Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-05
BOWEN ON BEECHER.
The SphinN Speaks at Last
= PASTOR AN tDULrERER PER



Henry c. Bowen yesterday sent to the ex-
| amining committee of Plymouth church a
reply 10 the complaint or 5. V. White. Mr..
Bowen protest against the maEner in which
he has been treated by the church for adj
herring hitherto TO solemn promises. and keep
silent In regard 10 the Beecher scandal. Two
ing too much, but was afterward ACQUITTED
OF wrong doing In the premises by full
meeting OF the church, after a searching in
vestigation. Now he was charged with talk
ing too little, and by his silence injuring Mr.
Beecher. He declares he has honestly aud
conscienfitiously tired 10 10 his duty faith
fully 10 God. Mr.. Beecber and the church
throughout the whole affair during the
trial. He was urged by a leading member of
The church to say something 10 relieve Mr..
Beecher, and end the controversy. out his in
slant reply then was that nothing could ia
ouce him for moment to consider the
matter. For more than q year past II has
been evident that Plymouth church secretly
INTENDS TO DESTROY HIM
out OF The communion. Mr.. Bowen then
prcceeds 10 speak out TO the following ex-
tent: Il do not propose now 10 give In detail
tie facts which have come 10 my knowI-
edge, Tor the incidents, disclosures aud con-
ndentlal communications which have from
time 10 time been presented or communi.
GATED 10 me regard 10 the character Of ii. w.
BeecheT; TO his diShonOra Die conduct Ia bust
ness affairs; to his treacherous treatment of
friends; TO bis breaking of item covenants.
10 his urtruthful statements in court; to his
dod9lr all through the Investigations into
bis conduct and character. To his Sioiid in
olHerence when unjust charges and mali
clCuS slahders nave been been made against
particular members OF his church; To his
recent contradictory utteTarces in regard 10
what he characterized as
"AoDGE -PoDGE COUNCIL"
composed OF wolves and foxes like Drs
Storrs and BIddington), which courcil at
ore time, he said, he had never positively
objected 10, but in regard 10 which, on an
other occasion, he did positively say. az
won won't have anything 70 do with it,"
and finally, at his coarse abuse and SANDER
inv A. =. N
publicly in his own lecture-room, against an
honest Christian woman, who had dared. as
she ai,eged, TO speak the truth concerning
him. With This brief reference 10 matters
winch have had an influence in forming my
Judgment, l Will now hasten to tell you
I1ankly what are my conclusions in regard
10 Inc character of the pastor Of Plymouth
church. / have known Mr.. Beecher quite
Intimately since the day OF his arrival in
Brooklyn. have been acquainted with him
socially and privately, In church aud I'm the
family, and in business matters and in re-
lisious matters. i have heard atteDtiveIy,
but with profound grief, what has bsen said
10 me confdentially against him. / have
felt my heart stirred 10 It's depths for dear
friends, who, years before the present scan
dal, were published sorrowfully begged nv
counsel as they assured me that their pas tor
and mine had
CRAFTILY BETRAYED THE SANCTITY OF
HOME,
the very charge long after presented to me
by Theodore TiltOn in regard 10 his own
home. never can or will be base enough TO
allow q single name to he bruited before the
word, although i am now ready to testify
10 the essential facts before any proper tri-
bunal. These disclosures heard with sal
heart and tried TO accept the evidence
brought TO me that Mr.. Beecher was grief
stricken and pendent. l have read much
Tat has been said for and against Mr..
Beecher in the public press. / have, with
utter amaZemeni, read and re- read and pen
cered over his published letters and written
concessions in regard 10 the serious accusa-
tions made against him. | have tried 10
weigh all the evidence which has come be-
lore me with judicial fairness and Christian
honesty. | have read the whitening charges
which have been published TO the world
against him. l have seen those charges
again and again hurled al him. and ne
calmly and boldly challenged to appear be-
lore any impartial tribunal 10 meet them
| lave seen him with all this cloud OF dark
ness gathering about him, apparently defy
ing public opinion, defying the advice OF his
life long friends, embracing the soundest
ablest, and best clergymen in the country,
ana seemingly defy again and again Ice
very God of Heaven himself To east him
down. Now, being summoned here 10 speak,
and TO speak the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth, / sOlemnly give it as
my unwavering opinion, la view Of ali the
iacts anu evicence presented TO me, that
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, without even the
shadow OF doubt in my mind, is guilty of the
IOcrlcy. This L say again, and before the
bar OF this committee, is my deliberate
opinion. and may be permitted to affirm
with no other than sincere desire TO do my
duty faithfully 10 God and to man. to the
church, and TO the world"
A MEETING OF THE EXAMINING COMMIT
was he Id at the Rev. Mr.. Halliday's house
yesterday afternoon, at which Clarence and
Edward, sons OF Mr.. Bowen, presented the
above communication, which was read.
Mr.. White then stated that the reply left
many questions for The committee 20 ask
and consider, and he wished to know. there
fore, If he (Mr. BOwcn) intended In he presenf
at the meeting.
Mr.. Edward Bowen replied that if the COM
tions TO ask, they would oblige him by Tor
warding them 10 his father.
Both OF Mr.. Bowen's sons then Withdrew.
When Mr.. Bowen's sons (after presenting
their fathers reply TO the committee) with
drew, that body continued its session Tor
about three quarters of an hour; during
which time IL framed and sent a letter To Mr..
Bowen, in which he is summoned to appear
befOre the committee on Tuesday evening
next, and give proof of the assertions con-
tanned In his reply 10 the grievances OF Mr..
WHAT BOWEN SAID ABOUT BEEcHER IN
1873.
Assistant Pastor HALLIDAY was interviewed
last night in regard 10 MI BOwen's reply,
anu said That Oh july -, l~IG, he had an
interview with Mr. Bowen at his (Bowen's)
residence, ana by his appointment, when he
made full statement of the facts as he sup
iosed them 10 exist. 10 the effect that he had
originally said things siandeTous of Mr..
Be echer; but he subsequently, Tetractei them,
and 1n writing had sOiemDly promised never
Ia repeat them. yet was believed TO have fire.
quently and nagraDtly violated the whole
tenor ard spirit of the agreement. Mr.. Bowen
al that interview had used the following
language:
i am the best friend Mr.. Beecaer has got.
Why, Mr.. Halliday, the last time / parted
from Mr.. Beecber put my arms around his
neck, and now / will be one OF ten men %
build the largest churches in BroOklys for
him, and support him in IL. / am ready to
shake hanCs with Mr.. Beecher. 1 wish he
would shake hands with me to-day. Il wish
you would tell him this. / will meet him At
his house, and Will shake hands with him
there"
During this interview, continued Mr.. Hal
liday, Mr.. Bowen repeatedly and emphat-
icalIy declared his confidence in and affsc.
ton for Mr.. Beecher, and that he knew of no
reason for Withholding from him MS conf
GenCe a Christian minister.
yReadiDg, Pa, is bad place for tramps.
An old maid OF that place recently married
one who applied for aid.
Prof Dana, OF Yale college, with par
ty OF twenty five, went on a short excursion
the other day for the purpose OF observing
some glacial scratches. One of the students
secretly made some scratches of his own up
m "A rock and calling IN