, 1876-05-27
BOWEN.

a Word rcrsonat.
SeN rnrh Iat<ptnde1l Nav 70.
Considering Mr.. Bnwrn's carly and cordial re-
latlons to Plymouth Church, 1t may acctn to
ss'tnc, even now, to rc1uIre explanation why
there has arisen IN TINT rhur' sllch Ill antagU-
nIsm to him. To those tilut understand the
tzlEG, It Ia not strange.
To ray The least, np other mail WA more active
than Mr.. Bowen in founding plymouth Church
Or in calling It's pastor. anil no man more liberal
md enthusiastic in proyfdlng for It md sup,ort-
Ing It: and no fnnh felt greater pride in It's
brilliant paetor than he. To this fact tho cpi-
unt,s Of the I'ui7>oadent bcar abundant witness,
At Inst tllerc came charge, when Mt. Bowen
hnd ncc:Ason tn withdraw bis confidence from
his pastor. The rcaaon he garc two months nt.t'
IN a communication to the Examining Coinfntt-
tee nf Plymouth Church, lit response to their
demand: and by tllcr AIT It was, after some DE-
lay, published.
hcen in Bs1uklyn have hfs int1macics with worn-
cn IN his congregation becn tho occasion OF IT.
inark a,d scandal. callng forth occas!oral warn-
Ing. from his best friends, or, n Mr.. Becehcr
"witlcn the circle of ifs resting -pnces.n At
last Information catnc tn alr. Bowen 20 full, 10
explicit, and so convincing Ms to leave in Ills
mind no doubt Of Mr.. Bccehcr's guilt. 1t was
tfr. Bowen's duty tcn either ttl accept suct,
evidence as he might receive Of Mr. Becchcr's
pcnttcncs and conceal 50 far rs posslblc tue fact
1T Ills guilt, Or 70 publish his guilt and demand
@ hts @sgFsain sen from tss upM M For iS%na B"Ws
eournc. euH ''S lie believed Str. Bsrsher a
pentrnt n'nn. He could not expose to d!sgracu
The llonored and useful and rcpcntani pastor Of
his cl.urc'., much lses the f4..s Of feputa,.e
WOMAN. II wus, therefore, hs duty to krrr his
knowledge saercIly secret md never to let It
pass Ills {ps. THIS he did for years, with abso
Lutte fntthfulncss. At Lost, OIL , o,,e memorable
was for years IN terms VI the closest intimacy
with AIr. I3crclicr, anil who had also b.rn fnr
many years Sly: Bowcn's right-l'aId nan, the
| cs!cf editor Of h!s newspapers anu his co'tidcn-
speak Us frankly M 10 n partner IN business. Or
to Ills nearest rc1As!yc,-tlis nla, came 70 Mr.
| Bowen, md with great passion charged! that
their pastor had ruined hIs home Alr. Bowen
told lin. t]la't he to had known oi
mother casc Of Mr.. Dcecllcr's guilt. Mr..
bowen garc No names, and supposed that his
confidence would be respected. But 1t was not.
wlici, he lid bis best to .rrevcnt-of Mr.. Bnw-
I EMS knowledge of Mr. Bccci,cr's ofTcnsc, Mr..
Bowe'. WIS pliccd IN most unpleasant position,
| which he could In no way avuid. !lc could not
| tell the whole truth without blasting woinan's
nnmc. lie could not keep silence without suf-
fcring tlc most terrible lnsconccptton himself,
Mr.. Becchcr was already under thc shadow II
evidence which would long aEo have destroyed
anyone whom the American people were less
unwilling to condemn, Silence would never In.
jurc him, hut could only tnjure Mr.. Bowen, and
that 1ic. would endure rather than destroy TINT
wonian's fu.ne, Whose public ruin was not needed
to prove Mr.. Deechcr's guilt, 80 long ne large
1!nes Of cvIacncG IN another wcll-known ease
were yet left stullously uneol1cctcd
! Y is under these circumstances Tint plym::
! 0uth Church has done ME. Bowen the honor OF
declaring TINT Ills si1Gncr renders lin unworthy
ri its fellowship. lie Is unworthy II wnrthincss
requires that lie hhall defend Mr.. Deeehcr's
purity antl liz to DO 1t. Mr.. Bowen believes In
fa1scflool rs little as In adultery. 1t Is In no
| sentiment IT cn1nLty tnwnrd Mr. Bccchcr or tn
ward Plymouth Church that he retircs fru.n Its
fellowship. His admiration fur Mr.. Reecher's
splendid intellectual gifts, and fur lis inlrncnsu
services to the Church md the country, IL not
In the lcast diminished. lIp knows tint Afr.
Bcccl!cr. Innocent, is Of moro worth uian q
shu1Sh full Of ,s ahss ms whst!st Tltons q
Bcecher guilty, and striving to lift himself up
by pulling down every man TINT knows lis guilt
tho cur Of lowest degree, be hu guiltless, l.
| worthicr than he.