The New York herald., 1873-12-13
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Bowen Enters n PrOtest-The MaJter
Referred to q COmmittee-Eiection Of
Officers.
At the close OF the prayer meeting AZ Plymouth
Church last night Mr.. BEEcHER said:-
Let me say as an answer to many inquiries
that may be made that while l was driving out
this morning my horses took fright and ran away.
was thrown out OF my wagon. but was not killed,
and am now unharmed. My horses were caught
and put in the stable.
The business meeting was then organized, MT.
Robert Edgarton being selected as moderator. The
proceedings were opened with prayer by Mr..
Beecher.
PROTEST FROM MR.. BOWEN.
Mr.. HENRY U. BOWEN then stepped forward and
asked the privilege OF presenting o communica-
tion to the Church His request was granted,
when he walked up on the platform and read the
following
DEAR embrace the earliest moment
m IN e he % asSn s h
PTs-Becaus, NO official notice has ever been given
second-Because the person who made the charges
never spoke word to me directly or indirectly In regard
faird-Becausc the Church has never given me copy
Of those charges, and nave never seen them in any
soqsh sey asked to
before the Church or examining Committee to answer
FVIA-Because 1 have never been officially informed
na @ sn to nd a1s hs
-.
might be sought
last has thus been reety eontrary to Bible
in reference to such matters laid down in the Gospel
Sersal usage IN ali Christian CHURCHES the world over
Serenh-Because have been informed by the pastor
by the latter the Church. the effort to hnd evidence
Eish4Becanse in the ABSENCE Of evidence against me
% an S nas and on ha'
NaA-Because my silence during the six months that
has been with the Confidence that evidence
could be found and that the charges would be dismissed
TsnM-Becanse / have never thought of authorizing
anything that should convey even the impression OF con-
old Which gould not in and
especially in ragmentary shape be introduced with
sstsehed ssrset wrcns to Sss me ps1sonay
n % se e
Henry Ward Beecher Mr. Theodore Tilton and myself.
as
me Of sha II ask sS @ T M
q SfPIymcat$ church ask ios the SAKE q my family
reel sure that my request viii be mos, chse5pIIy and
BRookLYS Dec IL, 1873
Mr.. BOWEN then asked the adoption of the fol-
lowing
Resolved, That the action taken by this Church in
cepng report q the Examining 6ommis,ee and in DIS
Resolved, That evidence has been found to con.
by Mr. West SAID charges be and hereby dismissed.
MR.. BEECHERs REPLY.
1t seems to me it would be wise to follow the
practice OF the Presbyterians, that Of allowing
1t is due to Mr.. Bowen that this statement should
be placed upon the minutes and that IL be
to make some statement in regard TO the matter
and present 1t for further action. l move that
DR.. Edward Beecher, Z. O. Caudweil and Robert
Edgerton be appont ted such committee.
The motion OF Mr. Beecner was carried.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH STATISTICS.
The annual report OF the clerk showed the fol-
lowing table OF statistics for 1873
There have been received into the church. 2os
Net inerease in member rsnip p.. l2S
fhe whole number received into the church since
Average yearly number Of admissions for a years iss
Number of scholars and tsachsrs in the three sun
Largest attendance during the year ss
Smallest attendance during the $50
Ssef o eSd eashers ae n he
Sum6er of volumes mes in the Libraries ss
Contributions IN me schools - ......sz4o
rn bs the to
at has for for a
This amount includes only the organized con.
tributors without any reference TO the personal
and private contributions Of the church and
society.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The moderator then stated that they would pro-
ceed with the election OF officers for the ensuing
year.
Three deacons were to be elected in the places
OF +. ii. Harkins II. p. White and NJ. K Moody
whose term OF office expires with the close OF the
year. Messrs. Robert r Raymond, ID. Carpenter, J.
r. Hutchinson, H. w. Sage and A. d. Wheelock
were placed In nomination.
The vote resulted in the election OF r. r. Ray
mond, J. b. Hutchinson and Il. W. Sage. The term
OF ofiice Is for three years.
Mr.. Robert ID. Benedict rendered his resigna-
tion as deacon, and Mr.. d. Carpenter. who re-
ceived the requisite number OF votes in the first
ballot was unanimously chosen to I'LL the unex-
pired term OF Mr.. Benedict which was two years.
Mrs. Edward Beecher and Mrs. 7. Tanning were
elected deacOnesses for the term OF three years.
Messrs. ID. ii. Hawkins and II. M. Cleveland were
elected as the Examining Committee.
Messrs. II. G. King ana Henry Whitney were
elected as the Music Committee.
On motion TO elect q clerk for the ensuing year
Mr.. BEEcHER said We have been brought Into
great deal OF business during the past year. and 1t
may be that there will be more to be done this
year. We will undoubtedly have good
deal OF correspondence, and It is therefore de-
sirable to elect a man as clerk who has some
legal knowledge, and who is thoroughly acquainted
with the whole history OF this church. ! know OF
nobody who IS better qualified to I'LL this position
than Mr.. Thomas q. Sherman. His election would
be peculiarly desirable this year.
Mr.. Sherman was unanimously elected,