, 1874-01-03
BEECHER-BOWEN.
Important Meeting Of Plymouth
Church.
a Defiant Letter from Mr. Beecher
Ills Definition Of Plymouth Chucca
Congregationalism.

NEW York, Jan. AT the conclusion OF n,
usua1 Friday evening przyer-meetine at
plymouth Church, Brooklyn, tonight Eli. sher.
man, Clerk OF the Church, read = comusun;e..
tlon Which had been received from the Joint
Committees Of the Church Of the Pilgrims .r,1
Clinton Avenue Church. after which Nr. Beecho,
1ose anu sa'd that hs deemed it not iuapp1o-
pr4ato to take some steps for the purpose of
MAKING REpLr TO TIE LETTER
He had asked some Of the brethren to drz,
up reply, and he had also drawn up letter c1
reply, which he would request Prof. Robe.
by the Chairman Of this meeting aud memb ~
OF the Committee. and forwarded to the Cor.
mittoes of tho two churches
TIE REPLY.
Prof. Robert Raymond then read = reD|y to
the communications OF the Committees OF tho
Church Of the Pilgrims and C;,uton Ayeers
Church. The reply admits the differences ".
tween the ConGregationa1ism Of the Plymouth
Church and other Congregational Churches, a.d
claims that tho foundation Of plymouth
tan Church 1asns:; Vas effected to protest ag.ns.
Minister'S aaG Whe had s1a cGaPeFsgo;ens
indignation among mcmters OF Congregational
Churches IN the City Of New Yo,k At tie tune,
plymouth Church has been governed bv
majority Of its members, while in neither OF th.
other two churches has ever been heard ths
,f sooe of ,El brotherhood IN open or called Assem-
Avenue Church snd Church Of tho Il rii.
grims in this controversy is characterized
as unwarrantable, and tho Plymouth Church re-
fuses to accept any further documents which
Ar, are not accompanied BY proof Of authority OF
gresationa Churches regularly and d.
hberately conferred and they decline in
my case to receive from nny church let
ters containing covert insinuations against
tile character Of any Of tho members Of Pv-
mouth Church. Plymouth Church does not de-
cline to join in calling mutual council, but will
await T. less dubious invitation. It claims tnst
Ilymoath Church can make rules for its OWL
government and still remain Congregational, ard
DECLINES TO WITHDRAW FROM coSaRE0AT1oSAI
FELLOWSHIP.
This reply was adopted and ordered to bs nigh
ed by the Chairman and members Of the Csm.
mittee and forwarded to thu joint Committees
OF both churches.
THE IowES PROTEST.
Mr. Sherman then read the report Of tha
Committee to whom was referred the protest
to the effect that the objections raised b7
Dow % against the report OF the Examining
Committee was without foundation. As be was
noe tried, he could not claim Official notice Of tbs
charges. He claimed that be had never thought
Of authorizing anything which had the appear.
A11(c u aA& aPN4oSJ- AA0 NVI14A4Lbt1 uAaAt lA
such statement. The report closed with 1eso
luton that the protest and the report be placet
upon the records, which, With the report, was
adopted
Prof. R. ". Raymond moved that the ectior
IT the last meeting, in laying upon the table the
Of Mr. Hal]idayin regard to the Bowen
natter, be reconsidered- After short DISCUS
non. this was adopted. Prot. Raymond then
Tered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the report Of the Examining Com
ittee and the statement Of the Clerk Of ths Church
the case Of brother Henry C.. Bowen b.
ntered upon the minutes, and, in view Of the facts
herein set forth, the charges te dismissed, and ths
Examining COMMITTEE DO discharged from further
OF the case.
This called out considerable discussion, ia
shch Prof. Raymond, Mr. White, and others
participated Mr. White, who preferred the
harges against Mr. Bowen originally. seized tho
opportunity to volunteer personal explanation.
,ut his intended remarks we're ruled out Of
rider.
The resolution was then adopted, and thu
Meeting adjourned 20 Monday evening, Jaa. 1G.