Year: 1874

setsTsns the oensc the charge was an improper pro-


Iwl once again give the Committee direct negative
to this statement. as DID during my examination Tho
letter above referred TO- Mrs. Ttoas handwriting, 10
| as follows:


In July 1870 prompted By my duty. 1 informed ny
husband that The Rev H. W. Bcechcr, my friend and
pastor had solicited me TO be wife TO him, together
with all that this implies.


The entire letter. OF which the above is the first SEN
tence was composed by Mrs. Tilton except only the
above sentence which mine Isuggested the above
expression her. because she was at that tmo
In delicate mood Of conscience, and desired 10 confess
the whole truth TO Dr. storrs In hope thereby TO end the
troubles She said she had grown tired or telling false
hoods and II Dr. Storrs was 70 give wise counsei be
ought know the whole II was no unusual thing
for her DO 10 the state OF mind which she exhibited
on that occasion There always undercurrent OF
conscience running through all her thoughts, and she
frequently ameuted TO her sad fate to be condemned
TO live ie" Accordingly, she sought In the above
letter to Dr. 5orrs to tell the whole ruthnot part OF
1t. was unwilling that she should make such dam
aging confession She insisted that she must her
fasehood at some time and that that was q proper
time II 10 meet this demand OF her conscience that
1 framed for her the sentence above quoted-a SEN
tence not Inconsistent with the exact truth, be-
the words together with all that this implies"
might be readily taken imply that she had yielded
10 Mr.. Beechers solicitation that she had rejected IT,
DIT StOrre, IN reading the above letter. seemed 70 aEe
for granted from its terms that Mrs. Tton had not
yielded TO this solicitation, and did not undecevo him.


repeat that the opening sentence OF the letter
framed by expressly satisfy Mrs. Tlton's desire
confess the whole truth-a desire her part which
contemplated with pain and apprehension. and from
which I sought 10 shield her by the above form OF
words. The Committee guilty OF little less than
sharp practice 10 commenting this phraseology as
they have done IN their verdict, for was explicit to
give them the exact explanation which have gwen
here


But nothing is astounding 10 me Ia the Commttees
report the following statement bearing this same
point


The further fact they sayl that Triton treated tho
matter during four years an ofense which could
properly be apologized for and forgiven ID wholly ln-
consistent with the charge In its present form.


The Committee express the same idea In stEl moro
specous phraseology. as follows:


II Moulton lsay theyl understood The charge 50 20
ton discovery that this crime be the subject OF
an apology.


The above sentiment thus put forth by the Committee,
may possibly represent the clubhouse code OF morals
and OF honor but 1t seems to me that Church Com
mittee Is bound to hold that crime or wrong doing
should be beyond the Christian forgiveness OF those
against whom it is committed, and, In particular, that
the crime 10 the present case should have reminded
churchly tribunal Of the immortal maxim Of Him who
said Of the woman taken In adultery, Neither do 1
condemn thee"