The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-02
THE BATTLE WITH BOWEN.
POINTS MADE ny norm SIDES AT
LAST NIGHTS MEETING.

TO spread the sad story Before the Public.
The snow had begun TO fall Inst evening
as Mr.. Henry c. Bowen, his sons Edward, Clar-
ence, John, and Arthur, and DIR. Ward, Of the
Independent, started down Willow street toward
Plymouth Church. They walked In solemn
procession to the Cranberry street entrance OF
the lecture room, which they found choked up
with policemen, ticket takers, aud church mem
bers. who, having no tickets, were left out in
the cold. About twelve hundred persons filled
the inside Of the room, the audience having an
unusual proportion of men In II. Mr.. Beecher
was there early, flowing with good humor. just
as the brass clocks hands pointed TO half past
Mr. Halliday walked to the entrance, peeted out
into tho falling snow, and saw the Bowen family
on the steps awaiting n welcome. He bowed
them inside, and wheeling about face, whis-
pered loud Hush to the buzz Of curiosity
that followed the sight OF Mr.. Bowen and start
cd up the aisle. keeping up his warning all Of
the way up. lie was followed by the Dowens
and Dr. Ward. He pointed out to them the
front scat and they sat down.
Mr.. EdRerton Immediately organized the meet
ing, and the clerk, Mr.. Tilney, and Henry Ward
Beecher Howard helped to get ready the papers.
While the clerk and Mr.. Shearman were get
ting ready to deal with Mr.. Bowen, Mr. Beecher
said to the members that a letter had been re-
wn,"a cnmnc Tna a. dY.npv C""nni had
passed upon the invitation, and a form OF
letter had been prepared In reply This he read.
THE SPIRIT or THE ANSWER.
The reply In substance Ia that Plymouth
Church was too much occupied on the receipt
OF the invitation to answer sooner, although the
Andover Church did not appear to be aware Of
II. Plymouth Church had called an advisory
council to inquire into tho very questions on
which the Andover invitation was founded, and
doubts to which the Andover Church referred.
"Such. however, was the fact" the answer
SH%aosI Sad to learn They Se were % IN effect called
upon by the invitation to take from
The Andover committee found the church in
the very midst OF a searching investigation into
| should be called FOR, which Plymouth Church
was represented as unwilling to permit. The
council having advised the church to decline the
| invitation, they accordinely decline It,. They
| ask II any one In the Andover church has knowl-
edge OF any facts or witnesses to facts bearing
upon the subject Of their recent letter, that, In
the name OF Christian fellowship, he make
| known such facts and nDmes 70 the committee
appointed by the recent council. The influential
| position and wide relations Of the Andover
| The letter continues You will rejoice with US
that by the clear, ample, and unanimous deliv:
| to the removal of all obscurities ana misconcep-
tions, and TO the complete satisfaction OF all our
| OF this church and the innocence OF It's pastor.
While Mr.. Beecher was reading, Mr. Bowen sat
| with folded arms In his pastors shadow, which
|
from the platform. He kept mis- head bowed,
not looking once even at the feet OF Mr.
At the letters close. Mr.. Deecher moved that
| It be sent as the church's answer to the Andover
| invitation.
Mir. Shearman, before the motion was second
| ed. sid that the church committee appointed
to present the case to the council were strongly
| inclined to the acceptance OF the Andover invi-
| tation, but the councils committee were ve-
hement AGAINST 1t, because Of its violation OF
| with great reluctance had agreed TO adopt the
councils view. lie was willing TO waive per-
sonal objections. The letter was adopted unani-
| mously.
GETTING BACK TO business.
Nov we will return to the business Of the
road the preamble und resolutions adopted on
Friday night sum moDing Mr. Bowen before the
MIR. Beecher suggested that the questions be
asked BY the Examining Committee, aud when
tpey were through that Others who had ques-
tlons TO ask should send them In writing to the
platform.
paper in his hand, said that be had Mr.. Bowen's
written statement thoie, and that he would read
itif tho church desired. IL would take about
an hour to go through II. The statement con-
tanned the allegations against the pastor.
No one asked 10 have the document read. and
Mr.. Shearmnn moved that the DOCUMENT be
PLACED on n!e ana c6hsldered as read llaue hterl
and that the further disposition OF II De left &c
tho clerk with power. There were some legal
questions as to its publication on which the
clerk should take advice. The motion was car
-'ad.
Mr. b5wen. and next TO Mrs. Beecher, who kept
her face turne- fun on Mr.. Bowen. Next to ne, nel
was Mrs snrs r % Bowsn o1oS was anHed Di
Ss Sons and by b.. wm lie Sracsd himsei
up as Mr. Tllney arose to question nun; .os.,.r,
Mr. 1ilney said, that az clerk, II Nas ssera neS "a
| for him to take the Initiative and IIteh SS b
feiring to Mr.. Dowens statement Oh '''' ~ ~
asked:
AnIqs s @.S ss G he s
Quire1 of already the hands OF kNanlntL
Committee the church wants ,hem all has 10 DO 4.
chuIea refuses to hear what hsa in Its ownhands 1t
no N RPSfn E8ao fie n1
opportunity to display disapprovaI OF Mr.
Bowen. one lady laughed boisterous Yah
applause added TO the uproar Of the moment
The Moderator demanded strict silence.
MIR. rney said that they wanted the facts only,
and all the facts. lie repeated the question.
RAEDfS0 An ANSWER.
Mr. Bowen-Mr. Chairman. ask your attention to
By his Tine my position" in this matter or ought
to be, well understood by YOU Your Examining Com
,he pastor rasY failed % aaa 4. CHANGING s9eiT tac
To- 10 mex hes Sa o me to meet as and an rss
iIa' EnfTw soInetll1s against Ihs mSIal character
direct reply The ssSTss asaias. me va;
ad sTndad direct q' reply il Sas mol y fsa tsaa
P.ope had The Impress Sn that had such knowledge.
Beeehers quit ane when caught and eornered could
consequences tal where they would. They tell me.
penalty Tor INV nuiscTeuon IN having once under pc
cullar circumstances OF c1eitcmont poured my conn.
dcnCc Into "leaky vessel
Mr. Bar fHrising TO IA point OF order)-Mr. Bowen
not invited here 10 read written statement lie
has given Us enough Of those already He invited
here to answer orally such question a. should be put 10
HIN pertaining to the lnsinuatOns ana accusQtons
tain6d la previous written statements Mr. Bowen
must know, citizen OF his intelligence must certainly
TINS reading written statement Is evasion Of the
purpose OF thus meeting trust therefore tnat he VIII
be required In accordance with the resolution which
we nave adopted to answer orally tho question pro
pounded.
The Moderator ruled Mr.. Bowen out of order.
and he took his seat.
Kosser Raymond moved to allow him to
pro eed.
This was the first time that Mr.. Bowen had
appeared before the church in the matter and II
might be the last opportunity they would have
to hear anything from him. He wanted to hear
all he had to say then ana there.
MIR. Deecher thought that In courtesy and
kindness Mr.. Bowen should be allowed to have
his own way In this matter, unless II should TAKE
too much time, or be manlfestly an effort for
| mere veIatlon OF pToyocation, which he (Mr
BeecheD did not believe. The resolution per-
mitting Mr.. Bowen to continue was adopted.
MIR Bowen continued reading as follows;
THE REST or THE STATEMENT.
| They fell on Mr. Bcecher a penalty for his guilt
| Your Examining Committee compelled me against my
win 20 tell them what was the reason formy silence;