The Republican journal., 1876-03-02
Beecher and Bowen.

tDNtiS tilc tdNt JtlitGllN
Beecher and Bowen.
NEW YORK, Feb. %. The weekly
prayer meeting and adjourned annual bu-
siness meeting was held in the lecture
! room of Plymouth Church Tonight. The
attendance was very large. Mr.. Beecher's
opening prayer was magnificent presen-
tation of Gods Interchangeable goodness in
our vicissitudes and griets. The parable
of the bad ruler importuned by the widow
into avenging her cause was read by MI
Beecher and the inference drawn that Sod
| will avenge his elect who cry day ant
night to him, and that cares purity and
ennobe us They had all suffered. he
said, because they love each other so
much that the sutferings Of one 90 to the
hearts of all, but they were met as before
| in gladness as strong as before. or strong
er, and the church was in better heart,
not simply because there was a discern
| ment Of cloud OF two lifting, but because
| they had learned to bear the will OF God
These things after all were small compar-
ed with the eternal JOYS, and instead of
| indulging in anger and approaches, they
| should break their ietters by songs and
| pray themselves out OF prison, marching
| by the guidance Of Gods angels
| At the business meeting the report Of
| the examining committee was read by
| Brother Tilnev. 1t recites Brother Whites
grievances against Bowen. how the latter
was asked for the essential facts relating
to Beecher, and he only read what was
nearly altogether Il vindication of his own
conduct, with report of Il confession
| made to him ten years ago by woman
not known or identified, and how he re-
fused to answer their questions and pre-
cipitately withdrew. Great laughter)
In conclusion the committee recommend
ed in view of Bowens refusal to answer
and precipitate withdrawal. that he be
called before the church at Il business
meeting on Wednesday next, at $50 p. m,
to answer orally questions as to the accu-
sations and insnuations against the pas
tor in his letters of February 18th and 2jd
(Applause)
Brother Mckay moved that Bowen be
summoned before the examining commit
tee TO give him another chance to appear
and vindldate himself.
S. V. White moved an amendment,
That in default thereof Bowen be cast
out as a slanderer acting in defiance of his
obligations, (great applause;) that he be
summoned before the committee and not
lied that unless be gave names, &c., he
would be cast out at the next business
meeting" (Applause) DR.. H. V. White
said they should stand t.iiling no longer.
There was no other example of a church
being 50 hampered by brother but one,
and that brother had the decency to 90
and hang himself. (Great applause aud
laughter) lie thought Bowen ought to
be eXcommunicated. (App!ause.)
Mr.. Beecher here interposed and depre-
Gated manifestations of approval or mer-
riment. He said While there might be
luG.icrous features. connected with the case
of the brother, yet it was solemn thing
tor a church to cast out a member, and
he (Bowen) was one of the founders of
the church, and the more tantalzing his
conduct, and more sad was the spectacle.
He hoped they would deal with the mat
ter with solemnty. In his own thought
it was in the nature OF an execution and
funeral.
After some discussion, during which
brother Raymond called brother Mckay
to order for gesticulating at him and at
tributing motives to him, Mr. Beecher
said although most questions ous bit to be
settled by the committee, he was opposed
to sending this matter back to them 1t
was peculiar case and he did not wish
Bowen to be able to say the committee
We're his (Beecher's) relations and friends
but have the whole matter disposed OF by
the church which could not in any way be
called packed tribuna -(Applause)
Mr., Mckay then Withdrew his resolu-
tior
Mr.. Shearman said they wanted to deal
with Bowen as a member. They had
more affection for him than ever, and did
not wart to part with him Just now.
G.aughter) lie gave them his chief fact
a statement by a woman, and he (Shear-
man) pledged his reputation Tor sagacity
that she was dead woman (Laughter)
He judged this from Bowen's heart and
history. He was dragging the grave and
the brothel for evidence and relying on
the dead to support his power and word
They had succeeded in getting him to fix
the period between - and % years but
unfortunately for him, the study and the
prayer meetings to which he refers, had
not existed together. Uaughter) They
had got their dear brother Bowen on the
facts. Qaughter) Bowen declared his
willingness to 60 before any three OF sew
eral men he named. These are now APP
pointed commissioners, and let him 90
before them, and he being member the
whole proceedings would be privileged.
(Applause)
The resolution of the examining COM
mittee was unanimously adopted
Shearman then read a report of the ex-
amlning committee in which it is stated
that l73 churches and 20 ministers ere
asked to join in the Advisory Council
l24 churches and II ministers accepted
the invitation; 32 churches declined, and
OF these 1G had work Of their own were
not heard from, and of those declining on
ly three gave reasons for objecting.
The meeting adjourned to next We'd
nesday.
French wood-chopper in attempting to cross |
the pond, near the works of the American Optical
Company, Southbridge, broke through the ice. sink
ing into the water chin deep and all that could be
seen of the man was his fur cap. The bows at the
shop, suppOsing veritabe otter had made its an |
pearance about to fire at the animal but the |
man throwing up his arms just at the right time |
saved himself from a charge of buck shot. The |
boys, changing guns for fence rails, succeeded in
rescuing the unfortunate old man, fearfully chilled
but otherwise unharmed.
The Lewiston Journal says, "the continued sue |
cess OF our cotton goods expectation gives manufac
turers new courage. The Continental Mills goods |
OF this city, are taking admirably in the English |
market 1t is considered established that in plain,
pure unfinished goods, where quantity and quality |
OF cotton and perfection of texture the only ee
fWy q