The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-19
BOWEN EXPELLED.
Final Hearing Of His Case by
Plymouth Church.
THE ACCUSER's LAST WORDS.
A Resolution of Accommodation
Passed Unanimously.

Henry O. Bowen was expelled from Plymouth church
last night by the unanimous vote of the members who
thronged tho lecture room. II will be remembered
that on Wednesday night wock whom tho revolution for
his expulsion offered, his counsel Dr.. Ward, Of
the Independent obtained an adjournment until last
night to afford his client opportunity to prepare
argument, whereby he would show cause why tho
resolution should not be passed. This was granted,
and therefore the lecture room was filled yesterday
evening, a. also the parlors tho sdo by per-
sons DESTROYS Of seeing the last OF this contest Mrs
Becchor, with her daughter n-law, present. but
Henry Ward Beeoher was absent
Shortly before eight o'clock Clarence and John
Bowen entered and TOOK up in 'front.' directly op
posite the Modorator's desk. Henry G Bowen and his
counsel did not put in appearance. Amer tho arri-
val OF tho Moderator, Mr. y. N. Edgerton, the pro-
ceedings wero prcfaccd with prayer by Mr. H. b.
White, after which tho minutes were read, amended
and approved. Then s. v. White moved that tho
resolution for expulsion be- taken from tho table,
aud Il 30 ordered. A. this moment Clarence
Bowen stepped up to the Moderator and asked him to
which OF the gentlemen in the absence OF the clerk
Mr. TiIney, he should hand communication. Mr.
Edserton Indicated Mr.. II W. b Howard the proper
person, and TO hum young Mr. Bowen naudcd large
package and withdrew moment Of silence ensued
TO tho contents Of the package which, according to
Mr.. Bowcn's accompanying note. was statement OF
the why tho Church should not cxcommuni-
cate him,
Mr. A. b Blair novel that this communication and
document be referred to the Examining Committee.
Mr. Sherman thought Il had better be read; but Mr.
Blair pressed his motion, on the ground that Mr..
Bowen had often sent communications of this kind to
the church on former occasions and they never had
amounted to anything Furthermore, no bad sighted
the summons TO attend, and indeed had brokon tho
tacit agreement he had entered into at the last meeting
to appear and show cause for his retention in the
church This document might contain statements that
would dare TO utter In person. and that ought
not TO DO heard by the church.
Mr. Mckay opposed tho receipt of the document
and wanted the question put on the resolution but
Mr. r. ". Raymond thought that tho substance of tho
paper ought to be known, and Mr.. H. C. King was OF
the same opinion Alter further discussion on
the propriety of receiving the communication It was
agreed, motion OF Mr. f. G. Shcarman to read 1t for
iniormation's sakc
In his lengthy appeal Henry Z. Bowen opens with
preamble, in which he rcces tho efforts made for two
years TO effect his withdrawal removal from the
church He states that tho knowledge oil the facts
his possession became public without any fault OF his;
that he refused 10 dvulge them in order to the
honor Of a woman. He then comes to the discussion
of and rca charges against him, which he alleges
to be simply one of silence. he thus meets IT,
III my scnce 10 so great an offence, IL 10 an offence
not recognized in the Old Testament or the Now, It
being nowhere Lard down in tho Bible or suggcs ed
duty that the man who has knowledge OF the sin
OF neghbor Obliged to publish and prove It If il
be offence, H. is one not recognized IN any code of
mos experience thai one person becomes "a some wav
cognzant OF IN offence committed by another, which
would, II published and proved, consign him 70
prison, but which, for some reason or other ho
thinks IL not to mako known. l have had
more than one such case in my own experience, and
tainsd In my service cmploy6 who had robbed me.
No church. SO far US know, accommodated .
member for such conccament and II is IN itself no
recognized offence
Mr. Bowen then treats what mar DO termed de.
veopmcnt of the chargevlz, that his silence Is pecu-
har-First, lnasmuch as that II he has no Informa-
ton, Lc ought 10 say and thus clear Mr. Becchcr;
secondly that he has he should give It to the CON-
He meets I'M dilemma by saying that he should DO
but too happy for Mr. Becchcrs sake, to say he had
no information, 4 such were tho case He nrmly DO.
church required him 10 divulge It. For" says he
.Fyrst-The information GAME 90 conldentiay and
from such source that could not honoraby give IL
to tho public.
s.Second-It would be terrible blow to woman whom
% mot know but XII would
tainy blacken II not fatally blast her reputaonal
greater than that Of lie
formation TO any other womans confessions long
IL had neglected to inquire about Mrs. Tltons
icssious nearly dozen different people.
FourfA--Bccanse, when became evident to me that
tho object Of The officers Of Plymouth Church was NOT
the purity OF the church. but the shielding Of It's pastor
Il followed that could not, without becoming tho
party 10 iarce through their agency sock tho OK.
posture OF tho truth. even II had been at liberty
10 do
Ho then goes on to contend that there are other
duties TO individuals, quite AZ binding those TO any
society however sacred. One OF these duties Is TO
screen offenders II rcpcntant and their fault be not
public scandal He adds that every one OF the
tee ought to and would have actod in the
as he himself had done; that the committees purpose
was and 10 not such knowledge Tor the purca-
ton OF the Church, but to nurc him. He would not
nor will he divulecs Hc knows that IL would be a
heinous wrong aud ofcnca to do So la thus acngan
thinking he says he lnboring under hallucinaon
Mr.. Bowen says tho committee further charges that
his position rs not logical, because be should have
spoken utterly kept silence utterly. He docs not
contend that IL Ia logical but poncdiy rctorts that H.
that II scandalseckcrs OF their number who
told him, with thrent that he must either speak
leave; that the Examining Committee told him. through
the mouth ol MI BLAIR hat'hc did wrong IN not satis
tying Mr. White and telling all tho facts In his know-
edge The appellant then asks why Mr. Pratt did not
tell him to DO SILENT unless he could deny his knowI-
edge and why the committee did not act in like
In summing up the reasons for the course pursued by
him, Mr.. Bowen says:-
III was TACT that had received from woman
whom had every 10 believe, full confessions oil
And, In dong so, followed Tar possible the
advice OF the committee refused 10 20 further.
NY refusal right BY 1t spared a
wonsns fame. Under these circumstances
that / believed Mr. Bccchcr to be an adultcrer, per-
jurcr and hyp. critic; and u was the confessions had
myself received that convinced many years ago Of
Erst1It was true that / had received such COMES
sionA
.Second-You advised me 10 keep still, II IL was
true; but the contrary
TAird-I followed tho line Of your advice, obeyipg