Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1876-02-11
,su,. BowEN.s PROPOSITION.


-
When Henry c. Bowen submitted his
to the Examining Committee Of
Plymouth Church a few evenings since.
10 was summoned by the Committee to
appear before them, for the purpose Of
,ubstan,iaiing by proof hia charges
Beeeher. Last evening. in re-
Spouse to the summons. Mr.. Bowen APP
peared personally before the Committee
with a written statement. which he read.
lie alluded TO the uniairness and irreg-
uiari,y Of the procedure. but said that
he wished TO assist tho Committee in
making the examination thorough and
conclu.ive. He then submitted the fol-
lowing proposition
81 propose that three men within the
congregational body be selected. men
distinguished for their wisdom and i'm
partiality--sneh. for example, as Pre.i-
dent worlsey. President Asa ID. Smith.
President fairchild. Judge Lafayette s.
Foster. the Hon Alpheus Hardy or the
Hon. julius II. Seeleye-men in whose
decision the world will feel confidence.
who shall DO pledged to keep all such
evidence secret. and before whom only
Mr.. Beecher and myself shall appear.
with our witnesses. and before whom !
will consent. without any reserve what
ever, ~ soon as they can meet. TO give
In full this evidence which has led me
TO say that I have no doubt Mr.. Bescher
10 guilty Of adultery. Hypocrisy aud per-
jury. ask nothing more than that
they shall fully consider the questions
which you seem to have before You.
whether I deserve ecclesiastical censure
for my prsvions silence In reference to
Mr.. Bsechsr. and whether I am now
justified by the facts in my possession
In making what you call my infamous
allegations and insinuations about him
made In response TO your wi demand
for a reply TO Mr. Whites grievances.
am willing to abide by the csnsurs or
approval Of such n body Of men II Mr..
Bsscher and Plymouth. Church will also
submit TO their decision. l reafirin ey-
srything I have stated about III. W.
Bsschsr In my previous communication
to You. and I am ready to substantiate
il before such q tribunal. Very respect
fully. II. @. Bowen"
Tho fairness Of tho above proposition
need not DO alleged. II will be seen at
q glance. Mr.. Bowen. for reasons which
do him infinite credit. refuses to make
known 10 the world the names Of parties
who he alleges have in years past con-
fided to him family secrets in which
Bsechsr was prominent as tho bstraysr
OF friendship and confidence. He has.
however. no faith in tho honesty or
fairness Of Plymouth Church or its COM
mittss, and does not expect justice at
their hands He proposes to leave the
question OF Bsecher's guilt to the arbi-
tration OF three eminent divinss; and.
frt having pledged thom to secrecy in
respect Of the evidence he will adduce,
appear before them with his witnesses
and prove the truth OF his charges.
He proposes to make q elsan' breast OF
II before these gentlemen, or. in his
own language. "to give in full this svi-
Ssnos which has led me- TO say that i
have NO doubt Mr.. Beecher 10 guilty OF
adultery. hypocrisy and perjury" This
proposition Of Mr.. Bowen will strike
every candid man as 4 just and delicate
mode OF arriving at the truth Of the ALE
cations against Beschsr without sI-
posing family secrets to the gaze Of the
world. But a dispatch informs us that
tho committee decided not to accept
Bovsn's proposition. because. forsooth.
eli was NOT q case between Beseher
and Bowen. but between Plymouth
Church and Bowen. and should
not be withdrawn from the church and
taken before strangers" Bowen then
asked for ten days in which to consult
papers and documents. dates and men,
orandums referring to the case. after
which he said he would answer any
questions that might Be proposed to
him. This the committee refused and
Bowen then withdrew. To the critical
reader and fair-mindsd judge Of actions.
the conduct Of the Plymouth committee
can have but nj Interpretation. They
propose to strange this Investigation.
opel Bowen. and ride rough shod over
every principle Of brotherhood. Christi
snity. fairness or decsncy. Bowen al.
isges his willingness to testify in the
caso. and only asks time to refresh his
memory by reference to private papers
In his possession. The committee re-
fuse this Just request. and demand i'm
mediate proof Of Bsechsr's guilt. This
Bowen declines to give. Ho intends to
establish his charges and wants time
enough TO collect and arrange his owl.
dsnee. We predict that IL Plymouth
church Is msh enough to cxpsl Henry
c. Bowen. the act will Be regretted in
saekcloth and ashes.