The New York herald., 1876-03-04
THE NIGHT ALMOST OVER.
Mr.. BeechcrS Opinion Of the Effect Of the
Scandal on His CSgrch.
NO CHARGES TO BE sMoTHERED.

Tho interest in the Bowen matter among the men,
bcrs OF Plymouth church TO have eliminated in
the meeting which Mr. Bowen attended on Wednesday
night The matter but little discussed last night
and the regular Friday night prayer meeting, which
preceded adjourned business meeting, which was TO
be followed by the adjourned meeting on Mr. Bowen's
case but slightly attended by members, although
the were all filed three-quartcrs OF an hour
before tho service began by women, most of them
young in years
Mr. Beechcr entered promptly at hafpast seven,
and his brother, Dr. Edward after appeared and
took seat upon the platform beside him. Brother
Hart being called upon to pray, did at great length
Brother Halliday preached prayer after the Scottish
Presbyterian style. Mr. Beechcr's talk on the
characteristic spirit and temper Of the New Testament
which, he said is book written by men who had not
a morbid spot In their souls They were round clear
headed, sweet souled men, that were elected by the
Holy Ghost, and their minds were broadened
and sweetoned and developed. In literature we say
"tbe style is the man." the artists soul
is in his canvas; and so in the New Testament,
aside from its essential TRUTH there is wholesome
personal influence from these 1t is full Of sweet
ness and life, as every who reads it in proper
mood discovers All the way through 1t you can't find
place where there Is whim. You can't lind
any talk about pleasures fleeing; nothing
about falling into despair when in trouble,
but "rejoice, rejoice, rejoice" all the
way through il when you are In trouble. tell you,
any of you that have had anxiety and trouble or been
lost IN the night can appreciate the comfort oil tho Dee
that the darkest night The night is far spent the
day is at hand" When man can say Lord nave rid
ded myself Of my trouble, have justrolled IL OFF upon
You;' when man say that the night is far
spent for him, the day coming fast" The preacher
pursued this thought for some time, illustrating 1t with
many examples and continued, And to you Christian
YOUR NIGHT is ALMOST SPENT,
and the day for winch you have patiently awaited Is
coming not trust, TO take away the sorrow from
you, nor the trouble nor the burdens nor the yoke,
but give you that inspiration of the Lords presence
that shall enable you to bear all burdens and all
rows, and all yokcs. At any rate, think the stream
that has ovcrhowed its banks and spread all across the
bounds again And although, like after all spring
reshcts, there Is spread oil the meadows the hh
and the slime OF the reshet, II is enrchng, as every
farmer knows, and IL Will bring good harvest after H.
Ana If We are drawing near, as | think. to
daylight remember that there nothing SO
bad for a stop thinking OF God
and the great world and think about himself Z"
Mr.. Beocner requested his people In conclusion, 10
pray for HIM at home. Said he, That's all want.
don't want you to overflow me with your sympathy.
don't want 10 carry any sort OF dolatry about with
me. am no better than any other sinner and should
bear my burdens What is man good for who can
be good only when fortune smess Who, when trouble
comes upon him, quirs up like plucked dandeiion-
goes out of this conflict with feelings oil lcnIency
toward all, with enlarged charity and Kindness
toward ALL II will give evidence that II has been God
that has been working in us to do His Will If this
church goes out with bitterness, and hatings, and
severity, II will show that its troubles and sorrows
have been unto death ana not unto life"
The services closed with the singing OF the hymn =
I'm pilgrim, I'm stranger; can tarry but night
THE BUSINESS MEETING
After the prayer meeting an adjourned business
meeting held, with Mr.. Edgerton IN the chair.
Brother Davenport offered brief and fervent prayer.
The minutes OF the previous meeting then read
and approved. They contain the following
m
The Examining Committee ol Plymouth church pre-
fer the following charges against Henry G. Bowen, a
l. We charge Henry C. Bowen with the violation of
his covenant with this church. in that while common
and report charged him with being in the pos
session Of facts inconsistent with the integrity and
purity oil the pastor and with having made statements
damaging the PASTORS character ne refused either
TO deny or affirm that he knew such facts or that no
/ had made such statements
| srEciPIcAToxs.-l That at an interview had between
! Henry C. Bowen and stephen V. White, member of
this church, held the latter part OF November 1875,
the said White privately and in Christian and friendly
manner called The attention of said Bowen the fact
that common had accredited TO him (Bowen the
authorship of statements mputations and insinuatons
against the pastor and the knowledge that the pastor
guilty of gross mmoralties, and that he (Bowen)
understood neither TO aiirm nor to deny having
such statements that he possessed such knowl-
edge and in the OF the peace and purity Of the
church he the said White, demanded that he, the said
Bowen should make such affirmation or denial, which
the said Bowen failed and refused to do.
Witncss-Stcphen V. White, No. 2l0 Columbia
Heights, Brooklyn.
2 That at private interview had few days later
between the said Henry G. Bowen, Stephen " White,
Moses X. Moody and Elmer II. Garbutt, all members
of this church, tho said White again presented the
same matter of grievance to the said Bowen in sub.
sLantially the manner with the expressed con-
of the other brethren present. and the said
Bowen did again fail and refuse either TO affirm deny
that he had made statements derogatory tho moral
character of the pastor or that he knew OF any facts
injurious 10 him.
Witnesses-stephen V. White No 2l0 Columbia
Heights; Moses X. Moody, No. $50 Willow street;
Elmer II. Garbutt, No. l0l St James place.
g. That the said Bowen having been, at the request
of said White, invited TO appear before the Examining
Committee OF the church TO listen TO a statement OF
the said grievance and TO listen 10 the advice of tho
committee and having, in conformity with such inv
taon appeared before the committee and listened to
said grievance, and having been admonished by the
committee either TO admit or deny that he was the
author OF such statements, imputatons nsinua-
tions to state fully all iacts within his knowledge
nurousy affecting the character of the pastor, failed
and refused TO heed such admonitiop
Witnesses-Stephcn " White. No. 2l0 Columbia
Heights: Edward Beecher, No. lS2 Macon street; !;
Samuel Is. Halliday, No; 6S Willow street, Henry NJ
Cleveland, Marcus W. Robinson, Thomas G. Shearman
and Benjamin r. Blair
H. We charge Henry C. Bowen with unchristan,
dsreputablo ana dshonorable conduct In the matter
OF his answering to the Examining Committee OF this
church, before whom he had been summoned at the
request OF stephen V. White.
SPECIFICATIONS having appeared before the
committec and having listened 10 the grievance OF
stephen V. White, the said Bowen requested time to
answer said grievance, which having been granted to
him he availed himself Of his privilege 20 again appear
before the Examining Committee, by sending tho
4th Of February 1876, an infamous accusation or in-
snuation against the pastor. containing neither facts
nor the Of any witnesses, and that said Bowen
caused this document TO be published in tho news
papers the following day, without the knowledge or
consent OF the committee
witnesses-Stephen V. White, Edward Beccher
Samuel b. Halliday, Marcus W. Robinson, Henry W.
Cleveland, Thomas G. Shcarman and Benjamin y.
Blair.
lII.-wc charge Henry Q. Bowen with equvOcatiOn
and falsehood.
SPECIFICATION having, at his own request OBJ
tanned from the church ten days further time 10 when
10 consult witnesses and refer TO dates documents and
memoranda in order that be might answer any and
all questions that might be put 10 him by the Examin-
ing Committee and having been summoned to appear
before committee pursuant TO the express instruc-
lions OF the church state any and every fact within
his own knowledge tending TO support the nsinuatons
or charges contained in MS communication OF Feb
ruary together with the OF all Witnesses and
10 answer sucn questions might be put TO him, and
having Somised to appear and answer he did appear
on February % 1875 Dut roused and failed to
any such questions and precpitatelY Withdrew IRON
the room without allowing the committee an oppcrtu-
nifty TO ask single question.