the subsequent proceed
ings took place. Mr. Shearman then read written
statement in reference TO the proceedings which fol-
lowed the writing OF the letter by Mr. Tilton to Dr.
Bacon with which the public is not unfamiliar, and
went TO state that after all had been done 1t
demanded that there should be
A IN
Religious papers commended that was the best way to
elicit the TRUTH the Gospel being discarded Plymouth
church would nevertheless be glad to lay the again
before any competent body of But before the
at law was half through these same religious Journals
tribunal because all the vital evidence excluded
II entirely within the power of Mr., Beecher and
his COUNCIL Mr. Beecher forced the case to trial
after Mr.. Tiltons counsel ready to abandon
il in order that the truth might be elected The ablest
counsel in the State were employed IN the case-coun
sci than whom no better could be engaged to elicit the
truth IN behalf OF the plaintiff. Yet these papers
submitted that all the evidence in the mat
ter had not been brought out Unquestionably Mr.
Tons counsel exhausted the OF the law TO
prove their case. But then it was said there
evidence. Well, the counsel thought SO badly of it
that II never sought to be produced The rules of
law we're found to be essential to the protection OF the
innocent Mr. Beecher labored under the disadvantage
of having devoted his life TO the welfare OF his fellow
men, and dearly had he paid the penalty of that crime
AS 10 the vile charges that the members of the
church shielding Mr.. Beecher, this was most
dsgraceiul and unfounded accusation. Now it was
well known that the women and children ofPlymouth
church had the utmost confidence in their pastor there
were any degrees of confidence. The members of the
church trusted him and willing risk their eter
nal salvation upon his honor, his purity and integ-
rity This foul libel did not como from Englshmen
Frenchmen Germans, but II came from the lips
OF Americans. and 1t should blister the lips that
utter IT,
Mr. Sherman here turned his attention to the jury
by which Mr. Beecher had been tried and referred,
sarcasucay, TO the one impartial juror" who held
out against the verdict OF acquittal and who, the
speaker declared, had daily during the trial shaken
hands with Frank Moulton, with whom he had also |
constantly exchanged tobacco and the compliments of
the season.
WHAT SHALL WE Do9
And now brothers. he continued, we leave It TO /
you say whether shall take any further action in
the matter 1t is for you to say whether this man
must pay still greater penalty for being allowed to
the world and the Church in the service of the
Master We ask you TO remember that the first nvesti
CATION occupied two months and the legal |
trial six months, and that il we go
into new investigation - since we are
informed that onty part of the evidence was brought
out. We must measure its duration by the time OF the
trial. and cannot possibly expect TO get through IN
less than SIX months again. Then, again, there must
be great expense attendant upon sucn an investga
ton, and expenses must be paid. Yet am not aware
that these persons who are so anxious 10 nave
further investigation have ever offered to subscribe
anything toward paying these expenses We ask,
brethren that you will give as an answer that shall
be final Do not ask do anything which will leave
us just where now with our friends little moro
iavorably disposed toward US aud our enemies little
embittered. beg you TO be extremely careful to
see that your conclusions shall cover the whole case,
and that shall never again have such trouble in
our denomination. For what is the of fellowship |
II be summoned day after day and year after
year to inyestgations2 Twice we have gone /
through this process each time doing Just what We
were told advance would be satisfactory and
have each time just where were before. |
with Difference we submit to your Judgment that we
be again censured for not calling council in
the FIRST instance will not waste time considering
that proposition, although it has been seriously ad-
vanccd against
Brethren on you roll the entire responsibility OF
this case We relieve ourselves OF 1t now and .
forever. We look TO your judgment We ask A
you what, II anything, we shall DO. We say /
frankly that ourselves do not see any occasion for
free say what shall do entirely free to
If you will for what have done the past
Only bear in mind that the responsibility is now upon
you We have delivered our souls We leave II to you
70 decide. We pray that God will decide you in de-
termning what Is wsest TO be DONE and having done
II pray TO YOU for your confidence and affection
We pray 10 our God for rest
Council took recess till halfpast P. N.
THE EVENING SESSION.
AT quarter to eight O'Clock the attendance OF dele
gates larger than during the previous
ing and the gallery occupied by large
Der OF ladies' the minority being made up OF gentlemen
Mrs Henry Ward Beecher and her family occupied
their allotted seats IN the gallery. cluster Of tall
lilies crystal stand and large basket of red
decorated the platform The Council was called to
order by the Assistant Moderator, the Hon. ~ Dnge,
Jr, of Lewiston Ne, and prayer offered by the /
Rev. Paul Couch, Of Stonington
Mr. RossIrER W RAYMOND then read the statement I
OF the church giving history Of the non attendance
OF Theodore rilton and the dropping OF his from
the roll of Plymouth church. He then read the re-
port OF the Examining Committee on the case Of West
Tilton, wherein Mr. Tilton said that he had not
tended the church for four and did not consider
himself member Of that church.
The delegates then requested to make in 1
quiries about any of the problems submitted to them.
Considerable time occupied in asking and
ing such questions Mr. Shearman mainly replying on
behalf Of the church The debate based upon
what should be tho proper construction OF ecclesiastical
rule No. OF Plymouth church. which reads as fol- /
lows
RUIZ I. Droppinq bers--MemSers may be dropped
as may be deemed Just by aw0thtds vote Of the church
H. nooo thsT or In case ihev have ahsn
doned their connection With the church by prolonged absence
Dr. BAcoS-T want to make few more inquiries
When the scandal first heard Off Did II originate
first in that infamous paper published by infamous
woman or did II come down like the overturning ola
tub OF siopsl I.aughter) When did the church hrst
hear ofitS When did II commence TO sizzle laugh
teri
Mr. SHEARMAx-The so called scandal came a sur
prise upon the church Mr. Tilton called upon the
Rev Mr. Halliday for the especial purpose OF denying
that he had given TO Mrs Woodruff the Information
upon which the article referred TO was based
A DRLEeArE asked-Dd any layman or clergyman
ever appear or make any complaint TO the Examining
Committee any connected with the church that
should put that committee the duty OF investigating
the guilt innocence OF the pastor Of Plymouth
church,
MI SHEARMAN-No one. No, sir
The interrogatories to the Plymouth Church Com
mittee continued without intermssion until ten ocIock
the Council refusing adjourn until that hour Cues
lions were answered fully and very earnestly by Mr.
Sherman and Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, but little
testimony nor evidence bearing directly the
scandal nor the points at issue brought out The
session this morning will probably, close the public
sessions Of the Council