THE BEECHER SCANDAL.

Evening Star, Issue 4114, 4 May 1876, Page 3

THE BEECHER SCANDAL.

New York, February 24. The night session was commenced at eight o’clock. The galleries were filled. There was scarcely room for the Coun-

cil in the aisles, so many people came

who had to be accommodated. All of Beecher’s family were in the church, and all the noteworthy people of the congregation. Shortly before 8 o’clock Mr Beecher ascended the platform. He simply said, speaking very rapidly, u I wish to renew my request to every friend of mine in this audience, at every part of the session, and on the reading of every document, and on the enunciation of every result, that it may be received with profound Any man that claps his hands would knock me down, and any man that would cheer, I think must be a man that would open his mouth against me. I beseech this congregation, which I really expect are a well-bred and decent people, to regard my importunity and let this meeting be far more quiet than on an ordinary Sabbath morning. I take this opportunity, before the Council comes in, of making this request to you.” Then the report of the Council was lead. In substance it exculpated Beecher and upheld the action of Plymouth Church in Mrs Moulton’s case. Mr Beecher then ascended the platform. He spoke at great length of the sufferings to which he had been subjected, and said that it was impossible for a man to go through all that and not feel it; and yet, if it pleased God to have him go on, he was ready and willing to go on for another five years. During this portion of his address Beecher was very much affected He said his associations had been with women whom he could not help loving, and all he had suffered at the hands of those of another school had not in any way blurred the sacred purity of womanhood. It was only proper to maintain within its seclusion that which, when it bursts out will destroy everything around it. He thought he might say without fear that he was enjoying the blessing of God, and was very near to Him, and he would say that there was not a creature in the world for whom ho would not suffer, if he could save him from greater suffering. If there was any word which he had uttered to hurt brothers of near churches, he was anxious to withdraw it. At some hour of every day he felt as if he were nearer New Jerusalem, and, looking back upon his life, he felt great joy. He did not care for his reputation after

he was dead, but if in his time he had been able to put into literature that which would cheer the sick and the young, therein was his joy for posterity. He expressed his great gratitude to the fathers and brothers foi the result arrived at.

The Brooklyn * Eagle ’ says Mr Bowen declines to give the text of his statement to the newspapers, and the Plymouth Church Committee say they will not. ‘ Eagle ’ reporters call upon Bowen and the members of the committee to-day, but they were all firm. The substance of the statement, however, has been ascertained. Mr Bowen does not claim to have any knowledge of guilt on Beecher’s part. He says he believes him to be guilty because of what he has heard from diverse parties. The only names mentioned by him are Mr and Mrs Bichard, who, he said, told him that Mrs Tilton confessed to them. Another woman, whose name he declines to give, told him, he says, that in 1858 she saw Mr B*echer enter in a suspicious manner the study of Plymouth Church with a woman, whose name he also declines to give. His informant did not say she knew adultery was committed, but she believed there was. The third and chief case cited by Mr Bowen is that of a woman who, he says, told him she had been twice outraged by Mr Beecher, and that subsequent to the outrage she remained improperly intimate with him. Who this woman was, whore the alleged outrages took place, or when they took place, are facts which Mr Bowen declares he cannot be induced to disclose. Apart from these three cases, the statement was devoted to a defence of Bowen’s behaviour towards Beecher and the public since lie became convinced of Beecher’s guilt.