The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-03
BEECHER vs.. BOWEN.
An Exciting Scene i'm Assistant Pastor
Halliday's Mansion.

An Exciting Scene in Assistant Pastor
HaIliday's Mansion.
An Associated Press telegram from
New York says: A very exciting and
unlooked-for denouement of the meeting
between Henry G. Bowen and the
Plymouth Church Examining Committee
took place tonight at Assistant Pastor
Halliday's house.
About S o'clock Mr.. II. G. Bowen, his
sons Edward and Henry Z. Bowen, and
DIR. Ward, publisher of the Lndepen-
dent, entered Mr.. Halliday's house, and
in about an hour the door was flung
open, the lights flashed, and loud and
angry voices were heard, the cause of
which is herewith set down in the words
of Mr.. Henry T.. Bowen
Since the receipt of the committed
letter inviting him to meet him, Bowen
has been busily engaged in preparing
his statement. On entering the room i'll
Mr.. Halliday's house to-day, Mr.. Bowen
found to his establishment q company of
forty or fifty persons assembled, en-
bracing the members of the committee,
the Chairman of the council in session,
and others. Among those present were
Henry Ward Beecher, who sat in cor
ner of the room behind the door, not in
view of Mr.. Bowen, his two sons, Henry
and William, Oliver Johnson, Beecher's
son-in law, the Rev. Mr.. Scovill, and
Benjamin F. Tracy. Mr.. Bowen being
called upon for his statement, presented
and read it. Previous to presenting his
statement, Mr.. Bowen expressed his
surprise OF such large audience, and
asked for the reason of their presence.
He was told that the committee never
objected to his bringing his friends
there. The idea was that Mr. Beecher
had right to bring in any friends he
cared to. The only objection was to re-
porters; that the company came with
the committees invitation, not Mr..
Beecher's. But" said Mr. Bowen,
Jr., Beecher is Chairman of the com
mittee." To this Mr.. Bowen replied
he had no objection, but the RESPONSE
Dility of publicity must rest with them
that he came there to present his state
ment to the Examining Committee, and
nobody else that he should decline to
give it to the press, and, if published, it
should be by the Examining Committee
and not by him.
After Mr.. Bowen read his statement,
continued the narrator, Mr. Tilney in,
CURED if he had any other facts to give,
to which Mr.. Bowen replied, "That is
all this evening"
AS Mr.. Bowen was about leaving, Mr..
Blair, a member of the committee, said,
81 protest against Mr.. Bowen leaving.
Mr.. Sherman said a" Mr.. Bowen, you
will not be permitted to leave the
ROOM"
Mr.. Bowen stepped toward the door
of the front parlor, when Mr.. S. V.
White jumped up and locked the door,
took the key and put it in his pocket
and as he saw Mr.. Bowen looking toward
the door of the other room, Mr.. White
called out, "Lock that other door - and
several men jumped toward it. Every
one jumped to his feet, but Mr.. Bowen
was too quick, and got to the parlor door
Just before several of the crowd got to it.
His son, Henry f., followed, rushed &c
the door, and called for the press, think.
ing that they were there.
Here Mr.. Henry c.. Bowen interposed
energetically, thinking there was going
10 DE IL row.
Mr.. Henry f. Bowen continued "My
father was in the hall my brother and
DR.. Ward were in the parlor, and got
on the stoop outside and called for the
press, and the Associated Press reporter
and another rushed up and Mr.. Bower
told them of the occurrence"
Then one of Mr.. Bowen's sons up
braided Mr.. White.
Mr.. Bowen expressed himself very
strongly in regard to the treatment h,
, received.
Mr.. S. V. White was visited, and hi
version is substantially this: "Mr. Bower
read statement of fifty-two pages, il
which he failed to give names or dates
1t referred to scandals of ten or clever
years ago. After reading few pages h
handed the paper to DIR. Ward. Thel
Bowen stepped toward the door, and Mr.
White desiring to prolong the intervie,
as much as possible, and being seate'
near the door turned the key, withdre,
t from the lock, and put it in mis- pocket
Bowen stepped back several feet, and
surveying the situation, saw q means @
exit by back door. He darted in tina
direction, upsetting chairs and othe
articles of household furniture in hi
flight. and ESCAPED from the hOuse."