The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-11
EXPELLING MR.. II. C. BOWEN
AN EXCITING SCENE IN PLYMOUTH
CHURCH LAST EVENING.
sharp Passages Between Mr.. Beccber, MIR.
Ward. and MIR. Bowen-Mr. Ward Put
Out for Telling the Pastor he 10 Guiity.

Ward. and MIR. Bowen-Mr. Ward Put
Out for Telling the Pastor he is Guilty.
The Plymouth Church committee, oon-
sisting OF Messrs. A. Healy, T. M. Spelmsn, X. G.
Davis, Samuel Belcher, and - Pratt, appointed
to investigate the charges OF s. v. White against
Henry G. Bowen. reported at the business meet
ing of the church last night. Mr.. Beecher en-
tered soon after the opening OF the meeting.
and sat TO the left OF the door, hidden from
most Of the audience. The hall was but mode
ratey filled. Mr. Egerton acted as Moderator.
Mr.. Thomas J. Tilney, the clerk, read the re-
port OF the committee, detailing its numerous
meetings, the absence and attendance OF MIR.
Bowen, tho indefniteness of his charges, hts
apparent equiyocations, and bis unwilling
ness to substantiate the charges by re-
vealing the names OF bis informants or
the names OF those ladies' with whom ho pro-
fessed TO know Mr.. Beecher had held unbecom-
ing relations. The committee, therefore, con-
| sIdered that the church should innct on Mr..
Bowen Its severest penalty, that OF expulsion
Mr.. Pratt, Chairman Of tho committee, then
remarked upon the painful task that had do
| volved upon himself and associates In recon-
mending the penalty In question against Mr..
| Bowen, who appeared to be an accomplished
Christian gentleman. He com plimented DR..
| Ward upon his able defence Of MIR. Bowen be-
| fore the committee. lie brought every possible
point bear In favor Of his client except facts.
He built fine castles. but could not make the
ground for them To stand on
THE COMMITTEES FISDISos.
| The clerk then read the finding Of the COM
mittes as follows:
Whereas The said committee. having listened TO the
evidence adduced and the arguments upon e. have
Bowen suV of the rs Charge md 70
guilty % the second cns5ss 5s and 60
.pecincaton guilty OF fourth cnsrEe and specncs.
embraced IN Il. nrst specincatioh thereof and
wasrcas. BY such nndigg /, appear, tha, the said
With his CHURCH Of uncHrisian disreputable ana dis
o. rss Ss .S en
the the feiowsSip Of this church. N ' WV : '''
| Several spoke In favor OF immediate action
| upon the findings, urging that the decision OF
| the committee, be iDg;nDsl, no further evidence
| argument heard, and that II was useless for the
church to further waste Its time and energies on
| the question. Each speak received applausive
tokens Of assent, and notwithstanding the re-
| monstrances OF DIR. Ward there seemed proo-
ability Of an immediate approval OF the docu;;
| ment. Brother Sherman, however. tnterposed
| for delay, saying that the church. accord
ing to It's rules, could take further evil
a certain consideration was due Mr.. bowen as
| an old and faithful member. lie had rot been
made previously aware OF the decision against
| him. aud II was only fair to accord him a week 8
| delay, that he might at least present his com
menis uoon tho action of the COMMITTEES.
| Action was therefore postponed until the even
| Ing OF Thurs ay, the 18th inst.
DRIFTING INTO SPICY TALK.
Considerable discussion ensusd upon the un-
and Mr.. Pratt, and tell them what he knew re-
| garding his derelictions, unless Mr.. Francis ID.
witness 40 especially hostile to Mr. Beecher had
| been nsmed. DIR. Ward answered that Mr.
Bowen bad % been sdsissd ed y bis s sonnse not to
also a terninsrion OF Mr.. Bowen to keep the
- Nu.s.ll .A
nSms' from those who Old not sifs.d1 Know
them, and for ths. reason be preferred Mr. Mr..
heard something In regard to Mr.. Pratt that
caused him to lose confidence In that eentle-
| man, and though at hrst impressed with his ap-
p rent fairness and candor no had reached the
| conclusion that Mr. Pratt was determined 10
ssrdins him as the tool of Mr.. Beecher, he
would not meet him.
AZ ms Nr; Be9she, rose rose ana s .Md tnat 10 tne
each other they had not been Intimate. and had
on the contrary somewhat disagreed at times on
church policy also that he nad repeatedly met
Mr. Pratt for the last two years and had not dis
cussed the subject OF the charges either against
himself or against Mir. Bowen with him.
DR.. Ward apologized for using the word
tool" saying that II was hasty expression
White then asked br Ward why Mr.. Noultou
had been insisted on as witness.
| DIR. Ward answered, warmly, "I would re-
spectfully reply that 1t Is none of your bust
Mr Raymond demanded OF DR.. Ward his au
DR.. ". reolied that IT was Mr. Bowen,
counsel, b.t the counsel had obtained the inior
nation from another. He had called that morn.
iDg ON the counsel TO ascertain the name, but
tue counsel profess ed not to know IL, aud said
he would look for his card.
The name OF the counsel was then vehementl,
demanded by several, but DR.. Ward refused &c
disclose II. lie would, however, ascertain the
name Of the informant, and give 1t at the mex
meeting. Mr.: Bowen also spoke to the same
effect, also refusing TO name the counsel.
BEECHER AND BOWEN TALKING.
Mr.. Raymond animadyerted strongly agains
the evasion Of Messrs. Ward and Bowen.
Mr. Bowen said that he would at once NEE
out a witness on either side, but Mr.. Beecher re-
Piled eIcitedly that Mr. Bowen had years aRe
| become inimica to him because be would not "a
| low his sermons to be printed In the Independent
and that contrary TO Mr.. Bowens past state
| ments that he h alluded In his presence to the
charges against his moral character he mad neye
done SO, and tnat all conversations between
them had been strictly upon business. Or
senger sem 'SsSiU" came from % Mr.. Bowen asEins
him whether he would meet him unc
learn the charges he had heard against his IN ora
character. but he had peremptorly refused
"He is," said Mr. Beecher, rotten and treach
erous to the core, and was not to be caught II
any unwltnessed conference with him. He had
several opportunities To inform me OF tbs
charges al me nouses OF several persons where
We met TO decide on the tripartite treaty. but hs
| did not do So"
Mr.. Bowen said that he thought no one would
believe that he could make charges against Mr.
Beecher without good cause. lie believed Mr.
Beecher to be guilty, but penitent, and he hat
Ieirained Tom speaking against him unit
forced. You assert, said ..I. howen, speey
Ing to Mr.. Beecher, that the conversations i
our interviews were wholly of . business charac
ter. Did our three hours conversation at tn,
house Of Mr.. James Freeland touch upoI
| nothing but busnessi Z"
| Mr.. Beecher: mo, slrl"
| MIR Bowen: " say II did"
| 1t was then proposed that Mr. Bowen shoulC
name any one present as witness with whom
to at once meet Mr.. Beecher and Mr.. Healy, pu
| Mr. Bowen would not consent,
| On second request he said he would name
| peTsl II the meeting would promise in advance
| to accept him. 1t was demanded by several tha,
he should first name the Individual.
| SCENE OF EXCITEMENT.
short consultation snsued between Mr.
Bowen, his sou Clarence, md DR.. Ward, afte
which Mr.. Bowen said II am willing TO name
person who shall listen with Mr. Beecher to the
facts l have TO tell him, ana which he already
knows. provided the third person shall be re
strcted from disclosing what is told him. This
restriction Is not to apply to Mr.. Beecher. II,
may ten anything he chooses. ! name the Rev
Dr. William NJ. IaSior OF the Broadway Taber
.cle New York"
| Mr.. Raymond--I would like to ask Mr.. Bowen
two questions. Is the impartial listener TO b,
restricted from saving which Is rightY II Mr.
l}eecher SAWS something occurred aud Mr.
Secondly, VIII DIR. Taylor cOnsent2
lNa.aNH