The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-11


CONGREGATION The following was the resolution -
ana mssessa THAI be be and he hereby accommodated
DE-. coanaTvy
before the question was put DR. Ward arose and said
ina. on behalf Of his ellen, he would ask for an aa
cause why this resolution should not
os be-. adopted he remarked in support
tees chairman tor some ntmation OF what the re-
ports character would be- IN order that he might have
been ready TO reply some measure 20 II last even
ing Mr.. Pratt told HIM that no did not think il
would be proper to give any such information
felt that Mr. Pratt had altered his mind so far as the
prosecution was concerned. otherwise the Examining
Committee could not have made such supplementary
report or drafted such preamble and resolution.
i This declaration, however SIR SHKAnMAN arose to
reiute. He denied having received any informa
| committee.
Mr. RAYMOND asked how much time Mr.. Bowen or
| his counsel would require.
Dr. WARD replied that he would not want more than
| o week
Mr. sHKARxAs to explain the fact Of the rcsolu
tion having been prepared beforehand. He stated
that he had not known tho decision OF the committee
but Judged what It's report would be from the
stances of the II the report had been IN favor OF
Mr. Bowen tho recommend ,tion would have gone into
! the waste paper basket without word
NE r. Z. DAVIDSON was IN favor OF granting DR..
Mr.. MCKAY opposed It. Plymouth church. no said,
was combination OF forultous circumstances moro
than any other church in tho universe, and IL could
not afford 10 let tresc charges go any longer I'M
punished Mr. Bowen ought to be made to face tho
This proposition was followed BY much stamping OF
feet and cappng Of hands, which were rcpressed by
the cxcrtons Of the Moderator and by Mr. Mckay who
cried, stop stop; behave like Christians"
Mr.. II. G. KING wanted to give Mr.. Bowen time, SO
that would not appear as II the church was entering
"a snap Judgment" Besides, account OF the storm
there small congregation present and II was de-
srable that full vote should BIO had upon the ques-
tion
After further discussion II was finally resolved
that when the meeting adjourned II should adjourn to
meet on this night week Tho understanding that
nlS M TINA la MI 10 nr War
prepare his reply to the report and the resolution
motion was next made advising the Moderator to ask
Mr.. Bowen
~ WOULD INERT MIR. BEEcHER
and Mr. Pratt rs no had formerly proposed and there
relate to Mr. Bcecher all he or had heard against
his moral character. This Mr.. Bowen. through mis-
counsel refused to do adding however that he would
NEE. Mr bcecher IN presence OF third paftyFrancs
Mr. Blair asked II there was any special reason exist
ing now against meeting Mr. Pratt that did not exist
when Mr. Bowen named him as the third party 10 the
Dr. Ward replied that during the absence OF himself
and Mr. Bowcn's sons from The city Mr.. Bowen had
this nterv,cw and informed that there was some
thing against Mr. Pratt This led him to withdraw his
confidence from that gentleman. In fact he learned
that MT Pratt was nothing moro than tool of Mr.
Beecher (t0nsternaton)
A voice in the body OF the church demanded, .swhy
then, did you select Frank Moultonyn
DIR WARD--"Ask Mr.. Pratt.n
Mr.. s. v White asked what tho bond between
Bowen and Mouton that the latter should be selected
10 hear the statements instead OF Dr. Ward
DR.. wARD-Respectfully il is none OF your business
II Is the business OF Mcssrs. Bowen, Beecher and
Pratt
Here several members or the church jumped cx-
ctedly TO their feet and concndcd for tho floor which
was finally given to MI. X. W. Raymond.
Mr.. RAYMoxD-I call upon Mr.. Bowen hero and now
to name the author OF those assertions.
cheers from tho assemblage The Efforts OF tho
Moderator failed tosupprcss Il, and it only when
Mr. Bcechcr himself arose to speak that order was
stored
MR. nKRcurR's SPEECH
Mr. BExCHER-I don't know whether Mr.. Pratt win
think Il necessary to anything, and there is but
one single expression which fell from DIR. Wards
lips which take exception to-namcly, that he
was informed by some unknown counsel that Dr.
All expression as that; for, although Mr. Pratt and
are personally good friends, for many years ! have
our ideas Of the policy Of the church From the first
day on which there was any trouple in the church
this hour have never opened my lips to Mr.. Pratt
way the other this subject, and yet
have spent months together at the Twin Mountain
House in daily converse But have never consulted
with him. never talked with him. and the very
first conversation ever had with him the subject
after two weeks Absence and in regard to this
matter OF Bowens conversation with him. and that
which urged him TO do then, no declined
Dr. wARD--I didn't mean to say, Mr.. Chairman, that
Judged Mr. Pratt to DO the tool Of Mr.. Beechcr.
Mr.. kixG-You said so.
Or. WARD--I believe did use the word
Mr.. KxG-Give tho author OF the statement
DR.. WARD--l will give you the author by and by.
Mr.. RAYxoSD-Give the author where you gave the
accusation, sir.
concerned
Mr. RAYMoSD-was 1t not Francis d. MoultonY
After a considerable cross examination from men,
bcrs OF tho church, and repeated whispcrings to Mr.
Bowen Dr. Ward declared he did not know who the
author was.
Mr. BKrcHER-If you don't know It, how can you say
II was not Mr. MouItons tLaughter)
Mr.. SHEARMAS-Wl you ask yonr client II It not
Francis d. Mouton or his counsel.
Dr. wARD-I don't know who Is Mr. Moultons
counsel
Mr.. KING with warmth,-pon't let US have any
.tNr~ Ian Inn vxtt tlafv tkA
Dr. wARD--l don't know that will tell that to-
night tCrcs OF you don't know? Let US have it,
DR. WARD don't know the name Of the gentleman
on whose authority Il was given won't 70 the coun-
sol today 10 find out but he did have II that
and asked him tor the author He told me he had the
card and that he would look up and give to
me. went to him today and found he bad not
This announcement was hailed with dcrisive laugh
ter and cries Of "who Is III" Dr. Ward replied that
he did not feel under any obligation to tell who tho
man was from whom he heard il or from whom Mr..
Bowen heard IT, This appeared to provoke very many
OF the members and they gave vent to their anger in
demanding that Mr.. Ward be elected. Mr.. Raymond
having finally obtained the floor stated that the church
had listened very courteousiy 10 Dr. Ward up TO that
point, but he proposed that before that gentleman
be permitted to speak further no should purge
himself from tho contempt incurred BY making
cusation against member OF the church and then de-
cining to give the name Of the person from whom he
said he had received them. Dr. Ward could take
The %' o. Inc III by ~
charge and avoid all tho responsibility Of H. He
had put his stamp upon the lie and he must give the
name Of the person from whom he received II or DO
considered the author himself.
Dr.. WARD stated that when he obtained tho name Of
the gentleman who had made the charge from counsel
he should DO happy to give II TO the church at its
meeting
Mr. Bcechcr rosc to speak, when Clarence Bowen
Jumped up and called out cxctedly, "Mr Chairman
He called TO order by the Moderator. but persisted
IN saying Just word" Mr.; Beecher yielded The
floor to him. and he went ''AlI that wish to ask
Is that Mr.. Beecher go with my father here and
FATHER
all that he knows and let Mr.. Beccher come back on
the platform and tell tho members Of this church all
that he knows.
hints that Mr. Bowen not likely acQulcsce In
aught that Mr. Beecher might saw from tine platform
even after the meeting
Mr. BEEcnER stated that during the time Bowen pro-
fcsscd have the secret in his kceplug he had
thc latter's employment. had pecuniary difficulties
with him alter leaving. and these had led 10 several
tcrviews between himself and Mr. Bowen, at not
OF which had The question OF his moral character
boon alluded 10. And after prolonged interview
with Bowen at the house OF James Frceland, where