New-York tribune., 1876-02-05
PRESENTING Mr.. BowEN'S LETTER.

BY the request of Mr.. Bowen the Examining Com.
mittee of Plymouth Church met yesterday after
at o'clock at tie residence of the Rev. s. Il.
Halliday, at No. 80 Willow-st, Brooklyn, 30 receive
Mr.. Boweri's reply to the grievances" Of s. V.
White. The full text of these grievances" as fur
nished by the Clerk of Plymouth Church. has been
made public By Mr Bowen, but the substance Ok
them has been published in TIE TRIBUNE, and they
are in part repeated in Mr. Bowens reply, il is sufi-
cent 70 say that Mr.. White bases his action in tho
matter Oh the ground that after what Mr Bowen bas
said and hintei at various times, there is too
many in Plymouth Church, at end or the other,'
and that either Mr.. Bowen Mr.. Beecher should
leave. Messrs. Tilney, Hawkins and the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, members Of the Examining
Committee, were not present at the meeting At the
appointed hour Mr. Bowen's sons, Edward A. and
Clarence W. Bowen, representing their father, ap-
peared before the Committee, and asked if tie Com
mittee ready to hear their fathers reply 10 Mr..
White. DR.. Edward BeeCher replied, We are" and
Mr. Clarence W. Bowen then read the following doc
umeit
To the Examining Coma,tee OF Plymouth Chnrch
Plymouth Church q Id hat had been slandering its
,sr0r the Rev Henry Ward Beecner; that was prob
ably the OF all the trouble and mischief that had
occurred In the church that must be promptly looked
after, conduit carefully investigated and II found
guilty be condemned AMI cast ont from the chureh az
wicked offender. After months OF most searching IN
qniry, report was made 70 the church 10y the oonint
tee that the cbargu against ne was groundless;
that tar they could learn, ha NOT sandered no
pastor and that in their judgment evidence could
b" found Tor the serious complaint against me Inc 70.
port the committee presented 10 the church at
very crowded meeting and WIS unanimously acquitted
of any wrongdong ia the premises All his wls dons'
remember. because was oh rged vita talking 100 mveh
After these faithful and vigant eiors 20 learn -me-
thing against me had most signtIy laird II son 1egau
said III the cndrch that actually ilkipg
great damage of Mr. Beecher was guilty Of The grave
ofcnse shutting IL and saying positively nothing TO
equally wrong. II seemed TO me quite PLAIN, all tbs
time, 'nat Plymouth Church believed storm vas gh,n-
erIus and that just ny OF experiment aud IN order
divert public attention, some one must Oe found u
possible, VINO cOu,d be- thiown overheard. lhr storm
sti kept raging and every effort to find blg mis
chlef-inLkr innical to Mr Beecher, had been ruesA
Duiing all TINS exctSneht NY eDnye.os - , 10 %ss
every hour. did not desire to talk with anybody
determined keep silent, TO do just what had don Ia
he pas; and did not forget that had made solemn
covenant, IN what has since been called the tilpdrthi
reem IT. to bury past and keep silent IN The futura
How well mad kept that promis it does not bccoIe ms
10 say. But KNOW tnls much, mat lew "fn ha,o
eyer been more solely tired in regard ihc duty II
Inoutliopcning and mouth-shuttng-and both al tho
same mOncntthdn have m this The best ~ nea
aud have piled me with advice and arguments IN
both SIDES have received thanks aud congratulations
FOR keeping silent and solemn threats 10 induce me TO
speak | been advised cOniidentially AMI even
boldly to smother my conscience. let tie p9s So
and c.y peace, peace when there Is no peace
TIE ISTGkvIEWs WITH MR. WHITE.
when Mr. s. V. White called upon me Il my office n
business hours-once alone aud afferwam with two
othcr.-o talk on tho Boccher scandal" confess thst
felt he had chosen improper place and an improper
hour to discuss an improper subject He however er-
pressed such friendly interest in and my family thas
! allowed him 10 proceed as re stated But thhkt
soon convinced him that had neither the time nor ts
inclination TO argue Yith him at length that subject
said to him, decidedly, couli not converse With him
or ANY other party the topic he had presC nte that
had my own views and convictions In regard 10 the mat
Tor that De allowed 10 act on my Own 1udinent
OF. In other words Ia decide for myself what was my
duty told him aso e. AT iii not believe IN the piis-
lice ol breaking written agreements even II Others do
and an word must beg 70 lie excused from dlsclos'hsio
Lin my views feelings opinions on the subject IN
qu, ston Mr. White pressed ne With various 3ruiens
Occupying perhaps IN hor or more, When ne san ns
count lis remarks we're substantially the ZANE al Dom
Of tao interviews m ny office r.icrfed 70 - lln b.s
und rs,nd that he then taking steps III tolhai
way, Ia bring before the chGrch MIhouSh ,e @ lntr
u aed that ic might 10 % at some uture time. HhenL
min Comcniire OF Plymouth Church | had
sg7test suspicion OF whit wanted Of me. 40 mint
or iutimation given in that summons as 10 tc n1r
tire OF the grievances embraced in the complaint, and
must say that, under the circumstances, am utterly
amazed that White ST. ,nid take up my Tine cI lha'
OF the Committee with such rambling and TRIVIAL com
plants tet at first, as do now, That Mr. WHITE me
drumming Committee ard Plymouth Church cond De
bet er employed in investigating the direct charges
claIges embracing the crimes o. 1nlet3 G,a peIJuI
lt r than ski mishiug about IN now heds T. sc
few more persons cOu. not be scared o. III sonic way
drawn driven into til' diihculty 49,. 49,. ,,.1.
Other men, better ana wiser tnan AN, hI'o Hlaos
mi,iakes and confess tll We done s., dud perhaps
iu ttii-
to yarmouth Church that have honestly aud consoien-
ously in this whole affair to do my duty iailhiny
4, G. H. a. cir Brecber AID 10 the church WIN "hlen
am connected IcOud nUt do more, and have not ior
one Instant desired to do less. , -,
The attempt Al tbs to 10 revive the practices o the
lu1uiston seems most startling Development:
Hs tue lime again when men are 10 bs tired ana
eeIed a. sound and odox In tne faith 10 De peiae-
cuted put upon the rack AMI tIcn thunhscrewe. lbo
d,srnsiny all tne OF theiI inmOst soul Has 10
come this, that ls not safe IN ls Tree country 10
listen 10 The confidential Statements ot or thfstlan
ssft..u nd
10 our doors asSiug not for bread ou for hep anu adj
vice IN trouble shall We say u such, bcsOhel We AIo
AFRAID 10 iistsn To you
WHAT MR.. BOWEN HAS hhARD.
In my more than % years connection With Plymouth
Church have heard many a sad story from mary SAD
heartsome tie loss OF property some Tor the loss OF
eir Arrest earthly friends, and some for the loss OF
charactcr-a greater loss than ALL May God forgive me
4, have ever done wrong in sten'u To ono sisie case
,hns presented for thus doing, and that only, ~
sert have b.cu unceremcnionsiy summoned to appear
hetor, thi, Committee Aud here and now most sol.
.nv declare that there no other bass Mr. Whites
o,,ov,nce. against me. Whether he viii have other
Grievances against mc after Aeaing me "t this no re-
In, lrt ne now ask questions Who comes here 70
onoie the words of slander when have uttered
a.aiust the pasorf Who says that have IN
sny way except by silence, injured himt let ask,
las Henry Ward Beccher any glievauoes against mel
In So uas e Brought th,m Defor this COmmiiteef
charged Mr. Beecher with both adultery aud perjury.
Insy vS ya SsDs an ss On esFd m S In SI "a
Where the valiant Mr.. :. '. hite y this umeI
snmon these accscrs into court OF Justice and there
demand tue evidence which these charges of adultery
soluely innocent VIII do you not act ~ you b.9sved
it and thus Tut end 10 this horlf scandal ii be
pure man. here Is tne straight road out o, All diy. &
You have unfortunately, III my opinion, chosen adner
ent course.
SILENCE HITHERTO UNDRoKEN.
lam before you charged with the crime Of silence"