The New York Herald Newspaper, July 22, 1874, Page 3

BROOKLYN'S “?” Pheodore Tilton’s War on Henry Ward Beecher. TILTON’S STATEMENT Adultery Charged Against the Plymouth Pastor. BEDROOM AND PARLOR SCENES. —e-_—___ Mr. Tilton’s Description of His Wife Before and After the Fall. BEECHER’S STATEMENT. | ——— A. Paternal, but Not! a Guilty, Love. MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY | What Mr. Tilton Says About the Publi- cation of His Statement. The History of the Develop- ments in the Case. + AN. AUTOBIOGRAPHIC POEM. Opinions of the Press on the Scandal. THE DEVELOPMENTS YESTERDAY. An Theie was a meeting of the investigating com- mittee yesterday afternoon at the house of Mr. Storrs, in Monroe place. Mr. Tilton was present | by request of the committee. He was questioned | aa to Many portions of the statement made by him before the mvestigating committee on the pre- vions evening. For a time he answered the ques- NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. ead next a: his \euter to sp Pg Mr. Bowen. It therefore, o » _ Beecher’s trie ers that Titon kept silent on sagecs for years, using the influence of Moul- ton and Beecher to be get back on the nde. ge and Union. ling in this he tells Wil- bis etory and succeeds in ane $7,000, It te declared by Beeoher’s friends that ‘the let- ters of Mrs, Tilton denouncing her mother and Others were dictated by Mr. Tilton, She said to Moulton she could not refuse to do anything her husband asked her. Mr. Tilton alleges that the first time he nad any | idea of his wife having given testimony before an investigating committee was after she had given | such tesuumony Without notifying him or asking | his advice or permission, She, on the con- wary, declares that she told her husband | that she bad been asked by the committee to ap- | | pear before them, and that she intended co do so | and exonerate Mr. Beecher irom the unjust alle- gations made against him in connection with her name. Her sworn statement will be ready in a day er two. THE LETTER OF CONTRITION. ——+—_—_ The jetter embodied in the statement of Mr. Tilton, called “A Letter of Contrition,” has | caused & great deal of comment among those who 0B December js clam triends and sapport have known all its previous causes. This | jetter was written on three pages of ordi- | nary foolscap paper, and disconnected, It was | signed in the corner, Mr. Beecher has not seen that letter of contrition, When that copy was | submitted to the committee it was declined to be | read, It was said that he had no recollection of having written it, and he preferred, when he came to make @ statement, to act upon the fact | that the letter had passed altogether out of his mind. He knew the impulses which actuated the | writing of this letter. He knew also the nature of | the offence which had inspired Mr. Tilton’s resent- | ment, and accordingly, baving nothing to explain and no apologies to make, he rested his case upon his recollection of the letter he had not written, rather than any attempt to analyze its phrases and give it a new reading, it will be remembered that in the evidence of | Mr. Wilkeson, Mr. Tilton, atthe time of the “tri- partite” covenant, alleged simply that the offence which Mr. Beecher bad committed against him Was addressing improper language to bis wife. It | is due to Mr. Beecher to gay that he thoroughly de- | nies this, and it is mentioned now simply to show | that at various stages of this controversy, down | almost to the time of Mrs. Tilton leaving him, the only offence which rested on the mind of Mr. Tilton was what is here alleged. On the contrary, it is Said that after the severance of the relation- ship between Mr. Tilton and Mr. Beecher, when the young editor of the Independent was not only driven from that position but also from the con- trol of the Union, he conceived the idea that his misfortunes came from an alliance | between Mr. Bowen and Mr. Beecher, and that this led to his downfall Mr. Wilkeson reports him as saying that he was lying | on the sidewalks of Brooklyn, crushed, afflicted, | overwhelmed, and that ne’er a word came from Beecher—who could, by the lifting of his finger, | leave nim in the possession of honor and dignity— who passed by him on the other side, and left him | in the hands of bis enemies, and that he would | never forgive him for this offence, but would pur- ene him to the grave. The first step in this campaign of revenge was the lawsuit against Mr. Bowen to compel him to fulfil the contract entered into with Tilton as editor of the Union ana Independent, Mr. Bowen | was at first disposed to allow the case to go into | court, but dreading a cros#examination before a Jury upon his own inconsiderate statement refiect- | ing upon the character of Mr. Beecner, paid Mr. | tions put to bim without hesitation. The com- mittee asked him to submit the origina) letters and documents published in his ‘‘statement,” but he refused to do so. He was nervous, and on eross-examination MR. TILTON BURST INTO TEARS | and begged to be excused trom further examina- ton for the Gay. His request was granted. Sev- eral members of the committee expressed their Jetense astonishment last evening that at the | very time they were examining Mr. Tilton as tO his “statement” that document itself | was actually in the hands of the print | ers, to be issued in an evening paper. At the next meeting Mr. Tilton will be | examined upon the statement he has submitted, end when tuat is completed other witnesses will testily, among whom wii! be included Mr. Beecher, and also Mrs. Tilton, who will give, it ts expected, ap explanation of many of the alleged facts in Mr. ‘Tilton's testimony. ' MR, TILTON LEAVES HIS HOME, Te-day Mr. Tilton will give up his house and home at No. 174 Livingston § street to Mrs. Tilton, im order that she may return thereto a8 promptly as possible, and | thus terminate the necessity of her remaining | with Mr. Beecher’s friends as a visitor. A legal | separation bas been agreed upon, and the house and al! that it contains has been given toher. Mr. Tilton makes only a comparatively tnsignificant ex. ception. He takes with him his writing desk and 8 few books of reference. In all other respects the honre wti) wear to the children the same aspect tbat they have been familiar witn all their lives, WHAT GENERAL TRACY SAID. Ata late hour last evening a HERALD reporter found General B. F. Tracy, the legal adviser of Mr. Beecher, at his residence in Montague street, Brooklyp. In answer to a question as to whether the investigating committee anticipated the publi- cation of Theodore Tilton’s “detailed statement,” General Tracy replied in the negative, adding that Mr. Tilton appeared before the committee at four o’clock yesterGay alternoon and earnest!y re- quested that body not to publish his statement, either now or at any future time, adding that tae | public must never have bis statement. General | | | | Tracy also said that on Monday evening Mr, Til- ton informed the committee tnat he had been offered a bigh price for bis manuscript. The pri- fave counsel of Mr. Beecher would not express an opinion regarding the circumstance of the ublication of Mr. Tiiton’s statement appearing In an afternoon paper, about the time he | (Tilton) was assuring the committee that he did | not want to see it published. In conclusion, Gen- eral Tracy said “Il have nothing to say about the unexpected publication of Mr. Tilton’s statement, except that the investigation will fully exonerate Mr. Beecher, and will show that the charge of criminality, which is now for the first time made against him, is utterly un- Sounded.” Upes the publication of Mr. Tilton’s statement | in Brooklyn yesterday afternoon, Mr. Beecher, who has beeu seeking rest and relaxation on his farm at Peekskill, was telegraphed to, and accordingly the pastor of Plymouth church hurried to his home in Brooklyn, arriving there at @ late hour last night. WHAT ONE OF THE COMMITTER SAY. ‘The following from one of the investigating com- mittee and member of Plymouth church is the nearest official reply so far ready to the statements made by Mr. Tilton. This reply contains, as will be seen, a certain amount of special Pleading, but aa ite leading points are, it is alleged, to be borne out by the sworn statements of Mrs. Tilton and Mr. Beecher it is noteworthy :— As long ago as February, 1868, according to his own statement, Tilton admits that he knew that Mr. Beecher was endeavoring ,to corrupt Mrs. Tilton. She bad told her husband so. Neverthe- Jess he took no steps to prevent Mr. Beecher pay- Ing frequent visits to her, nor in any way showed that he jelt Mr. Beecher was doing him wrong. From his own statement it appears that on July 20, 1870, Mrs. Tilton coniessed to her hus- band that she had committed adultery with Mr. Beecher, but he (Tilton) said ts about it untii December 25 of the same year. Mra, Tilton continued during all this time to attend Beecher’s church, On December 2 Tilton himself was called | y Mr. Bowen to clear himself of charges of immoral conduct, or otherwise he (Til- ton) could not be allowed to remain editor of the Then Tilton, for the first time, spoke to Bowen, who was on unfriendly terms with Beecher, of an immoral proposition made bd Beecher to Tilton’s wife. Then Tilton and Bowen joined hands in opposition to Beecher, and shortly afterwards Dr. Bacon called on the reverend gen- eman and asked him to resign his rae as pestor of Plymouth church, five days after- wards ‘Tilton sent for the first time o complaint through Frank Moulton to Mr. Beecher to the effect that he (Beecher) had made immoral approaches to Tilton’s wife. ‘On December 29 Mrs, Tilton made her first writ- ten confession, which, she alleges, was dictated by her husband, and which charged only improper advances on the part of Mr, Beevher. The #0-called Srology, of Mr. Beecher to Mr. ‘Tilton was, it is claimed by Mr. Beecher’s triends, never given to Tilton and never meant for bim. it was written entirely by Moulton in the dusk of the evening in Mr. Beecher’s hous last sentence speaks of Mr. Moulton in the third person. The whole matter, it is claimed, was in rough form and not intended to be immediately ve vo Mr. Tilton. The last e original 18 widely separated ‘om the previous portion. The letter proper was not signed by Mr. Beecher, but the memorandum on the other side of it was, top = got possession of this document | Of many gilts rudely developed, and indicating the | this character, as illustraved in the daily hie and | affection ot his child, that it was purely paternal, | with her family began with the beginning ot | with the birth and baptism of her ciidern, with ‘Titon a large sum of money, and so the covenant | ‘War signed, and so on this matyer peace was pre. | served between Mr, Bowen and Mr, Tilton. | The pubiication of a letter from Mr. Tilton to Dr. Bacon compelled some statement on the part of Mr. Beecher. Our readers will remember that | immediately upon the issue of Mr. Tilton’s letter Mr. Beecher came to New York and asked tor a | formal investigation on the part of Plymouth | church of the charges which had been made against him. The result was the lormation of a Commnttiee whose labors have not yet come to an | end, | It is well known that Mr. Beecher appeared before | this committee anu made @ statement. It has not | yet been given to the press, but its tope pas been | Ireely discussed by those who are fainiliar with ite contents. Mr. Beecher said, in substance, that it ‘Was his duty to come belore the committee and admit the existence of an offence, which he had committed unwillingly against Theodore Tilton, and bad endeavored to .atone for it in many ways during the last four years, He said that some years ago he digcovered in the | congregation of Plymouth church @ young woman existence of an intense spiritual nature, She was completely governed by the traditions of the Church, by the influence and necessity of a pure Christian Iife, and at times seemed inspired by emo- tuone that in @ ruder age, when religion was more @ matter of sentiment, their revelation would have given her prominence as a teacher or a seer, He confessed that the spiritual development of Christian works 01 this young woman, made a deep impression upon him; that im the course of his ministrations the feeling gradually grew into @ sentiment of deep, intense and pure affection; that, he recognized this affection in the exact rélation ag a@ father recognizes the simply what would exist between the pastor of a charch and a@ devoted member of his congregation. He confessed it was pleasant to him, that he nad @ nature that could not tail to respond to these emotions. In the course of his ministrations it became more and more agreeable to feel that in his work, the publication of his books, the prep- aration of bis essays, the mapping out of his ser- mons ana discouises at prayer meetings to always experience the high influence of | @ pure apd tender Cbristian nature con- | nected by @ sentiment of filial affection to his calling and to bis jiie; that, he might add, there was much in the home of this young woman that was pleasing to him. His relations the family, with the marriage to her husband, the many cares and trials of married life, death, mistortune, buswess, embarrassments, depres- sions. So far and no further, he admitted, there existed between him and Mrs. Tilton the relation of affec- tion and respect, but he distinctly denied, with all | the emphasis and emotion that could be placed | upon such an averment, tuat there had ever becn in his mind an impure thought or that he discov- ered in the mind of this lady a suggestion or response to @ thought ofimpurity; that the rela- tions had never gone beyond that ot a father to his child, and that whoever considered the relations took any other form did a base and a mighty wrong to this woman, This was the whole relation with Mrs, Tilton, It so hap- pened in the course of her domestic litle inat she pecame unhappy or impatient with the demeanor of her husband towards her. Neg- lect, unsatisfied ambition, the impatient yearn- ings Of a spirit which sought for flattery in other circles, had contributed towards this alienation. ‘These and many other things so grew into the fam ily relations of this woman as to make it extremely unhappy. Into the nature of ths un- happiness he would not enter; but it so happened indirectly, through the influence of @ inember of his own family (here he referred to Mrs. Beecher), one who did not entertain for Mr. Tilton the same feelings or interest that entered his own breast, one who underrated and perhaps despised him, he had been ted under the advice and consent on the part of another who was very dear to him and whom he was bound to protect (here he also referred to Mrs, Beecher), that there shoula be @ Separation between the husband and wife on the ground that between them the marriage relation was no longer a sacra- ment, but acrime, And this separation grew into such 4 shape that it threatened the dissolution of the family—an event which Mr. Beecher, when he saw the result Of his indirect influence, endeavored to retrieve. ‘This was the offence he had committed against Mr. Tilton, this was the offence he had atoned. The knowledge of this offence had led to all the efforts which had marked his life during the last tour years, It had been a lite of misery, agony and pain. He could weil e now how much sweeter death Would have been than to have lived that way, to have felt that he was indirectly the means of a shadow on the home of be 4 man, and his whole urpose, even since Lhe publication of that letter O Dr. Bacon, was to atone lor his own heedless- ness, and perhaps for his folly, by endeavoring to reconstruct that home which had been tounaed at his altar and received through his hands the blessings of Divine Providence. ‘This is the substunce of the statement made by Mr. Beecher when he appeared beiore the com- mittee, and which has been claborated to some length. In making this statement he dwelt upon the fact that the only criticism he would make upon any statement of Mr. Tilton was this, that in this whole controversy some had been con- sidering his reputation ag a Christian minister, others had been controlled by a desire to rescue Mr. Tilton from his musfortane and lead him into a higher sphere of life, but that no one seemed to think ofthe wile, of the mother and the woman who had been abandoned by her husband, and de- stroy, as it were, the effort repu- tation and fame from her dead body. Sne must be destroyed that others may live; not only her, but those wno bore her name, and not only those children who bore her me, but many others of his Own family, and he it now that complete silence and contrition was not only tne best Spology, he could make to his con tion and to Mr. Tilton, bot that it was a kindness that could not be ex. pressed in words to the woman whose whole life and Cbristian duty and emotion had been de- stroyed in 4 moment of mad and uncontrollaple | hotel, who begged the , the Committee of Investigation, frenzy, and whose family was as dear to him as his own iife, THE LAST WORDS OF THEODORE TILTON. Mr. Tilton stepped from a carriage that ended ite journey down Broadway at the Astor House last evening about halfpast nine o'clock. He was met by @ HERALD reporter within the Privilege of an in- his statement before Mr, Milton re- plied that he must say to the reporter as he had sald to all the reporters, that he declined to be in- terviewed. He would state, however, that he had gone before the committee on the previous even- ing with @ sworn statement, which he had read and left with the Chairman, and after some cross-examination had retired. 1t was understood between himself and the com- mittee that there should be no immediate publi- terview in regard to | cation of bis statement, He farther informed the reporter that there was no strict understanding or obligation which would prevent either the committee or the testator from publishing the Sworn statement. The committee, of course, had the right to publish the stutement if they saw fit. He also had the same right, but he could not but feel aggrieved to see the facts contained in his Statement spread broadcast before a curious world. Fpr his own part, he proposed to leave his statement with the committee, to be considered by them, by Mr. Beecher and by the other parties in the case, and to be answered if an answer could be made, and then that the committee, on the basis of all the facts presented by various wit- nesses, should render @ verdict. “if,” continued Mr. Tilton, ‘their report shall do me fall justice it is all | ask, and | shall not pune m If, however, the verdict of the commit- tee—a committee composed exclusively of Mr. Beecher’s triends—should not be in accordance with the tac but have a | Partisan bias and partiality, 1 shall then ieel at liberty to counteract the committee’s report by publishing my sworn statement.” AL this point the HERALD reporter looked at Mr. Tilton with great surprise, and intormed him that his sworn statement had been already published in the evening papers of Brookiyn. Mr. Tilton replied, with great emphasis, -‘No; that is not possible.” ‘Yes,’ sald the reporter, “1 have seen the papers containing the statement, and here is one,” handing copy to Mr. Tilton, who opened it nervously, and, glancing through its columns, saw that his statement, or at least’ @ portion of it, had veen printed. Apparently he was astonished. ‘The reporter asked Mr, Tilton if he was surprised that the statement had at last come to light, . “Most unquestionably go, was the response, and he looked at it long and earnestly. “Ig that @ correct version, sir—is it your sworn statement?” “Apparently it is,” said Mr. Tilton, with great feeling, ‘but it has not been authorized by me. It must have come irom the committee, and they wil rue the day when they saw fit to give these facts to the public, There were only two copies of my statement in existence, One I gave w the committee; the other I kept myself. went be- fore the committee this afternoon, and in a free and kindly interchange with them I had no suspicion that the publication of my statement was to be made either in whole or in part. It was @ cruelty in Mr. Beecher—it was a crime against human nature—to have summoned me by public proclamation, signed by his name, in nis autnori- zation, ofa committee of six to divulge the secrets contained in that statement. No committee in Christendom, not though it were of Congress or of all the churches in the world, or all of the ecclest- astical councils of the land could have extorted from me the facta which 1 laid before Mr. Beecher’s committee on Monday night. Mr. Beecher bimeelf by his pubic demand upon me wo do so—a demand which I had no right to refuse except at a sacrifice of all self- respect—I say Mr. Beecher alone, and not his com- mittee, could have brought me to make this state- ment, Mr. Beecher and Mrs. Tilton together—for they are both actin; force me to do what no other earthly could have done, and that is, to divulge the facts which I gave to the committee; but I did not give them so much to the committee as to Mr. Beecher himself. his defiance, Mr. Beecher struck a last blow at my good name, and Mrs. Tiivon deserted uy house and home in order to take part in this final attack. Nothing remained forme but to stand right on my manly right of seli-de- fence. But “I can only express my _ grief at the publication, ‘ne tacts should never have pone beyond the committee. For four years past have sought for nothing but peace; but now the struggie is come, I can say with as much pride as sorrow, and with as much determination statement. | | | | | | } | | in unison—have combined to | ower | He threw down the | | Gee i and Mrs, Tilton aided and abetted him | in prophecy, that the victory 19 mine, because the ; right 1s with me, REPORTER—Tae statement is made that you have left your home and its contents as a free gift to your Wile. Js this true? Mr. Tiuron—It is trae. The house cannot be occupied by both. A man can live in any abode, but @ woman needs a home, and that home shall not be changed one whit from the familar aspect which the children were accus- tomed to see. They will reside with their mother. ‘This 8 nature’s right. REPORTER—But where are you going to live ? Mr. ‘T1LtoN—Nownhere, Henceforth I have no life. This is the end o! all tragedies. nate in death, MR. TILTON’S PREFACE, GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE In communicating to you the detailed statement of facts of evidences which you have been several They culmi- My duty has been done. days expecting at my hands let me remind you of | the circumstances which call this statement forth. ° In my recent letter to Dr. Bacon I alluded to an offence and an apology by the Rey. Henry Ward Beecher. To whomscever else this allusion seemed Indefinite to Mr. Beecher it was plain. The offence was committed by him; the apology was made by him ; both acts were his own, and were among the most momentous occurrences of his life. Of all | men in Plymouth church, or in the world, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was the one man who was best informed concerning this offence and apology, either, Nevertheless, while possessing a perfect knowl- edge of botn these acts done by himself, he nas chosen to put on a public affectation of lgnorance and innocence concerning them, ard has conspic- uously appointed a committee of six of the ablest men of his church, together with two attorneys, to inquire into what he leaves you to regard as the unaccountable mystery of this offence and apology ; as if he had neither committed tne one nor offered the other; but as if both were the mere figments of another man’s imagination—thus adroitly prompting the public to draw the deduction that I am a person under some hallucination or delusion, living in a dream and forging a fraud. Furthermore, in order to cast over this explana- tion the delicate glamoar which always lends a charm to the defence of a woman’s honor, Mrs, Elizabeth R. Tilton, lately my wife, has been prompted away from her home, to reside among Mr. Beecher’s friends and to co-operate with him in his ostensibly honest and laudable inquiry into facts concerning which she too, as well as he, has for years past had perfect and equal wleage with himself, The investigation, therefore, has been publicly pressed upon me Wy Mr. Beecher, seconded by Mrs. Tilton, both of whom, in so doing, have unt*ed in assuming before the public the non-existence of the grave and solemn facts into which they have conspired to investigate, for the purpose not of eliciting, but of denying the truth. This joint assumption by them, which has seemed vo your committee to be in good faitn, has natur- ally led you into an examination in which you ex- pect to find, on their part, nothing bat innocence, and on my part nothing bat slander. It ig now my unhappy duty, trom which I have in vain hitherto sought earnestly to be delivered, to give you the facts and evidences for reversing your opinion on this suvject, In doing this: painiul, I may say heartrending duty, the responsibility for making the grave dis- closures which Lam about to lay before you be- Jongs not to me, but first to Mr. Beecher, who has prompted you to this examination, and next to Mrs, Tilton, who has joined him in a conspiracy which cannot fail to be full of peril and wretched- ness to many hearts, Tcall you to witness that inmy first brief ex- amination by your committee I begged and im- plored you not to inquire into the facts of phis Case, but rather to seek to bary them beyond all possible revelation, Happy for concerned had this entreaty been heeded It is now wo late, The last opportunity for reconciation and settie- ment has passeal. This igvestigation, pndertaken by you in ignorance of dahgers against woich Mr. Beecher should have warned you in advance, will shortly prove itself, to your surprise, to have been an act of wanton and wicked folly, for which the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, as its originator and public sponsor, will hereafver find Do “space for repentance, though he kK it car fully ‘and with tears.” Thi desperate man must hold himseif only, and not me, accountable for the wretchedness which these disclosures will carry wo wn home and hearth, as they have already pe pte I will ada that the original documents referrea to ip tho ensuing sworn statement are, for the mest part, in my possession; but that the and a few other rare in the bands Of Mie Francia D. Moulton, Truy aT ons qmtom. MR. TILTON'’S SWORN STATEMENT. | Whereas the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has In- tigated the appointment of @ committee consist ing of six members of his church and society to inquire and report upon alleged aspersions upon his character by Theodore Tilton; and whereas mrs, Elizabeth R, Tilton, formerly the wife of Mr. | Tilton, has openly deserted her home in order to co-operate with Mr. Beecher In @ conspiracy vo overthrow the credibility and good repute of her late bBusband as @ man and citizen; therefore, Theodore Tilton being thus au- thorized and required, and by the published demand made upon him by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and being now and hereaiter released by act of Mrs, Titon from further responsibility for concealment of the truth touching her relations with Mr. Beecher—there(ore, hereby sets forth, under solemn oath, the follow- ing facts and testimony :— First—That om the 2d of October, 1855, at Ply- mouth church, Brooklyn, a@ marriage tween ‘Theodore Tilvom and Elizabeth M. Kichards was performed by the Rev, Henry Ward Beecher, which marr! }, thirteen ese afterward, was dishonored violated by this clergyman through the crimin: action of this wile and mother, a8 hereinaiter set forth, Secund—That for a period of about fifteen years, Theodore Tilton | | manner he aid, | Deei | Beceher under assurances that extending botl beiore and after this marriage, au | fotimate iriendsnip existed between Theodore Tilton and the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, which friendship was cemented to such a degree that ia consequence thereof the subsequent dishonoring by Mr, Beecher of his friend’s wife was a crime of uncommon wrongiulness and pertiay, Third—That about nine years ago the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher began, and thereafter con- Woued, @ iriendship with Mrs. Elizabeth i. ‘Tilton,’ for w Dative delicacy aud extreme religious sen: husband a hi admiration; visiting her trom tume to tume for years, unt the year 1 when, Jor reasons hereinafter stated, he cea such visite; during which period, by many tokens and attentions, he won the affectionate love of Nira, Tilton; whereby aiter long moral resistance by her and alter repeated assaults by him upon her mind with oOvermastering arguments, accom- plished the possession o. her person; maintaming with her thencetorward, during the period nerein- alter stated, the relation culled criminal inter- course; this reiation being regarded by ber during that period as not criminwl or morally wropg—such had been the power of his arguments asa clergyman to satisiy her religious scruples | against such violation of virtue aed honor. Fourth—That on the evening of October 10, 1868, or thereabouts, Mrs, Elizabeth R. Tilton held an | interview with the Rev, penty, Ward Beecher at his residence, she being tven in a tenuer state of mind, owing to the receut death and burial of a young child; and during this interview an act of criminat commerce took place between this pastor | and this parishioner, the motive on her part being, as hereinbefore stated, not regarded by her at the time criminal or wrong; Which act was followed by a similar, act of criminality between these same parties at Mr. ‘tilion’s residence, during @ Pastoral visit paid by Mr. Beecher to her on the subsequent Saturday evening, iollowed also by other similar acts on various Occasions from the autumn of 1868 to the spring oF ae the places being the two residences aloresaid, and occasionally other places to which her pastor would invite and accompany her, or at which he woujd meet her by previous appoint- ment, these acts of wrong being on her part, from. first to last, not wanton or consciously wicked, but arising through a blinding of her moral per- ceptions, occasioned by the powerful influence exerted on her mind at that time to this end by the Rev. Hemy Ward Beecuer, as her trusted re- ligious preceptor and guide. Fifih—Tnat the pastoral visits made by the Rev. uring the Henry Ward Beecher to Mrs. Tilton year 1868 became so frequent as to excite com- ment, being in marked contrast with his known habit of making few pastoral calls on his parish- joners, whieh irequency in Mrs, Tilton’s case is shown in letters written to her husband during his absence in the West, these letters giving evi- dence that during the period of five or six weeks twelve different pastoral calls on Mrs, ‘tilton were made by the Rey. Henry Ward Beecher, which calls became noticeably tnlrequent on Mr. Tiltou’s return to his home. Stzth—Vhat previous to the aforesaid criminal mtimacy one of the reasons which Mrs. Tilton al- leged for her encouragement of such exceptional attentions from the Kev. Henry Ward Beecher was the Jact that she had been much distressed with Tumors against bis moral purity, convince him that sne could receive his kindness) and yet resist his solicitations; and that she could inspire in him, by her purity aud fi@ehty, an increased respect jor the chaste dignity of womanhood. Previous to the auiumo of 1868 she maintained, with Christian firmness towards her pastor this position of re- sistance, always refusing is amorous pleas, which were strong and oit-repeated; and ina letter to and wished to her busi |, dated February 3, 1868, sne wrote as foliows To love is praiseworthy, but to abuse the giit is sin. Here iam strong. No demonstra- tions or lacinations could cause me to yield my womanhood,” Seventh—Ihat the first suspicion which crossed the mind o! Theodore Tilton that the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was abusing, or might abuse, the affection and reverence which Mrs, Tilton bore towards her pastor, was an improper caress given by Mr. Beecher to Mrs. Tilton vy the * * * while seated by her side on the floor of nig library overlooking engravings. Mr, Tilton, afew hours alterwards, asked of his wife an explanation of her permission of such a liberty, whereat she at first denied the fact, put then confessed it, and said that she had spoken chidingly to Mr. Beecher concerning it. On another occasion Mr, Tilton, after leaving his house in the early morning, returned to it In the forenoon, and, | Pod gst to his bedchamber, found the door locked, and when, on knocking, the door was opened by Mrs. Tilton, Mr. Beecher was seen within, appar- ently much coniused and exhibiting a flushed face. Mrs. Tilton alterwards made a plausible explanation, which, from the confidence reposea in her by her husband, was by him deemed satis- luctory. #ighth—That in tne spring of 1870, on Mr. Til- ton’s return from a winter’s absence, he noticed in his wife such evidences of the absorption of her | mind in Mr. Beecher that im @ short time an estrangement took place between her husband and and the one man who least needed to inquire into | herseli, in consequence of which she went into the country earlier than usual for asummer sojourn. Alter an absence of several weeks she voluntarily returned to her home in Brooklyn. On the even- ing of July 3, 1870, when, ana then and there, within @ jew hours aiter her arrival, and after exacting from her husband a solemn promise that ne would do the key. Henry Ward seecher no harm nor vommunicate to him’ what she was about to say, she made a circumstantial contession to her husband of the criminal tacts hereinbefore stated, accompanied with citations from Mr. Beecher’s arguments and reasonings with her to overcome her long maintained scruple against yielding to his desires, and deciaring that she had committed no wrong to her hus- bavd or her marriage vow, quoting, in support of this opinion, that her pastor had repeatedly assured her that she was spotiess ana chaste, which shé believed herseif to be. She turther stated that her sexual commerce with him had never proceeded irom low or vulgar thoughts either on her part or his, but always from pure affection and @ high religious love. She stated, furthermore, that Mr. Beecher habitually charac- terized their intimacy by the term “nest hunting,” and he would sufler pain and sorrow it his hidden secret were ever made known. She said that ber mind was often burdened by the deceit necessary for her to practice im order to prevent discovery, and thas her conscience had many times impelle her to throw of this burden of ealorved falsehood by making a full coniession to her husband, so that she would no longer be living before him a perpetual lie. In particular she said that she had been on the point of making this conies- sion a few months previously, during a severe ill- ness, When she feared she might die. She affirmed also that Mr. Beecher had assured her repeatedly | that he loved her better than he had ever loved any other woman, and she felt justified before God in her intimacy with him, save fhe necessary deceit which accompanied it, and at which she frequently suffered in her nund, ‘That after the above-named confession by Mrs. Elizabeth R. Tilton she returned to the country to await such action by her husband as he might see fit to take, Whereupon, alter many considerations, the chief of which was that she had not voluntarily gone astray, but nad been artiuily misled, through religious reverence for the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as her spiritual guide, to- gether also froma desire to protect the family irom open shame, Mr. Tilton condoned the wrong, and he addressed to his wile such letters of affec- tion, tenderness and respect as he feit would re- store her wounded spirit, and which did partially produce that result, Tenth—That in December, 1870, differences arose between Theodore ‘Tilton and Henry 0. Bowen, which were augmented by the Rev. Iienry Ward Beecher and Mrs, Beecher; in consequence whereo! and at the wish ol Mra, Elizabeth Tu- ton, expressed in writing in a paper put into the hands of Mr, Francis D. Moulton, witn a view to procure a harmonious interview between Mr. Tilton and Mr. Beecher, such an interview w: arranged and carried out by Mr. Mouiton at hi then residence ou Clinton street; Mr. Beecher and Mr. Tilton, meeting and speaking then and there for the first ime since Mrs. Tilton’s contession Of Bix months before. The paper in Mr, Moulton’s hands ‘as @ statement by Mrs, Tilton of the substance of the confession Which she had before made ana of her wish and prayer for reconciliation and peace between her pastor and her husband. ‘This paper furnished to Mr. Beecher the first knowledge which he had as yet received that Mrs, Tilton had made svch & confession. At this interview be- tween M:. Beecher and Mr. Tilton permission was sought by Mr. Beecher to consult with Mrs, Tilton on that same evening. This permission being ranted, Mr. Beecher departed from Mr. Moulton’s jouse, and in about half an hour returned ‘thither expressing his remorse and shame, and rt that life and work secmed ht to @ sudden end. Later in the same evening Mr. Tilton, on returning to his honse, found hia wife eter and in great distre: ay ing that what she meant for Deace had 0} OO ility he often expressed to her | given pain ana —— oh; that Mr. Beecher nad just called on her, declaring that she bad slain mm, and that he would probably be tried before a coun- ci} of ministers unless she would give bim a writ- ten paper for his protection. Whereupon she said he dictated to her, and she copied in her own handwriting, = suitable paper ior him to use to clear bimeelf before @ council of m:nisters. Mrs. ‘Tiiton baving kept no copy of this paper her hus- band asked her to make a distinct statement in whereupon she wrote as follows Ducemaxn 30, 1819—Midnight My Deak Hvspann:—I desire to leave with you, before olng to bed, # statement that Mr. Henry Ward Beecher Hed upon me this evening and asked me if I would iend him against apy accusation in @ council of min- isters, and I rephed, solemnly, that I would, in case th accuser Was any other person than my husband. (U. W. B.) dictated a letter, which I copled as my own, as agains te be une him inst_ any other accuser y |. This letter was designed to vindl Avamat ull other persons save only eady to give him this letter because he hat niy letter in your hands addressed to ‘ December 29, “had struck him dead, and ended his usefulness.’ You and I are pledged to dé our best to avolu publicity. God grant # speedy end to ail further anxieties, Affectionately, ELIZABETH, On the next day, namely, December 31, 1870, Mr. Moulton, on being informed by Mr. above-named transaction BA ir, Beecher, called on him (Mr, Beecher) at his residence and toid | him that a reconciliation seemed suddenly made Napossible by Mr. Beecher’s nefarious act in pro- | curing the letter which Mre. Tilton had thus been improperly persuaded to make falsely, Mr. | Beecher prom | the letten to Tilton, with an expression of shame and sorrow for having procured tt in the ‘The letter was as jollows:— i 30, 1870, id weake by sicaness, my triend Henry Ward that would remove all difficulties between me and my husband. That letter I now revoke. | was persuaded’ to it—almost forced— when I was in # weakened state of mind. T regret and recali al! its statements. B, R. TILTON. T desire y explicitly, Mr. Beecher has never of- fered any improper solicitation. but has always tr me in a manner becoming a Christian and a gentle: ELIZABETH BR. 1 At the time of Mr. Beecher’s returning the above document to Mr. Tilton through Mr. Moulton, Mr. Beecher requested Mr. Moulton to call at his resi- dence, in Columbia street, on the next day, which he did on the evening of January 1, 1871.” A iong interview then ensued, in which Mr. Beecher ex- pressed to Mr. Moulton great contrition and | remorse for his previous criminality with Mrs ‘Tilton, taking to himself shame for having misused his sacred office a8 a clergyman to corrupt her mind; expressing a determination to kill himself im case Of exposure, and begging Mr. Moulton to take @ pen and receive from his (Mr. Beecher’s) lips an apolcag: to be conveyed to Mr. Tilton, in the hope that such an appeai would secure Mr. Tilton’s forgiveness. Tne apology which Mr. Beecher dic- tated to Mr. Moulton was as follows:— | MR. BEECHER’S APOLOGY. n trust with F. D. Moulton. | My Dean END MOULTON :—I ask, through you, The odore Tilton’s forgiveness. and I humble myseif betore him as 4 do betore my God. He would have been a bet- ter man in my circumstances than I have been. I can ask nothing, except that he will remember all the other breasts that'would ache. 1 will not piead for myseli. I even wigh thut I were dead. But others must live to suffer, I will die betore any one but myself shall be in- culpaied: All my thoughts are running out toward iny friends, and toward the poor child lying there, and ., with her folded hands, she is guiltless, sinned Weariea with importunity wave w letter implica te A, bearing the transgression of another. Her for- giveuess I have. I humbly pray to God to put it into the heart of her husband to forgive me have trusted this to Moulton, in confidence. H.W, BEECHER, In the above document, the last sentence and the signature are in the handwriting of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Hleventh—That Mra, Tilton wrote the following letter to a iriend:— No, 174 Livixosron Stamer, } Broox.yn, Jan. 5, 1871. Daan Farsxp—A cruel conspiracy hi against my husbaud, in which my Beecher have been ‘the chief actors. ELIZABETH Twelfin—That in the following month Mr. Moul- ton, wishing to bind Mr. Tilton and Mr. Beecher by mutual expressions of a good spirit, elicited trom them the following correspondence :— ‘MB, TILTON TO MR. MOULTON, Brooxtyn, Feb. 7, 1871. My Dsan Parenp—In several conversations with you, you have asked about my feelings toward Mr. Beecher: and yesterday you raid ‘the time had come when you would like to receive from me an expression of this kind been formed +s * Yours, R. TILTON. Ju writing. Tsay, therefore, very cheerfully, that, notwithstand- ing the great” suffering which he’ bas caused to Elizabeth a myself, I bear him no malice, shalt do him no * wr shail discountenance ‘ong, every project (by whomsoever proposed) for any ex> posute of his secret to the public, and (if T know myself @t all) sball endeavor to ioward Mr. Beecher as 1 would have bim in sumilar circumstances act toward me. Vought to add that vour own good offices in this case have led me to @ higher moral teeling than T mht otn- erwise Have Feached. “Ever yours, alfectionately, To wanx Mouton. THBODORE. Un the same day Mr. Beecher wrote to Mr. Moul- ton the followin; MR CHER TO MR. MOULTON. Franvary 7, 1871, My cass Frisxp Movitor—I am glad to send youa K, dee. * . Many, many friends hae God raised up to me, but to | no one ot them has He ever given the opporiunity and the wisdom so to serve me as you have. You have also proved ‘theodore’s triend Deth’s Does God fook down irom hea) happier creatures that more need @ friend than theser Init not an intimation of God's intent of mercy to all, thateach one of these has in you a tried and proved friend? But only In you are we thus united Would to jod. who orders all hearts, that by His kind mediation Theodore, Bhzabeth and I could be made friends again. Theodore will have the hardest task in such a cas but has be ‘not proved himself capable of the noblest things? Iwonder {f Bilzabeth knows how carried himself toward me? Of course with her ugain withont his permission, Know that even then it would be best. * Mr. Moulton, on the same day, asked Mr. Tilton if he would permit Mr. Beecher to address a letter to Mrs. Tilton, and Mr. Tilton replied in the affirma- tive, whereupon Mr. Beecher wrote us follows:— MR. BEBCHER TO MRS. TILTON. Brooxtyy, Feb. 7, 1871, My Dear Mrs. Tirron—When I saw you last 1 did not expect ever to see you again, or to be ‘live many days. God was kinder to me than were my one thoughts. The 0) generously he can never speak and Ido not friend whom God sent to me, Mr. Moulton, has proved, above alliriendsthat I ever had, able and willing to help me in this terrible emergency oi my life. His hand it was that tied up the storm that w: “our heads. You have no friend (Theodore excepted) who has itin his power to serve you so vitally, aud who will do it with such delicacy and honor. It does my sore heurt good to see in Mr. Moulton an ready to burst on unfeigned respect and honor for you. It would kill me if T thought otherwise. He will be ‘as true a friend to your honor and happiness as a brother could be to a sister's. In him. we have a common ground, You and I may meet in him. The pastisended Butis here no future :— no wiser, higher, holier future? May not this friend stand as d priest in the new sanctuary of reconciliation, Tilton of the | | gag Mr. Moulton, returned | Worthless, and reuderiax im writing of her design and meaning 1n giving it, | im ane apd six inths afterwards— namely, Novem! 2, 1872, published the scan dal whicn be bad labored 10 suppress. Fifteenth—That on the third day thereafter the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, of Elmira, N. Y., wrote a8 follows :— Evwira, Nov. 5, 1872, Mrs. Woodhull only carries out Henry's philosophy, against which I recorded my protest twenty years ago. Sixteenth—That in May, 1873, the publication by one of Mr. Beeeher’s partners of a tripartite | covenant between H. ©, Bowen, H. W. Beecher ry He | | and Theodore Tilto: | Irom the recently quoted | emnity, not to betray hi a blight st ee Wi fad mediate and bicss ‘Theodore ang my most unhappy. | self? Do not let my earnestness fail of its end, lieve in my judgment. I bave put myself wholly and gladly in Moalton’s hand; and there I must meet you. ‘This is sent with ‘cheodore’s consent, but he has not read it. Will you return ic tome by his own hand? T am very earnest in this wish for all our saces, a letter ought not to be subject to even a cha: carriage. Your unhappy friend, H. W. B Thirteenth—That about a year after Mrs. Tilton’s confession her mind remained in the fixed opinion that her criminal relations with Mr. had he impressed her to the contrary; but at this subject. as noted in the following letter aa- dressed by her to her husband ;— MRS. TILTON TO MR. TILTON. Scnonante, June 29, 1871. My Drak Taxovorr—To-day, through the ministry of Catherine Gaunt, a character of fiction, my eyes Have been opened for the first time in my experience, so that Tsee clearly my sin. It was when I knew that I was loved to suffer it ‘to grow to a passion. A virtuous woman should check instantly an absorbing love. But it appeared to me in such talve light. That the love I felt and received could harm no one, not even you, I have belleved unfalteringly, until four o'clock tis hi the venly vision dawned upon m see now, as never before, the wrong Thave done you, and Nasten immediately to ask your pardon, with a penitence so sincere that henceforth (if Teason Femains) yousnay trust me implicitly. Oh, my dear Theodore! though your opinions are ‘not, restful oF congenial to my soul, yet my own integrity and purity are o sacred and holy thing to me. Bless God, with me, for Oatherine Gaunt and for all the sure leadings of an ali-wise and loving Providence. Yes, now I teel quite prepared to renew my marriage vow with you, to keep it as the Saviour réquireth, who Jooketh atthe’ eye and the heart. Never before could 1 say this. When you yearn towards me with true feeling, be assured of the tried, purified and restored love ot ELIZABETH, Mra, Tilton followed the above letter with these: MRS. TILTON TO MR. TILTON. Jovy 4, 1871, Oh, my dear husband! may you never need the dis- cipline of being misled by a good Wom.2 asl was by good man. [No date. I would mourn greatly if my life was to be made known to father, Mis head would be vowed indeed to the grave. {No date. } Do not think my iI! health Is on account of my sin and its discovery. My sins and lite-record I have carried to my Saviour." No; my prostration is owing to the suffer- ing I have caused you. Fourteenth—Tfhat about one year after Mrs. Til- ton’s confession, and about a half year alter Mr. Beecher’s confirmation of the same, Mrs. V. C. Woodhull, then a total stranger to Mr. Tilton, save that he had been presented to her in a company of friends a few days previous, wrote in the World, Monday, May 22, 1871, the loliowing statement, namely : 1 know of one man, a public teacher of eminence, who lives in concubinage with the wife of another public tencher of almost equal eminence, All three concur in denouncing offences against morality, 1 shall make It my business to analyze some o! ese lives. of VICTORIA 0, WOODHULL, New Yor, May 20, 1871. On the day of the publication of the above card in the World Mr. Tilton received from Mrs. Wood- hull @ request to cali on imperative business at her office; and on going thither a copy of the above card was put into his hand by Mrs. Wood- hull, who said that ‘the parties referred to therein were the Rev, Henry Ward Beecher and the wife of Theodore Titon.” Following this annoance- ment mrs, Woodhull detailed to Mr. Tilton, with vehement speech, the wicked aud injurious story whi she published in the year fol- lowing. Meanwhile Mr. Tilton, desiring to guard against any possible temptation to Mra, woodnull to publish the grossly distorted version which she gave to Mr, Tilton (and which she aiterwards at- ibuted to him), he sought by perso! services and kindly attentions to influence her to such a good will towards himself and family as would remove all disposition or desire in her to s < afflict him with such a publication, Mr. Titon’s | efforts avs agsogiawon with Dire. Woodhull ceased You be- | Beecher had not been morally wrong, 80 strongly | length a change took piace in her convictions on | - | and relution to me with th R, | sacredly and keep you in that exalted and | wher | Bowen. I fee! a, led ti ess of the country to charge that Mr, Tilton hi committed against Mr. Beecher some heinous wrong, which Mr. Beecher had pardoned; whereas the trutn was the reverse, To remedy this false public impression Mr. Moulton requesied Mr, Beecuer to prepare & suitable card relieving Mr. Tilton of tais mnjuetice. In auswer to tis request Mr. Beecher pleaded his embarrassments, which prevented his saying anything without bringing himself under sus- Picion. Mr. ‘Tilton then proposed to .prepare 4a card of bis awn containing a few lines apology, for the pespose of showing that Mr. Beecher, instead of aving had occasion to forgive Mr. Tilton, had had occasion to be forgiven by him. Mr, Beecher toen wrote a letter to Moulton, which, on being: shown to Mr. Tilton, was successiul in appeasin to Mr. Tiiton’s feelings. Mr. Beecher a: in if under date of Sunday morning, June 1, 187: Mr Dean, BEECHER TO MR. MOULTON, y Deak FRaxx—I am determined to make resistance Theodore’s temperament ts such {hat the future, even it temporarily earned, would be absolutely e Hable at any hour of the e day to be ob! prv’ SAVED OURSELYES, It is only fair th: id know that the pubiication of the card which he proposes would leave him worse off than before. The agreement (viz., the " wo simitity mY the “apology”) was write a year. He had condoned his wile Joined npon me, with the utmost earnestness and wlie nor leave his children to ith such a man as Theodore Tiiton there is no possible saivation for any that depend upon him. With a strong nature, he does not know iow to fovern ie, oof ihere is no use in trying further. ave @ strong fecling upon me—and it brings great peace=that I 4m spending my last Sunday and preach- lug my last semnon. ‘The hopelessness of spirit which the foregoing letter portrayed on tne part of its writer Jed Mr, ‘Tilton wo reconsider the question of defending bimselfat the cost o: producing misery to Mr. Beecher, which determination by Mr. Tilton to allow the prevailing calumnies against himseif to go unanswered wus further strengthened by the following note received by him two days there. ane from the office editor of Mr. Beecher’s jour- nal:— ble and perfidious, easy for Me to make every allowance for the circumstances that had wrought you to sueh @ frenzy I was dreadtully shocked. My dear Theodore, let me, a8 an old friend Whose heart is wrung by your terrible suffering and sorrow, tell you that’ you were then acting ignobly, and’ that you can never have true peace of mind tll’ you conquer yourself and diswwiss ail purpose and thought of injuring the man who has Wronged you. Of all the promises our lips can fraine hone are $0 stored as those We make to those Who have injured us and whom We have proiessed to torgive; and they ave sacred just 12 proportion as their violation would work imjury to thuge to whom they are made. You cannot paini too blacely the wrongs you have sutlered. On that point 1 make no plea in abatement, not and although it but I beg you to remember that nothing can change the law which makes forgiveness noble ani Godlike [have prayed for you night and da’, with strong ery- ing and tears, beseeching God to restrain you trom wronging yourselt by violating your slemn engage menta, Tonight Iam hapoy in the thought that yo have been preserved trom committing the act whieh so much dreadea. In aletter written by Mr. Beecher, in order to be shown to Mr. Tilton, Mr. Beecher spoke as fol lows:— MR. BEBCHRR TO MR. MOULTON. No man can see the difficulues that environ me Guess he stands where Ido, To say that J have a church ‘on my bands is simple enough, but to have the hundrets and thousands of men pressing me, each one w keen suspicion or anxiety or zeal; to see.the tenden wi hich, if not sto would break out into a ruinous de- Tonge bt mas; to top them without acetuing to,do itt ts prevent ahy one questioning me; to Gnd “aay” prejudices againse T'whicd “hed their _ beg! = od years belore; to a be serene as if I was not alarmed or distarbed; to rS a ful at home among friends { was suffer- ing the torments of the dainned; to pass sleepless nigh! often, and yer to come up tresh and fair tor punday—el this may be talked about but the real thing cannot be understood trom the outside, nor its wearing and grind- ing ou the nervous eystem. In still another letter, written for the same pure pose as the above, Mr. Beecher said :— MR. BEBCHPR TO MR. MOULTON. If my destraction would place him (Mr. Tilton) all right that shall not stand in the way; Tam willing to Step down and out. No one can oer’ more than that. ihat ido offer. Sacritice me without hesitadon if you can clearly see your way to his satety and happiness thereby. in one point of view I could desire the sacri- fice on my part. Nothing can possibly be so bad as the power of ‘great darknew in “whicl { spend. much of my time. I look upon death as sweeter tar than any friend I have in the world. Lite would be pleasant if J could see that rebuilt which in shattered. But to live on the sharp and ragged edge of anxiety, femoree, fear, despair, and yet to put on am pearince of serenity and happiness cannot be en, “ured much longer, T am well nigh discouraged. If ‘ou cease to trust nie, to love me, Tam alone—i do uot how any person in the world to whom I could go. Mr. Tilton yieided to the above quoted and other stmt: Jar leters, and inade no defence of iamselt against We public odium which attaches to him unjusily. Seventeenth—That the matriage unton vetween Mr. and Mrs, Tilton, until broken by Mr. Beecher, was of more than common harmony, affection an mutual respect. Their house and huusenoid were regarded for years by all their guests as an idea) home. As an evidence oj the feeling and spirit Which this wife entersained for her husband ap to the time of her corruption by Mr. Beecher the following letters by Mrs. Tilton, written only a few months before her joss of honor, will tesuly:— MKS. TILTON TO MR. TILTON. Turspay Mogsine, Jan. 1868. My Brioven—Don't you know the peculiar phase ot Christ's character ‘a lover if so precious to me because of my ration and devotion to yout 1 learn to fove you fiom my love to Him. L have learned to love [iim trom voving you. I couple you with fim. Nor do I feel it one whit irreverent. Ana as every day I adorn. myself, consciously, as a bride to meet lier brideg: like manner, [litt imploring hands. that 1 may be prepared. I, with the litue girls, aiter you le! us, with overflowing eyes and hearts, consecrated ou selves to our work and to you. My waking thoughts la mght were of you. Myriang inoughts this morn| were of you. [bless yon; I hotior you; Tlove you. sustain ds and help us both to kee) our vows. MRS, TILTON TO MR. TILTON, Satunpay E F 0, well Tknow, as far as Tam Now to keep this fire high and generous is the ideal be- fore me, 1 ain only perieedy contented and resttul when you ara with me. these latter months 1 have thought. iooked and rned for the hour when you would be at home, with longings unutterabie, Mis. TO MK, TILTON eld A. M.S tinoruing’ in its aim it acceptable, What may I bring to A large, turobbing heart and purpose to bless and sweet one? MRS, TILTON TO MR. TILTON, Moxpay Morning, Feb. 24, 1868 Do you wonder that I couple lo [out Presence viour’s ? lift you up noly place espect and love with the (ervency cheer hin T reverence: ough for the remaining days. ‘enough’’ seems a stoicism on which you have resolved to live your life; but I pray God he will supply you with friendships pure, and with wifely love which your great heart demands, withholding pot Himselt as the Chief Love which consumeth not though it burn, and whose effects are always pertect rest and peace. ‘Again in one ot your letters you close with, “Faith. » ‘That word “iaith{ul” means a great dea! , darling, I betiove it, trust it and give you the gam surety with regard to myself, Lam faithtul to you, have been always and shall forever be. world without end. all not this assurance impious. There are some things we kuow. Blessed be God! MRS. TILTON TO MR. TILTON. Howe, Feb. 29. 1863, Saturday evening. Ah, did ever man ever love so grandly us my beloved} Other fricndships, pubsic affairs, all “fall to naught” when T come to you. Though you are in Dakota to-night, yet I have telt your love. and am very grateiul tor it, 1 had not received a line since Monday, and was so hungry and lonesome that 1 took out all your letters and Induiged mysell ax at a feast, but without satiety. | And now I long to pour out into your heart of my abundance. Tam conscious of three jets to the fountain of my soul— to the Great Lover and yourself—to whom as one T am eternally wedded, my children, and the dear friends Who trust and love me. I do ‘not want another long separation. While we are in the flesh let us abide together, MRS. TILTON TO MR. TILTON, Wepnxspay Mors, March, 1868 Oh, how almost perfectiy could I minister to you this winter, my heart glows so Darostenihes Tam consctous of great inward awakening toward you, It I live I shall teach my n to begin their loves where now I am, J cannot conceive of anything more delicious than a lite consecrated to a er love. i il at ee pe at more than you do me, but st UR OWN DEAK WIFE. In addition to the above, many other lettera by Mrs, ‘Tilton to her husband prior to her corruption by Mr. Beecher, served to show that a Christian wife, loving her husband to the extreme degree set forth, could only have been swerved from the path of rectitude by artful and powerfal persua- sions clothed in the phrases of religion and en- forced by strong appeals irom her chief Christian teacher and guide, ‘Bighteenth=That the story purporting to explain Mr. Beecher’s apology a8 having been written because he had offended Mr. Tilton by engaging his wife m the project of a sepavation irom ner husband ts false, a8 Will be seen by the followin, letter, written only three days after the date the apology :— MRS. TLITON TO MR, MOULTON. No. 174 Livinaston Staeet, BROOKLYN, Sanudry 4 ter} Mr. Francis D, Mouttoy My Deak FRigny—In regard to your question whether 1 have ever sought a separation from my husband, Tin dignantly deny that such was ever the fact, as I have denied it a hundred times betore. The stor: wanted @ separation was a_deliber coined by my poor mother, who said she would bear the responsibility of this and other statements she might make and communicated to my husband's enemy, Mrs. H. W, Beecher, and by her communicated to Mr, 1 outraged by, the whole proceeding, and ey now rutering in consequence more than I am abie ir. vel wu to bear, Lam yours, very WV ZABRTH R, TILTON, Nineteenth—That during the frst week tn Janu- Ary, 1871, a few days alter the a) was written, Mr, Beecher communicsted to Mr. Tilton, through Mr. Moulton, an earnest wish that he (Mr. Tiitony would take his family to Europe and reside there for a term of years at Mr. Beecher’s expense Similar offers have been stoce repeated by Mi Beecher to Mr, Tilton throngh the same chann A mossage of kindred tenor was brought from Mr. Beecker \o Mr. iitan Jaat summer ov Mr F. By Si ith his” Bromaoreie Sates iw eft ital jer- tof aia, has nore