The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-14
BEECHER'S STORY.
Continuca from FIr.t Page.


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Continued from First Page.
was caused by his partnership with these
women and his want OF sensible work, which
work should make the public feel that he
had In him power for good. Instead Of this
hc preferred or professed 70 think that ]
was using my influence against him, that
was allowing him TO be traduced without
coming generously 10 the front TO defend
him. and that my friends were working
against him, to which replied that, uni IS
the laws OF mind were changed, not Al
mighty God Himself could lift him into
favor II these women must be lifted with
him. Nevertheless, sought In every way
10 restore peace and concord 10 the family
which was made 10 feel had been injured
by me and was dependent ON my influence
for recovery.
THE TRIpARTITE AGREEMENT.
~ now come In my narrative to give On
account OF the origin OF the somewhat fa-
nous tripartlte agreement. Early In Febru'
AIRY, 1879, Mr.. Tilton returned to the city
thoroughly discouraged with the result OF
his lecture tour. The Golden Age Ia paper
organized by Tilton and his friends), which
had then been established for about twelve
months, had not succeeded and was under
stood 10 be losing money. His peouniary
obligations were pressing, and although his
claims against Bowen for the violation OF his
two contracts had year previously been put
under the exclusive control OF Moulton
with view OF settlement. II had not as yet
been effected.
about this time Mr.. Moulton, who was
sick, sent for me and showed me q galley
proof OF AN article prepared by Mr.. Tilion
Tor the Golden Age, In which he embodied q
copy OF letter written by him 10 Mr.
Bowen, dated January |, 1871, in which he
charged Mr. Bowen with making scandalous
accusations against my character. This was
the first time that ] had ever seen these
charges, and had never heard Of them cx-
cept by mere rumor, Mr. Bowen never hay
Ing at any time said word 20 mo on he
subject. ! was amazed at the proposed pub
licntion. ] did not then understand the real
object Of giving circulation TO such ISLANDERS.
My first impression was that Mr.. Tilton do
signed, under cover Of an attack upon me In
Tho name Of another. 10 open the
way for the publication Of his own pre-.
tended grievances. ! protested against tho
publication In tho strongest terms, but was
Informed that II was not intended as an act
hostile 10 myself, but 10 Mr. Bowen. | did
not any tho less insist upon my protest
against this publication. On itsbeing shown
10 Mr.. Bowen he was thoroughly alarmed
and speedily consented 10 the appointment
Of arbiirators 10 bring about an amicable
settlement Tho result Of this proceeding
was that Mr. Bowen paid Mr.. Tilton over
5000, and that written agreement was en-
tord into by Bowen. Tilton and myself OF
amnesty, concord aud future peace.
PUNIC FAITH.
at was agreed that the offensive article,
the publication Of which had produced such
nm elect upon Mr.. Bowen and secured n
settlement, should be destroyed without see
ing tho light II was an act Of ircachcry
peculiarly base that this article was permit
ted 10 get into the hands which would In
sure lis publication, aud that 10 was pub.
lshcd. / was assured that every vestige Of
II had been destroyed. nor until compare
lively recent period did understand how
Mr.. Triton secured iis publication without
seeming TO be himself responsible for the
deed.
'Thc whole series Of events. beginning with
the outbreak Of the Woodruff story, repeat.
eddy brought me terrible accumulation Of
anxictics. Everything that had Threatened
before now started up agnin with new vio-
lenoc. Tilton's behavior was ut once mex
plicablc aud uncomfortable. His card to a
friend did not produce the effect
he pretended toexpcct from II, OF convincing
the public Of hisgrcat magnanlmlty. Then
nis lnthihohH hfNtlc anu tctttf W aiis DoNtu
made Its appearance In the Eagle. IL had
been suggested that the publication Of the
'tripartite covenant would have good effect
In oonntcrnciing the slandorous stories about
Mrs. Tilton aud myself. which Tilion pro-
fessed 10 regard, but which his foolish card
and the publication Of that article had done
~ much 20 revive and render mischievous
Mr.. Moulton urged me 10 get from the gen.
ucman who held the tripartite covenant n
copy Of II for us, when suddenly Mr.. Wilkc-
son came out with II on his own responsible
ity. Its publication In this manner made
strenuous but unavaillng efforts 90 prevent
lie had originally kept copy Of IL 1--we.
rybody In this business seems 20 have copies
OF everything except myself
"On the appearance Of that paper Tilton
went Into rage. IL put him. he said. In a
false position before the public, and he
said he would publish another card giving a
statement something like what he afterward
wrote 20 DIR. Bacon-that Il. n rccollcct the
matter. declaring that I had committed m
oilcnsc, and that he had been the magnani
nous party In the business. II was nccos
sary 10 decide what 10 do with him Moul
ton strongly urged card from me exonent
Ing Tilton (as I could honestly dol from th,
authorship of the particular scandals de
tailed In his article 81 Mr.. Bowen and allud
cd 10 In the covenant
PROTECTING MIS-. rIIToS.
II was worried out with the whole bust
mes, and would have been glad 10 escape By
death. Of which long had little dread
could sec no end hut death 10 the accummu
lation Of torture. but I resolved 20 stop short
and waste no time In making matters worse
felt that Mr.. Moulton had better stop, tDo
and let the whole thing come out. Idetcr
mlnsd then 10 make full and
aa... 80. m L..
and 20 leave tho result 10 God. Mr.. Til
ton had repeatedly urged ma, as stated IL
my letter. not 10 bciray his wife, and fcl
bound by every sense OF honor, Ia case
should be pressed by Inquiries from my
church or family, a. 10 he foundation 81
rimors which might reach them. 30 keel
this promise. ny this promise. meant
only that would not bctray the exccssiv,
affection which his wife, a. had been told
had conceived forme and had confessed e
him.
THAT have grlevously erred In judgment
with this pcrplexcd ~ no one II more con
scious than am. chose the wrong path
aud accepted a disastrous guidance In the be
| ginning. aud have indeed Unveiled on
rough and rngpel edge In my prolonged q
forts "a suppress this scandal, which has nj
last spread 10 much dosolation through
the land. hut cannot admit that
errcd In desiring 10 keep these mat
ten out Of sight In this respect appeal
10 you and 20 all Christian men 10 iudg,
whether almost any personal sacrifice ought
not 20 have been made rather than 20 milei
the morals ~ an entire community, aud 80
pcclally Of scandalous falsehoods, daily liter.
aicd aud amplihcd, for the qualification OF
impunc curiosity and the decentralization III
every child that Is old enough 10 read
NOT PENNY ron niAcEnAII.