New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-05
MIR. BOWEN AND THE SCANDAL.
A REMARKABLE LETTER FROM TIE REV.
GEORGE B. BACON. ID. d.

A REMARKABLE LETTER FROM TIE REV.
GEORGE B. BACON. ID. d.
THE POLICY OF SILENCE PURSUED AT THE RISK
OF EVERY SOCIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL PEN
ATTY"
To tie Bdttor OF The Tribune
SIR: | should be sorry to believe that The
Conegatl7liSt is to be held responsible for the sent
ments all its correspondens-even OF its regular as
distinguished from its occasional, correspondents and
shoule therefore, entirely willing that paragraph in
the Last letter OF "Montagne" from Brooklyn in that
paper. should stand without criticism or comment, 10
carry such weight and make such impression as may
properly belong it, for two consider
atoms which impel a brief rejonder have no de-
sire to discuss with Montague" the comparative value
the rendered by any individual TO the Amerl-
can Congregational Union. Some men have given 1t
ssn. some have given ii time and toll and the aid
OF honOred against which whisper of reproaG
was ever heard There people who will 40 far differ
from Montague" to imagine that, for instance, the
of the distinguished Pastor of the Church OF the
Pilgrims who is now the President of the Unon or that
Of OF the Clinton Avenue Church who preceded
Dr. = stOrrs in the Presidency; or that of the Pastor
OF the First Church New Haven who preceded Dr. Bud
ingonha been OF much service TO the Union as that
OF the Trustee whom heperhaps invidiously"-seects
worthy OF pre-eminent honor, even If the name OF
Trustee Joined. twenty years ago, with
widely famous contribution Of ten thousand dollars.
have no intention disparage the value OF that gift or
OF any that have followed il but only 10 pro-
test thai such tons are insufficient themselves
determine the fitness Of TO occupy representa-
tive position the Board OF Trust Of religious society
chiefly concerned in the alluson OF the correspon
dent to the recent unsuccessful attempt TO cast Mr.
Bowen OF the Board of Trustees. in and under
circumstances that would have made the action nvdOus
TO the last degree" The correspondent objects TO the
way and tine circumstances Of an act for which am
chiefly responsible. and the responsibility for which
have not slightest disposition 10 evade suppose
understand his meaning and that shall do hun no lnus-
II interpret his language by the more explicit
and mpuatons OF some OF the other papers
as of The Adpdnce which comes most readily
To my notice with this 1--WE think the Congre
gaona Union did exactly right in refusing TO be dragged
into any premature implied verdict upon the case 1ist
now before court" Unless the correspondent ojec
ton the way" and to the circumstances" of my act
means Just this have not the emOtest suspicion as 10
its meaning
Acting upon this presumption desire 10 once
for all that criticism does not properly apply.
certainly hold explicit and pronounced convictions in
regard before the court; Dut d1d
not once sude these convictions at the meeting OF
which the correspondent speaks nor did say anything
from which my convictions might have been inferred or
guessed all necessary las my honored father has
recently THE TRIBUSEl TO put oneself on either
side OF just before the court in order 10
be able to form opinion 10 the proprey OF choos
ing TO representative position the Trustee against whom
I voted. And In confirmation of my statement need
only add that two years ago. long before there was any
case before the court seriously considered the neces
sity Of the which adopted at the recent meetng
that at that discussed the expedency or that
course with brother minister in Brooklyn, who suggest
ed no objection 10 IT, and whose name, II should men
ton H. would am sure, command from Montague"
Difference which mine Of course cannot and that Id
personal interview with the Trustee whom the proposed
action most concerned, told him frankly just what
proposed and why proposed 10 do IT, At that time
my Judgment was overrued by counsel which thought
iser than nv own At the next annual meeting lone
year ago) had just returned from years nvahdism
and absence and could not conveniently act Is year.
the same reasons in force which mad existed Two
years previously and in Judgment they nae increased
urgency And although have stated these reasons In
negative way through other journals it may be we in
order 10 secure more complete understanding OF the
matter (which has awakened widespread interest 10
state them in positive and more detailed FORM
Ills not necessary for back so far IN the history
OF the Congregational Union, as TO bring up PRIOR AZ
tempt, (made many years agol 10 enmlnaoe 'nS Same
Trustee from the Board of Management because tnae
attemp was not only like the present one, unsuccess
fu" but il was 80 indirectly planned and managed tna'
il escaped general public notice even az the Inc VI ~
occurrence. / suppose that attempt was pro"p'ou y,
motives OF general prejudice and dislike on the part v,
some OF his fellow trustees, for which they they snou
choose could give satisfactory and sufcient
Setting aside any such general grounds OF preudSe anu
disike-whch may still be largely operau'e-uieio "i
definite and explicit grounds on which my recen' "o'o
fnent can be Justified and which are wholly ihdepene
Of my personal convictions concerning the case just
now before the court" parties in the case Justine"
before the court cannot be right One OF them Is wrong
So far as concerns the Trustee whose illness Tor repro
sentative poston IN the management OF religious so
ciety ia under discussionit makes no difference whch
is rgtt and which is wrong. He allows tne PuoNo ~
believe that he knows all about the matter when now
on trial He told me In tho interview to whcn nav
referred that he knew all about It," IL no does NC
know, either that his pastor good man or tha ne
an nfsmousy bad man. II he knows that ms pastor 70
good man wrongfly accused, and sits si ana III. "
word or gesture helps TO vndicate that
he "a not man TO represent me- at east-wnoeve. ei1s
he pepresents-n any position which my vo'e '. and
he knows that his pastor is bad man, and si's sun ~.
not by any manly word or open act helps 70 pu' .
from the position which, In that case every nou ~,
graded and profaned nay, more, receives irom ni -.
bread and wine of the Lords supper while he KNOWS
the hands that break the bread and MI the cup
they are on this hypothess-then lie IL not man
will yots for as the occupant of Representative
In religious society, nor man to whom ca" w,,nsH
give Christian fellowship social recosnon =,
way 10 treat man of this kind, rs u seems ~ mo
make him feel that the policy of ence' under Gun,
I'D at