New-York tribune., 1876-05-19
THE PROCEEDINGS.

,i NJ poocber was occupied with lecturing en-
gacements Mrs Beecher, Mrs. Col Beecher' anu ~
Edward Beecher sat near the PLATFORM 49,, -u, -
represented by his sons, Clarence ana "Iatn no"un
rW EdgertOn acted IS Chairman iHo 0i'iN' '' -
nov was absent owing TO Illness
v white moved that Mr.. Tilney's resolution, that
Henry c. Bowen be examined, be taken froD the 'aoie
re resolution was read and Clarence Bowen handed the
art clerk two sealed envelopes, and followed by his
orotber immediately left the church.
Mr White moved that the long communication ent-
ued An Appeal Plymouth Church." be referred to
,no pxar,uing Committee without reading Another
oorhor moved that it be read L. S. Blair said the
Cbunb had had experience with such commune tons
Mr Bowen had tacitly promised to appear himself In
stead be sent this communication which possibly con-
taned what Mr. Bowen would not utter If he were pres
ent. what nobody would utter for him. Moreover it
might contain an afront the Church Previous COM
munications led them 10 expect this.
Mr. Mackay said he tired of referring these mat
ters to committee. They had referred Mr.. Bowen's
communications and his to committees, and had
had them referred back ad RauseGm. This last would
not be referred with his consent He wanted the resou
tion voted Oh "nOw, here and squarely" 1t might be
nopr rst to move that the communication be not read
Rosster W. Raymond urged that the substance OF the
communication ought to be made known to the meeting
Henry W. Sage thought the communication was out OF
order and ought not to be received. Horato C. King
said the paper not read it was to appear in
the newspapers carpng critics might say that Plymouth
cureh did not dare read it therefore it ought to be read
sy Whito said that it would be well enough TO read
Mr. Eowens communication. They had been engaged
for six months with Mr. Bowens caseis good bad and
Indifferent phases Now they had got within four
columns Of the end, he wanted to have the end. Mr.
sbearman finally moved that the communication be read
for information, which prevailed, and Mr. Howard tho
assistant secretary began to read. There was laughter
when it was learned indirectly from Mt Bowens appeal
or protest that the lady involved was still living Ihe
meeting waited very patiently and tn little demonstra-
ton to the end Of the appeal which in substance was as
follows:
Mr. Bowen began by stating that he had known for
two wears past that members of the Church had
desired his expulsion He asked them to hsten Win pa
there only oAense charged against Mm-that oI
But Your committee have tried to put the horns
of dilemma assuming that there is sometlhg pecular
my silence They argue t9at eher nav Ur S.g gbn 1
n have such information, treat MI BteeheI un-
handsomely IN not SAYING so c ana tnopd or ntorma
ton owe Tito the purity OF the Church TO MAKE KNOWN
that unworthy pastormay be removed There sa snow
Of force in tns argument but nothing more II have had
such peculiar information OF MI Beechers gnl,t,
TO be shadowed by the suspicion Of it, when could re-
move l., woud gladly 90 So 90 h9t o. desIe @ . Els i
an tndT a it can possby be- toward man
who is trying in his defense destroy would
long ago gladly have denied that had the knowledge
imputed TO If could truthiuly have done so but
could not and therefore did not deny 1t.
But you then told that if had such knowledge my
obligations TO the purity OF the Church required me TO
dvulge it, deny this utterly For
First: The information came so coDHdentially and
from such that could not honoraDy gave IL 10
Second 1t would be a terrible blow TO woman whom
Ibid not think my duty to expose before The wofu
did not know but it might kill her IL wOnd certainly
backe If not fatally blast her reputaton-a loss greater
u third Because Plymouth Church did not need nfor
nation any others cCnfe so long as 1t had neg
leced inquire about Mrs Ttonsconfessons to nearly
dozen different people. ,,.-.
the object Of the officers Of Plymouth Church was not the
purity OF the Church but the She ding OF ITS pastor ~ oi,
farce through their agency seek the exposure OF the
Mr. Bowen recounted the obligations he was under not
oexpOse the OF the woman who had confessed 10
him, and the motives which led him finally TO tell the
facts 10 Mr. Pratt after which he says "Accordngly
gave the essential facta 1t fact that had re-
HeTe, fu confessions Of adultery with MIR Beecher.
said So And did right: And in doing So followed
a. far as possible the advice OF the Committee lreu5cd
to 90 further Ny refusal was right by II spared
vOmans fame. BY it did not injure you Your pastors
fame, winch could not be further injured so long
a. he neglected and refused before your investigating
Committee, and thus far before any other tribunal, 70
relatives and intimate friends by the woman who
has acknowledged herself his paramonr. Under these
circumstances / make further apology Tor my con-
duet in telling you that believed MI Beecher TO be an
Concession SaS lard myse as received that me
many years ago OF his guilt; for, .....,.,..
First IL true tha bad received such confessions
Second; You never advised me to keep still, II II was
true; but the contrary. -,
Foirh The fact given by me that had such knowl-
edge was sufficient explanation OF my previous silence;
and nothing else could explain it, only in this way could
resist the movement to expef me.
fgm My statement did not ujure the woman involved
and added nothing to Mr. BeecDeTs burdens, 50 long as
he was calous to the evidence which was kept out OF
court by b refusal to allow Mrs. On 10 testify ana 10
Dc reutied and which testimony 10 this day strangely
held back
After reviewing features OF his trial TO each sep
arate charge and aiming to prove that the trial had
been unfairly carried against him. Mr. Bowen closes
his appeal In these words:
! protest that / have had fair trial In
ms matter; that it was highhanded outrage
70 refuse 10 allow me TO prove that the so-caled
topcve them by any testimony pleased that was per
nnent ". IL would be an outrage now 10 eXPeI
then tell yog that d"t You o haSe no rSht 70 expel
me under tbis fourth charge Of SANDER, because
W y description, In the specification.
ScOnd because the onense specified slaDder Is not
Third Because the prosecution did not. until after
d. wss closed indicate IN what the supposed Sa-
bsDrta Because testimony TO justify the slander
1th "a. e,s was iaWiessly dlsallOwed.
.linr,.1 IN NsIse, IN It's main portion, mas not Deeh
srst ne committee and need t. refer only TO the
ciheSon which nothing but the old charge OF
snence and has been already sufficiently replied 10.
ulyuot proceedings began with threat to e1pe
INC sept silence las always had done, and now IL is
proposed to end them by MY expulsion because at your
by NJ anu under your promised protection las stated
ESnnsiy ny my reasons for believing Mr.. Beccher guilty
S 10 you that tins far treatment. And now,
Ti'.Ieh o. plymouth Church, my s in your hands
hs,ds esosDze tho disadvantage az which | stand
thnyn you, know that many VI you are
MMV'OIshy honest In your absolute assurance OF
far ,heeciers innocence, and that you, there
i,e' oesNe mat must be slanderer 10 have called
liln an adultetr. / know that you arc mainly a new
ts stseasfalon that nave not known since withdrew
y,h prominent service In this church. do to
Ne wn you how friendly and how intimate with
Iu beccner, nor how faithfully labored
.mnnk-iof Plymouth Church when II needed my help.
sui nave tender regard for the church OF my young
I've And shall have till die do not wish 10 be driven
H may nIrrei Nill . llu al.llI