, 1873-12-06
Further Developments in tho
Case Against MI.
Beccher.
4 RotraCtion OF IIr. Bowers Charges
Read 10 r:ymou!l, Church.
The Innocence Of h1r. Beooher Conf
dontly Proclaimed,
KIr. Bowen Asserts that the Retractfon
Is Incomplete.
And That It Was Not intended for
Publication.


RECONCILIATION.
Tho result Of tho meeting may be briotly
aumu,ed up rs u general shaking of hands, and
avowalB Of impesislaablo friendship. Ronolu-
tons expressing tho viows Of tho church regard
ing ita Independence In nil matters Of discipline
and government were adopted.
4 rnATEnEAL NATURALIZATION. ssssar.- ..s
Tho third letter from lilo Church Of pilgrina,
jointly with that Of tho Clinton Avonuo Church,
was first road. The lottor atatcs that, after
henriug tho scsolutions passed. by Plymouth
Church, these churches adopted course
OF further action aa probably desirable,
but ai they wero uncertain whother, in declin-
ing tho 1oqnost for private conference, Ply
mouth Church wished to bo understood ns de-
c1iuirg to uuito with them in calling council
OF Congregations! Churches, thoy preferred not
to disclose tho course of action thoy considered,
but until thoy clearly understood the mattor.
They ask to bo Informed, whether tho constr,c-
tion tlloy have put on this part Of tho resolu-
tioaa adopted Mt lilo lust meeting Of Plymouth
Church ia correct.
NIL. NEEonEn's AEswEn.
Wlou tho communication was rcad, Mr.
Docchcr read n roply which lie Ind drawn. This
sayn that ho does not know Of any question re-
quiring tho ndyico Of tho council, but tnat II
further light was desired, and they would state
tho points to 10 submitted to the Council, Ply
mouth Church would promptly inform thcm Of
Its position.
The reply was unanimously adopted.
Mn. EowEN's STATEMENT.
Tho report Of tho Examining Committee WaB
then read by tho Roy. $. B. Halliday. It ro-
latcs to complRint against Henry G. Bowen,
member Of tho church, aud In it is included =,
admission or state.nent from Mr.. Bowen. 1t
ig % AZ fol.oMa: e,,s II, lIoury 9: Bowen, having
grafton, to innneudoes affecting Henry Ward
Beechor, and being influenced by them,
as was natural 10 Il man who
receives impressions suddenly, to the extent Of
for lilo purpose Of inturiug him, but strictly in
the confidence OF consultation foel that
therein I did him wrong. Therefore, dis
ayow all tho charges and inputationa that
have been attributed to me as having becn
declare, without Eoservo. that l kuow nothing
which should prevent mo from extending to him
ny most coidinl friendship, confidence, and
Christian Fellowship; ANT expressly withdraw
all charges imputed as having boon made by me,
and set forth ID letters written to me by Theo-
doro Ti1ton, OIL Jan. l, 1871 !; and eincoroly TO-
gret having made any imputations or innuonloes
unfavorable to tho Cllriatian character Of Mr..
Doocher, and covenant that, for all tuturo timo,
will never by word or decd recur to, repeat, or
a'ludo to any Of said charged, or imputations. Or
lnnuondoos." In Wow OF this resolution, 1t was
recommended that the compliant against Mr..
Bowen be dismissed. Altar somo discussion the
snbjee: matter Of the seport was unanimously
doptea.
POSITION OF PLYMOUTH c11unoI.
Prot. Raymond then offered the following res
'lution, defining tho position OF tho church:
WHEREAS, !. is desirable .Aat the relations Of
,iyoun isyar Cmne "1'o o'nef euefehes Aho"ld 10
Icso!ucd, That this church recrates the principles
IL, la.s follaws "Thta church is IN independent
:cclesiastical body aud In matters VI loc,i,e orders
ND ,nd Discipline Il a,enable to NJ other organization.
lna church VII extend TO- osher eysnseca ehregs
Ee,a'rsJ Iaa va inteSnret tcso nlInc;nles y, r.,
uey:ng I'll other churches tro1n responsibility for ths
doctrines, urdcT pul discipline cf thiH church, n,d
~ aes:ry for this church the right to Judge In every
tass what fellowship advice or asastaaea may, &C.
sotng to tue laws Of Christ properly ba offered or
s'sS'Feo ..... -.....
HEAAHRs III 5ii. DEEc!!EH.
III IT. .;1n neecneI tnen maao p1'el ADDRESS. Ae
saa. hete ID aemocfasio ata Aflssociatlc Con-
Efogatlonailsm. Plymoufh Church has always
ssoo1 on the platform OF democratic Col grcga-
s,onausn "a as alatligusshod from stringent arls-
tocfa.lc oongrosatlonaiiam. We aro linking DEM
ocsatlc groun!ie, ~ nre most churches that ara
sprane'oE up. nif. Heechcr thcn READ lcttor
o!i alo!n Gonsreeatlonal Clergyman IN MaBsachli-
sns ss wy aaliy i!aofhou tne action or r1S1Aouth
Cuuteli Ill asheFtlne lta ludepcndcheo IAa res
o;utaons onerea ~ ps9f. haynond wero shon
Unanimously asuobtca ~ ana tue meeting adjourned.
rrw v,,v 19 nns sns u ssoe:9sa n,s:1 t,sss' o,.,,
a!Ea,. NEM aonh noc' o.Lf!ss1hontn Y Chnrch was
t,.t ~! ~ f,,,e;., ~ s; st; ~ H t.so Is: I.tu"n
-. ~ III ~ onauTn NH utoeIub 4uest'ous ie1al!a.
~ tue 1eceuot- 1Atou-1o~ou ecapda! "oula
u p1o4g4t up anu acted unon. Al:nr the
uaual Friday evening meeting wAB fin
fshed, a business meeting was at once oponcd
with irayor by MIR, Beeclnr. latter fra,n tha
CGm,c,, ~ tho III rri,no wou fret roo5 ,u;,;oI @
IN ran1v h resoi;2ton nansoI NJ IN oa, ,no. m""
- - M.oFl5 ~ .ceo!utlo'! paphou y. wv tuet htGes
1ng. ana requesting 20 ne informed whether
!lynoush Church declined to tako part III q
formal conference with tho Clinton Ave-
nue Church. They wero dosirous Of bong
dorntnnn" ~ % Il was cnnsarod tnt tha;r ai
farmer commmn nton wos nraut1v ,asonnral ensas
ae toisi eG.aunacAt!ou mlu WIS eloatly MlsaPi,Ia-
4enoea. Ino conmnnication Was accepted. Alr.
Ueechor read reply Which ho had prepared, re-
luoBting, before Plymouth Church bo asked to
tage part in a counc]. to ha iuformed of tho
questions to bo discussed
E1aminins Committee apponted 10 inyesicato rusu
inc caae OF Hehry U. 1toWou, reporting that Mr..