Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-02-12
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
BOwen's Proposition TO, and Its Reiec-
tiOn by the Plymouth Church Ex-
amtning COmmtttee-BOWen
on Trial.
The Committees Requirements OF
Bowen, and the Latter's Reply
A Poor Show for the Price
of Admission.

New YORK FebrusTy lO.-Henry &.
Bowen, accompanied by DR.. w. II
Ward, of the Independent, and his two
sons, appeared before the examining
committee of Plymouth church to.
night, in answer to a summons to ap-
pear and testify to facts known to him
il reference to the charge against I'll.
w. Beecher. Bowen read Q statement,
in which he alluded to the unfairness
and Irregularities of the procedure, but
said that, as he wished to assist the COM
mittee to make the examination
thorough and conclusive, he would
make the following proposition:
/ propose that three men within the
Congregational body be selected, distIn-
guished for their wisdom and impartial
ity; such, for example, as Pres dent
Worlsey, President Asa D Smith, Presi-
dent Fairchild, Judge Lafayette s. Fos-
ter, Hon. Alphens Hardy or Hon.
Julius II. Seelye, men in whose de-
cision the world will feel confidence,
who shall be pledged to keep all such
evidence secret, before whom only Mr..
Beecher and myself shall appear, with
our witnesses, and before whom l will
consent, without any reserve whatever,
and as soon as they can meat, to give in
LulS ENIASllCc hGo 1CA LlC "
say, that 81 have no doubt Mr.. Beecher
is guilty of adultery, hypocrisy,
and peIiury.n / ask nothing more than
that they shall fully consider the ques-
tions which you seem to have before
you, whether l deserve ecclesiastical
censure for my previous silence in refer
ence to Me- Beecher, and whether l am
now justified by the facts in my posses
sion in making what you call "my inIs-
NOUS allegation" and insinuations about
him, and in response to your own dee
mand for reply TO Mr.. Whites griev-
auces. / am willing to abide by the
cepsure or approval of such body OF
men if Mr.. Beecher and Plymouth
church will also submit to their decision.
| reaffirm everything L have stated
about Henry Ward Beecher in my pre-
vious Communication to you, and l am
ready to substsntiate it before such tri-
bunal. Very respectfully,
HENRY c. BOWEN.
The committee decided not to accept
Bowen's proposition, because it was not
q case between Beecher and Bowen, but
a case between Plymouth church and
Bowen, and should not be withdrawn
from the church and taken before
blIdDSGkEs dwell EGSAu IL oJpCAACA
that he Wss now on trial before them;
but he protested against the injustice OF
summOning him for trial and expecting
him to answer on so short notice, ard
he asked for ten days in which to con-
suit papers, documents, dates and
memorandums referring to the case. At
the end of that time he would appear
before the committee and answer any
questions that might be propOunded to
him. He requested that copies Of the
charges and specifications be furnished
him. He was ready at any moment to
ans Wer all questions which referred to
the essential facts only. He was not
ready then for a formal trial. After
consultation the following resolutions
were adopted by the committee:
First-That the committee decline TO
accede to Mr.. Bowen's request for fur
tber adjournment.
Second-Tbat they now urge him to
state any fact in his possession in sup
port of the allegations that he hes made
against the character of his pastor.
Third-Fhst il he now declines to
state such facts, we shall, tomorrow
evening, report to the church the action
which has been taken, and ask for in
structions.
Mr. Bowen then said as the commit
tee refused to give him the necessary
time TO prepare reply, he must with.
draw. He then read the following:
{: Had you adopted my answer to Mr..
White, and then invited me as a fellow
member, in the interest of the purity OF
the church, to state the fact to which /
referred, that you might know whether
or not the pastor was good man, l
should have been obliged to ans yer
without further ceremony. But you can
not now put yourselves on that ground.
You tell me that my CASE is on trial,
and now have the right to insist on an
orderly trial. l was not ready to speak
during the years that kept silent, but 1
am now ready, when properly put on
trial before any proper tribunal or before
you, but / must decline at this notice,
and in this irregular way, to answer
your questions to night.n He again sp-
pesled to them, while leaving the room,
10 give him time to prepare q reply.
Mr.. Bowen then withdrew
The committee remained in session
for some time. After they had adjourned
il was stated that the commit es would
on tomorrow evening present veT-
bdtiTl report Of the proceedings in the
case of Mr.. Bowen 80 the church at ite
adjourned annual meeting.
Two Children Drowned.
NEW HAVEN, CONN, February H.