The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-03
THE BEECHER SCANDAL.
Certificate of ExcuipatiOn from the
Congregational Association of New
York and Brooklyn.

New YORK, Nov. 2-The following docu-
ment is considered the end of the Beecher i'm
broglio:
To the Editor Of the Tribune:
Sir,-I am directed by the Congregational As
ISOLATION of New York and Brooklyn to furnish
to you, for the public report OF its action con-
corning the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, at its
semi-annual meeting, the attendance Of which
was unusually large, held on Wednesday, Nov,
l, in Tompkins avenue Congregational church,
at Brooklyn.
The committee appointed in April, 1876. to
cooperate in bringing evidence berore the com
mission provided for by the advisory council
called by Plymouth church in the cause of Mr..
Beecher, reported that they met immediately
on appointment and prepared an appeal to all
persons claiming or supposed to have any in
formation or testimony against Mr. Beecher
not already produced in the civil court; urging
them, in the name of the association, at once to
make such information known to the commit
tee, and offering to them, as far as possible,
all the assistance they might need in bringing
1t properly before said commission for trial
This appeal was at once published, in full or in
part, in several newspapers in New York and
Brooklyn, and with some editorial comment,
and 1t was also probably copied extensively by
the press at large. Copies were also sent to
those persons reported or publicly supposed to
have any information on the subject hostile to
Mr. Beecher.
Having thus done all that lay in their power,
in the line of their appointment, to show the
earnest desire of this association to secure the
most thorough, impartial and conclusive trial
of an accused member, the committee had only
this to report-that up to that day, after more
than six months opportunity to speak, and af-
ter the most urgent and public entreaty tina
everyone would speak, who had anything to
say against him, no one had seen fit to respond;
no one had undertaken to make, either before
the association or before the commission,
the slightest responsible charge against the
moral character of the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher.
The report of the committee concluded as
follows:
"How long we, as committee, shall stand
waiting for some responsible accuser to appear,
or whether reason, justice and Christian chart
ty, all demand an early determination Of this
inquest and final declaration of confidence in
Mr.. Beecher, as brother honored and beloved,
we leave to the united wisdom of this associa-
ton to decide.
Their report the association adopted, and
then unanimously passed the following pream-
BILE and resolution:
Whereas, this association, at its annual
meeting in April, 1876, appointed committee
to cooperate with the commission created by
advisory council to investigate the case of the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher; and
Whereas, the association, in view of their ap-
pointment, resolved that if those who claim to
have evidence or to be able to substautiate the
charges against Mr. Beecher, shall knowingly
fail or refuse to make use of this or any other
means to bring such charges or evidence be-
fore that commission of investigation, this as
sociatioD, in the absence of further light must
hold itself therefore amply justified in utter
ly condemning those charges, allegations, in
situations and rumors. as false and SANDER
ous and in defending Mr.. Beecher as worthy,
honored and beloved member of their body;
and
"Whereas, the preceding report of said COM
mittee indicate that there is no substantial
ground for believing in the guilt of Mr.. Beech
er,
BE it therefore resolved, That we do there
fore, as an association, regard our brother as
worthy of our confidence and love, and express
to him our sympathy in the severe trial through
which he has passed"
CYRUS HAMLIN, Registrar.
Brooklyn. N. Y, Nov. 1, 1876.