The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-07
THE SPHINX SPEAKS.
Henry @. Bowen Replies to White
and Boards Plymouth Church
in Her Den.
HIS OPINION OF BEECHER.

HEARD PEOPLE sAY-TILroN's CHARGE
VERY oLD-HIs CONCLUSION.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.-To-night MIR. Henry C.
Bowen presented letter to the examining
committee of Plymouth Church, In answer
TO the grievances of Mr.. 8. V. w bite, a member
of the said committee. He commences by say
ing that the church once unanimously acquitted
him of slandering the pastor. AT that time he
was charged with talking too much. Now the
charge was that he was talking too
little. His silence was based upon the
tripartite agreement to bury the past and keep
silent in the future. He relates the substance
Of his interviews with Mr.. White, and says: ~
felt at first, as do now, that Mr.. White. the
examining committee and Plymouth Church
could be better employed in Investigating the
direct charges against the pastor, made in the
plainest language, charges embracing the crimss
Of adultery and perjury, rather than in Skin
mishing about in new fields to see II few more
persons could not be scared, or in Some way
my more than 70 years connection with
Plymouth Church, have heard many a sad
sIory from many s1 b Lea some ts TOT oss 81
earthly friends, and some for the loss OF charac
ter, greater loss than all. May God forgive me
single case thus presented. But for this doing
and that only, assert, have been uncere-
committee, land here and now most solemnly
declare that there is no other basis
for Mr.. whites grievances against me.
against me, after hearing me at
this time, remains TO be seen. But let me now
ask few questions Who comes here to quote
against the pastor? Who says that have ever
once in any way, except by silence, injured
any charges against me? If so, has he ever
brought them before this committee? Others,
charged Mr.. Beecher with both adultery and
perjury. They have challenged an investiga-
ton in court or council, and
HARDLY A WHISPER
has been heard in reply. Where was the valiant
Mr. White all this time? Where is he now?
Dare the gentleman, or any of you, summon
these accusers into a court of justice and there
demand the evidence on which these charges Of
adultery and perjury against MIR. Beecher
NADER If he is absolutely innocent why do
you not act as if you believed it, and thus put
an end to this horrible scandal? II
he is pure man here is the
straight road out of all the difficulty.
You have, unfortunately, Ia my opinion,
there is one too many in Plymouth church at
one end or the other. He does not state that at
one END Of the church stands a man openly
charged with adultery, perjury and hypocrisy,
and at the other end a man charged only with
propose e s 10 srraien and Faithfully t tTy one
charged with the awful crime of adultery, but to
drag before you man who by silence has
that he did know something about Mr.. Beecher.
Such evidence of justice, impartiality, brotherly
spectful consideration. was long ago told that
1t was the secret Intention OF Plymouth Church
70 destroy me. II possible, and thatI was, in any
could not then believe this, but 1t now appears
that others had better information than my
evident to me and others that this seri-
Gus threat would, sooner or later
dones The Following tells the the" whole - story y:
From that day to this have been wickedly and
Indignantly assailed in my business affairs All
sorts of crimes and misdemeanors have been
charged or limited at, and have been held up 20
the world as a man totally unworthy OF respect
charges or insinuations / pronounce totally
false and their authors slanderers, and
HEREBY CHALLENGE PLYMOUTH
church to appoint its own committee to inves-
tigate openly and vigorously my words and my
deeds, either in out of the church. from the
day of my birth to the present hour. am ready
for trial. 1 do not propose now to give In detail
the facts which have come to my knowledge,
or incidents, disclosures, and confidential COM
munications which have, from time to
time. been presented or communicated to me
in regard to the character of Henry
Ward Beecher, to his dishonorable conduct in
business affairs, to his treacherous treatment OF
friends. to his breaking of written covenants, to
his untruthful statements in court, to his dodg-
ing all through the Investigations into his con.
duct and character TO his st0lid indifference
when unjust charges and malicious ISLANDERS
have been thrown out against particular
Trajectory uttevances in regard to what
he characterized as hodge podge
council. composed of wolves and foxes,
al one time, he said, he had never positively
objected 10, bat In regard to which he did on
save TO o Mh and na
at his coarse abuse and slanderous charges OF
perjury, uttered boldly and publicly In
his own lecture room against an honest
Christian woman who had dared. she
alleged, to speak the truth concerning him.
With this brief reference to the matters which
have had an influence In forming my judgment,
Will now hasten to tell you frankly my con-
illusions in regard to the character OF the pastor
Beecher quite intimately since the day OF his ar
rival In Brooklyn. have been acquainted with
him socially and privately, In church and In
family, in business matters and In religious
matters. I have heard attentively, but with