The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-26
BEECHER IN ms DOWNFALL.
mr.. Boweu- Reasour for not Fully Exposing
the Aduiicrou-. Perjured Minister.

No other man was more active than Mr..
Bowen IN founding Plymouth Caurch OF In CALI
ing i.s p3 s,or. and no man more liberal aud en-
thus.astio In providing TOR 1t and supporting II {;
ami no lau felt greater ptide IN its brilliant
pastor tuan ~. AT last There came q change,
when Mr. Bowen mad occasion to withdraw his
confidence from his prstOr. The reason he gave
twp months ago IN communication 70 tue tx
AmiDing Coz ,nittee OF III. mouth Church, IN
Response t. tnpir demand and ~ their act II
was, after some DELAY. published.
For nearly as long a time as Mr. beecher has
been IN Ir .ukiyn have his intimacics with wo-
men ia his congregation oeen the occasion OF
remark and scandal. calling i3rtn occaslonal
warnings from his uest .riends. or, as Mr..
Besoher admitted bcf, re his council, advice
tn he widen the circle ot his resting places"
At last inform iion came To MIR. Bowen 50 fun,
80 explicit. aud 81" convincing a. 10 leave IN MS
mind no doubt Of W. Beechcrs CUNT. IL was
Mr. Bowon's duty then either to accept such
evidence as be nl-ut receive oil Mr.. betchtI
poUl en- ., Aud Coarral SO far rs possible the
fact Of his suii'. pr TO publish his guilt and de-
maud his degradation from tie pulpit
For ahundantly sufficient reasons, Ar. Bowen
took the former ana more consider
alto course. He believed MIR. Beeener a
penitcnt man. lie could hot expose To disgrace
Inc honor.G anu useiui and repeniaht pastor OF
his church. IN ich less the Zane Of ar.putauie
woman. IL VS. Their lUiC his dut to kee y his
knDNiedgr Greedy secret an never u let II
pass ms L.. Ini.ur diu for wears. with apsplute
fuitnfulnts- At in-t' on one memotaoln Christ
ma 10 y. a man OF rare ahiiitie-. one who was
for years on terms ct the closest intimacy with
Mr.. i'eecher, ana VINO had also been iur many
years MIR. Buwcns iight-h nd man, the chef
editor OF ms news apers aud his confidential
adviser; one II whom he had right L. speak
as frankly - 10 par.uer in business or To his
ne rest IelatNe-tnis man came to Mr.. Bowen
ana with great passion Oh irged That their pastor
hai rdined ms home. Mr. Bowen was indiR-
nant, and Tor he first time told him that he too
had known II another L SO Of Mir. Beccher
guilt. Mi. BJNen gave no names, and
supposed thlt hi confidence would be re-
spotted. But II was not. From the time OF
the pubii atom ny anOther-which he ala his
b - 10 prevent of MIR. liowen's knowledge OF
Mr.. Is ecuer'- unence, MIR. Bowen was placed IN
most unpleasant position. which he could IN
no way avoii. lie could not tell the whole Truth
without Basin. "A wouan's name. lie could
not Keep silence vi hout suffering the mos; ter
rule i-,lnrruuon himself. Mr. iieechrr was
already under the shadow Of evidence when
wOgl1 ~ 40 have destroyed any Que whom
the Amer AN people were less unNllng 10 con
denim. silence could never injuIe MN, bu
CuIlI un,S jure N,r Bowen, ana that he wOull
enIure rather than 1stroy that wOman's fame
win rut lc rum wa not needed to prove MIR
Bsccher's lLil so long as Largo lines OF evidence
IN another " li-knowh case were yet left studl
Ou,S unCOlectCG.
is undcr these circumstances that Plymouth
Caurch has done Mr.. Bowen the honor Of de
clarng rlat his silence renders hlm unwortn
Of IL, fe loNship. lie IA unwurthy II wofthines
requires that ne shall defend Mr.. Beecher's pur
ity aud lic to do It, MIR. Bowen believes ~ false
hood as little as in adultery.