The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25

was already there. On the 1OnOWlng
| Monday, December %, 1870, in q CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Bowen, Mr.. johnson be-
ing present budget of Mrs. Morse's in
genious fiction, together with some other
gossip, was referred to and discussed, and
Mr.. Bowen, dismissing the subject, said
that as was to be for five years the
editor of the Brooklyn Union, he hoped
hereafter that would devote more atten-
ton than I had previously done to
Plymouth church. He instanced my not
attending service there any more, and
begged me- to be constant witness of all
| the proceedings, with view to make
them topics of remark. then informed
him that had net been at the church for
months past, and should probably no
more be seen inside its walls; whereupon
/ stated to him in few words, in Mr..
Johnson's presence, my wife's communi-
cation concerning Mr.. Beecher.
Mr.. Bowen's indignation at Beecher
was extreme. He arose from his chair.
talked vehemently, gestured angrily, and
said that Beecher must be made to quit
the pulpit. He then reiterated all the
charges that he had made many times
before, and said, in addition, that Beech
er had, in February, 1870, confessed his
adulteries to Bowen, and implored his
forgiveness with tears. The interview at
which this confession took place, think
he said, was held at Mr.. James Free
lands house. Il forgave him. said
Bowen. ''but he still goes on with his
crimes and criminal attempts just the
same as ever. You ought to proceed
against him instantly. Don't let him
preach another Sunday. If l we're as
free to take action as you, would expel
him from his pulpit, and he should ne> er
write word again for the Christian
Union" I then said: "Mr. Bowen,
why are you not still more free than |
am?" because said he. "Mr.
Beecher made confession
to me ard asked my pardon, which |
granted, and | cannot reopen settled
quarrel: but. if you will make a charge.
l will furnish the proof At later
period of the conversation. and after MIR.
johnson had left, Bowen rose to still
higher heat, brought me pen and ink, and
challenged me to write to Beecher, de-
handing that he should retire from the
pulpit and the Christian Union. 81 will
bear letter to him." said Bowen" 'sand
WILL SUSt0lu lAC uCnt1u0 Win PAO
There will be no resistance. Bcecher will
not deny, cannot deny, dare not deny
them.'' Bowen put his case with such
energy, and with such a passionate plea
in it, that would enable him, without
breaking his treaty with Beechcr, to re-
open his old warfare upon him, and ex.
cited within me such vivid remem-
brance of the wrongs which Beecher had
done to my own heart, that wrote a
draft Of a note, which I altered and re-
wrote and lett finally changed as follows !:
| DECEMBER 26, 1870, BROOKLYN.
Henry Ward Beecher:
SIR Il demand that, for reasons which
you explicitly understand, you immedi-
ately cease from the ministry of Ply
mouth church, and that you quit the
city Of BROOKLYN as a residence.
! (Signed) THEODORE TnroN.
il I put the above letter into Bowen S
hands, to be Immediately delivered by
. him in person to Beecher, and then went
home. During the afternoon Moulton
called on me, and mentioned to him the
occurrence of the morning ending with
the letter. He called my act foolish, ''be-
cause" said he, "you ought never to have
WTIllcH ~ lcttCT JL al Uuls IL WIllICus IL
ought to have had Bowen,s signature to
it as we'll as your own. You have left
him chance to play you q trick. You
have made your demand all alone. What
if he leaves you to support it all alone!'
Moulton then took q sheet Of paper and
entered on it the following memorandum
: "Brooklyn, December 26, lS70.--T. I.
: informed me. to day, that he had sent a
: note to Beecher, CT which II. c. Bowen
, vas the bearer, demanding that he
(Beecher) should retire fror. the pulpit
and quit the city of Brooklyn. The let
, ter was an open one. II. c. Bowen knew
= the contents Of it, and said that he
: (Bowen) would sustain T. in the demand.
: 3.45 p. ".
t A day or two afterward, prompted by
G | my wife's wish aud Mr.. Moultons ad'
1 vice, resolved that would send for Mr.
] Beecher to meet me at personal inter
{ view, either in their presence or with me
!. alone. dispatched to Mr.. Bowen . mes
/ senser with a notification Of this inten
( ton. On the receipt Of this intelligence
!. by Mr.. Bowen. which l supposed would
4 crafty him, he came into my editorial
!, chamber. and with look of desperation
=
e seen there before, and with An anger and
r passion to which / had never dreamed
J. him liable, and with the manner more Of
' an insane than of rational man, begar
$ to threaten me that, if in any interview
n might have with Mr.. Bcecher. either ther
$ or at any other time. should divulge t.
!. Mr.. Beecher what he (Bowen) had said
' against him. or should intimate that h,
4 (Bowenl had any hand in the letter
. requiring Mr.. Beecher to vacate his pull
p pit, l would be cashiered from tn,
o fndependent and the Union. and tina
|. the police should be called to cast m,
/ into the streets. After some words o
n indignation which uttered in reply, Mr.
: Bowen abre pity retired from the Office
= leaving me in as great state Of aston
E | ishment as had ever experienced. I in
p formed my wife end Mr.. Moulton, and II
Z terward Mr.. johnson, of this incident
Z concerning which Mr.. Moulton remarked
4 49, - Al HE. ~ L. 1->-A