In 1874 Mr. Beecher's former associate and later successor in the editorship of the Inde pendent, Theodore Tilton, charged him with criminal intercourse with Mrs. Tilton. A com inittee of Plymouth Church examined the case and exonerated Mr. Beecher; but Tilton had brought suit for $100,000 against him, and after a six months' trial the jury disagreed, a week's confinement and 12 ballots showing three for the plaintiff and nine for the defendant. The long public scandal seriously affected Beecher's in fluence with the outside public, but his own con gregation stood loyal to him; and while his 'Life of Christ) was unsalable, and the last two volumes not published till long after his death, his sermons and some of his essays re main popular.
Mr. Beecher's first literary work was done in his Indianapolis pastorate, where he edited an agricultural paper, and wrote for it articles afterward republished as 'Fruits, Flowers, and Farming' ; and published his first book, 'Lec tures to Young Men) (1844). For 20 years after coming to Brooklyn he contributed regu larly to the Independent, signing with a (*), whence the two-volume collections of 1855 and 1858 were termed *Star Papers.* He was also for some time a regular contributor to the New York Ledger of ((Thoughts as They Oc cur,* collected in 1864 as *Eyes and Ears)); and wrote serially for it his one novel, 'Norwood' (1867). His sermons were reported in full after 1859, and the collected volumes are termed 'Plymouth Pulpit.' A two-volume selection revised by the author was issued by Lyman Ab bott in 1M8; other compilations from them are 'Life Thoughts) and 'Notes from Plymouth Pulpit) (1859) ; 'Pulpit Pungencies) and 'Royal Truths) (1866) ; 'Morning and Even ing Devotional Exercises) (1870) ; and (Com forting Truths) (1884). For some years, also,
his prayers, of great charm and high quality as compositions, were taken down by stenographers and a collected volume issued in 1867. Other of his worlcs are: (Freedom and War) (1863) ; 'Aids to Prayer' (1864) ; 'Lecture-Room Talks) (1870) ; 'Yale Lectures on Preaching' (3 vols., 1872-74) ; (Evolution and Religion) (1&35). Individual sermons and addresses were published also, such as 'The Strike and Its Lessons) (1878) ; 'Doctrinal Beliefs and Un beliefs) (1882) ; (Virendell Phillips) (1884) ; (A Circuit of the Continent) (1£384). He also edited the famous (Plymouth Collection) of hymns (1855) ; and (Revival Hymns) (1858). His life was written before his death by Lyman Abbott (1883), and Samuel Scoville (1888) ; see also (Autobiographical Reminiscences of Henry Ward Beecher,' by T. J. Ellinwood, who was his private stenographer for 30 years.
Mr. Beecher's wife, EUNICE WHITE BUL LARD, was born in West Sutton, Mass., 26 Aug. 1812; d. Stamford, Conn., 8 March 1897. She wrote articles for periodicals, some of them afterward collected; also (From Dawn to Day light) (1859), a story of her early married life; (Motherly Talks with Young Housekeepers) (1875) ; 'Letters from Florida) (1878) ; (All Around the House) (1878) ; and (Home) (1883). Consult CUrrier, A. H., 'Nine Great Preachers' (Boston and New York 1912) ; Hillis, N. D., (Lectures and Orations by H. W. Beecher> (New York 1913) and (What the Republic Owes to Henry Ward Beecher' (Homiletic Rev., Vol. 65, pp. 437-43, New York 1913).