Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-07
BEECHER- AND TILTON.
The Plymouth Church Congregation
Snubs that of the Church OF
the Pilgrims.
The Resolutions of the Plymouth
Brethren-Card of Brother
Theodore TiItOn.

NEW YORK, December 5.-Plymouth church
was densely crowded tonight, ii being made
the Beecher-TiltOn scandal was to be brought
up and acted on.
After the usual Friday evening meeting
was finished, the business meeting was at
once commenced, and was opened with
prayer by Rev. MT Beeeher.
A letter from the Church of the Pilgrims
was the first, which was inhreply TO a resolu-
ton passed at the last meeting, and re-
questing to be informed whether the Ply
mouth church declined to take part in the
formal conference with the CliniOn-Avenue
church. They were desirOus of being set
right in the matter, with view to availing
all misunderstanding, as 1t was considered
that their former communication was greatly
misapp1ehended. The communication was
Mr.. Beecher read a reply which he had pre-
pared, requesting that before Plymouth
church be asked to take part in the council
he be informed OF the questions TO be dis
cussed.
Mr.. Holiday read a communication from
the examining committee appointed to iHves-
tigate the case of Henry Z. Bowen, reporting
that Mr.. Bowen intends 10 stand by his agree
ment made with MIR. Beecher, and recon-
menuing that the charges against him be dis
missed. The report was adopted.
Prof. Raymond offered a series Of resolu-
tions, to the effect that the Plymouth church
is an Independent organization, and permits
no interference in its internal affairs.
Mr.. Beecher spoke in favor of the resolu-
tions, which We're unanimously adopted, and
the meeting adjourned.
Ihe following card from MI. Bowen explains
Itself:
"SIR-AIore than SIX months have elapsed
since I was informed through the newspapers
that sundry charges against me had been pre-
sented TO the examining committee OF Ply
mouth church. l have never seen a copy of
these charges, and the person who had pre-
sented them has never spoken to me on the
subject. I have never been cited. to appear
before the examining committee, although l
have repeatedly expressed my entire willing
ness to do so on the shortest possible notice;
nor have l been able to traverse or rebut any
testimony that might be brought against me.
After a faithful search for testimony, the
committee, stated by the assist
ant psstor, utterly failed to obtain
t.. The only course before them
was TO recommend that the charge
be dismissed, and this was done by a 1nsni-
nous vote OF the church. But the commit
tee, in their report, and the church, in their
official action, strangely omitted to put TO
that recommendation any pertinent basis,
namely, that there was no evidence TO sustain
statement, which refused to put in writing,
weaken my protesJatiOn of entire innocence
in reference TO the reported charges. 1 am SO
amazed that the committee should have en-
bodied 1t in their report, and thus given fur
ther publicity to a fragment Of a document
which was s8credly private, which had been
surreptitiousy obtained, and anonymously
published, and all the parties 10 which were
s0lemnly pledged never 10 divulge.
"lSignedl HENRY Z. BOWEN.
Brooklyn, December 5, 1873"