The sun., 1873-06-04
BOWEN. TILTON & BEECIIER.
THE sLlNDERS AGAINST TIE PAS
TOR or PLYuOUTH CHURCH.
A story of FaIsebood and Trencbery How
and why the CHARGES were Put Forth.


to TIM the reports and rumors which are cass-
ned under the general term, The i'eeoher
scandal" The charges have been traced by the
EdJlc to Henry G. Bowen, identified, among
other things, with AN alleged religious paper
Ssd o ~ ,hnt nt geem memen long og
made a written retraction OF the charges which
be has since rcarirmed. The document is TODAY
Tor the ntst time published. TO assure clear
undcrsl anding Of 1t we print the following
AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT.
For some months after Mr. Beerhcr came 10
liroghlyn from the West he lived IN the house
of Henry C. Bowen eating not only at his table,
but repusing confidence in him as perfect a.
father ever received from a son. Bowen was the
particular pillar of the young church, and W th
his dcsire for RELIGIOUS repute, no felt hattered
not n little at the thought of being considered
the Young preachers confidential adviser. Ac-
uuaintance, however did not heighten Beechers
confidence in his new guardian; he came to
think less and less Of him as II friend and more
moved from Bpwcn's house, and once removed,
found other circles more COnRenial To ht' taste
than that which gathered H. the parlors OF the
head Of the frm Of Bowen & MrNamec As was
To have been anticiuaied. Bowen felt decidedly
astgreyed At thus. and being agsrieved he pro
ceedcd To seek satisfaction by bankruptcy ana
Whenever he met Beecher however, the old
smile was always upon his face and tue old
warmth In his hand, lie did not absent himself
from church, nor did lie lessen in his attention
to those who visited IL. Iiut the friends Of
Becchcr knew, although he cid not, that Bowen
bad become an enemy who professed public
friendship only because interest was on the side
where Mr.. BE cChcr spent many OF his happtest
hours, this was fully recognized. and finally by
cnrd, however. 10 think well Of cverybody MIR.
Leccher attributed the nisunderstandng 70
surface feeling that would shortly exhaust Itself,
and in the meantime he did all In his power To-
assure Bowen of continued esteem and good
viii. THIS state Of assurance on one hahd anu
BETRAYAL ~ the other had continued Tor quito
while when IL occurred to Mr.. Bowen that an
honest penny could be turned by having Mr..
Beecher edit the Indrpendent. He called upon
MIR Bcecher, stated his object, and after cxpa-
iating upon the grand opportunities which
right hands Tor the advancement OF Christ
kingdom requested him To become it, editor,
lie accepted the offer, aud how the work was
performed Is matter Of common knowledge.
The Iniepcndcmt from insign0cance was raised
to power under Mr.. Beecher's eiiturship-aud
between his name and labors the proprietor
passed from bankruptcy to ofiiuence.
During the early part of his connection with
the uiepondtnt, Mr.. Beecher was recognized
by Bowen as one whose reputation he could not
afford to injuTe In any way without pecuniar1ly
affecting himself, for his fortune was the paper
and the paper was practically Mr.. Beecher. For
personal reasons, however, Mr. Bcecher saw NJ
t. resign his editorial chair, and with that re'is
natiof Mr.. Bowen saw NJ to renew his slandcrs
lie was afraid OF rivalry in the religious publl-
cation bus ness. aud thinkins tnat Mr. Bcecher
alliance with another paper would seal the fn'e
the work Of sealing Sir. Beechers fate 10y blast
/ iug his reputation. that Bowon.s telrs wero
not grOundcss Il shown 10y the fact that sew
erL editorial Oaer- were made to Ar Beechcr
tue moment 1t was known he had become dis
vN9 wav of parem.Hess. it NAY may be stated that thS
| immediate cause Of Mr. Beecher's Withdrawal
| from the IudepcndtHt was a political one
While he was vet editor OF Il, but during his
absence, II as lIled him ncrcely for his CleNe-
| land letter. lie did not like that treatment
| and not liking IT,, resigned although 50 dis
! gusted had he become with DJwen's manage
/ mcnt IN other respects, that some other preteSt
/ would shortly have been adopted for retirement
/ from the assuCiatun.l As tis been intimatcd,
] when Mr. BceVher withdrew. MIR. Bowen COM
| n,cuced to SANDER him. not openly but benin 1
. letter
/ actcr of stories told. This projected Tor many
I months before any one inforne MI Beechet
. wuat was going ON. IL was delicate matt er
7 which moody seemed disposed to handle
finally. ne Of the more pr"u..u.nt members oi
. rNw nth Church called upon NJ. lccchcr and
said that Bowen telling fearful stories about
/ aim. Becchcr was dlsp"sed to treat the maj e.
i point that Mr. Beecner sad, " W ell shdi az
! point Mr. IL. IL. tlanin, Mr.. lreeldnd ahd Mr
4 llowird committee ~ three To near these
cnarSr-. luu tell ihcm all You know ap"u'
. theu.and II Bowen viii. let h.m du the SAINT an
II they say there j. ANY lhnI requirng action Oh
| my part will act
Tue member never returned to say what the
! result was. but Mr.. Clahin upnn inquiry told .lr
Bcecher me time after that there was nothing
. luit nut idle rumor. II 'thlns which shodld "c
/ Cl-iuu in MIN atly unclsints-.
tur two or three month, previous to this there
lad not neun much curdidllB ut feeling exist
7 ins bctwccn Bowen and Becch"r. Nov. how
ever, what little had been lett "as wholly eX
Their paths. metaphorlcally speaking, Law II
different directions. 50 marked DID las cool
ness become that II became mattel oi t"lnu. 1i
observation among thc b'ethien' anu ne
brethren heins ON the side Of Mr. Bercuer an'
not at an ia sympathy with any one disposed I.
q uktn ui> character, thcN HIso assumed al lt'
oemeLuur toward the proprietor 81 the lHic
p'Ha't. This had Cohtihued i9r Iuuy e',hl
brrchrr one evening. aud ia manner tha
showed his sympathy had been greatly eAcite'
Mr. Bee,her. cant voi do something for Mr.
| Bowen. he feels terrihict
What, said Mt Betcher' " can 90 WI