, 1876-02-12
Ietter From III. G. Bowen.

NV YORK February I, 1876.
Tonight Mr. Henry C. Bowen presented istter
20 tie examining committe of Plymouth CAurch III
answer 10 TN. ,yri.yanees of Nus. =. V White,
q member of s,id committee ne cuiihenC.u "
sayih, the church unanimously acqultted MN .,
slandering the pastor At tiht tlihS ne NAs ma ~
with taIk3nr t.so uinch now they charge that he Is
.alkru., too Lttle-too much silence upon the triiG-
rite agreement to bury the past and Keep silent ID
the future He relates the substance Oi interviews
with Mr. White He S4ys ielt AT hrst as / 90 DOW,
th4t Mr White the eN mining committee and Ply
mouth Church could De better employed II lnyesl-
eating the direct charge against their pastor maze N
the panest language, OF the crimes OF SiuIUef! anu
I ufriury ratlrr than skIrmIshiuS Spout IA new
fls Tn sae n few more persons eouti not b scared
or IN some way, draw, az drlfen into tiIe Hln','3
was long ago told II Was the secret intention OF
Plymouth Church 10 destroy me If possible That
was IN any event TO be driven from its oOInmunon
/ could not then believe this but now II appears
that others were better informed than myself FOR
more than year past It has been evident 10 me and
others that this serious threat VIII be soon or later
| nut into execution. have been wickeily, malg-
nantly assaied IN my atftirs. All sorts OF crimes
and misdemeanOrs are charged or limited at. have
been hell up TO the world as man totally unworthy
| Of respect or public confidence.
Every one OF these charges or irS;nuatiOns, pro
uounce totally false and their authors slanderers,
! and hereby challenge Plymouth Church TO appoint
its own cOamittee 20 Investigate open and vigorous
" my words and my deeds either IN or out OF the
church from tie day OF my birth TO the present hour.
am ready for the trial. 90 not propose TO give IN
detail the facts which have come to my knowledge,
or incidents disclosures and confidential cominunica-
tOns which, from time 10 time. have been presented
OF communicated N re-tr 70 the character Of H. w.
| Beeeher- TO his dislonOrabe conduct IN business
affs 10 his treeherOUs treatment of friends, 20 his
breaking of written covenants. TO his untruthful
statements in courts 70 his doigiu. all through
vestgations into his conduct Uud character, his sto
lid Indifference wnen unjust charges and malicious
ISLANDERS were made astIf'st particular members CT
his church. his recent contradictory utterances with
regard TO what he characterized the hoc:ye-pOcge
council composed Of wolves and foxes like DIS Stors
| and Burlington
| Will now tell you frankly my conclusions with
regard to the Plymouth pastor: l have known
Beecher quite intimately since the day of his arrival
IL BrOOkly have been acluclntet with him socially
and privately IN the church and in hls family, n
business and religious matters have heard atten-
lively but with profound grief, what was said 10 me
eOnhi-ntaiy against him have felt my heart STIR
rel TO ~ depth for dear friends, who, years before
the present scandal pUbllsh5i sorrowfcly beg
gel my counsel they assured me their pastor and
mine had Craftly betrayed their homes have list
eued every charge long after presented TO me by
Theodore TiitOn in regard 20 his Own home, and am
ready TO testify 10 essential facts before any
proper tribunal
have seen him with all his clord of darkness
gathering around him, apparently defyiug the pubc
and the opinion of his old Lifelong friends, embrac ng
the soundest, ablest and best cl-rgymen IN the
country and seemingly defyng, again and again, the
very God OF Heaven himself 10 cast hTn down.
Now being summoned here 20 speak, and speak the
truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth,
sOemnly give it. 1t Is my unwaTering opinion, III
OF all facts and evidence presented % me, that
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, without shadow OF
doubt in my mind, Is guilty Of the awful crime OF
adultery, perjury and hypocrisy. Tins l say again,
and before the bar of this committee Is nay deliberate
opinion, and may be permitted to affirm that give
it calmly, without malice, and with 10 other than a
sincere desire 10 do nay duty faithfully TO God and 70
ISign,-I HENnY C. BowEs