River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-02
Bowen again Called For.
80 ZOE Telegraln, a7th.l


New York Telegram, a7th.l
At business meeting Of Plymouth
church tonight. the report Of the exam.
lining committee was read by Brother Til.
ney. IL recitcs Brother Whites griey.
ances against II. Q. Bowen how the lat.
ter was asked for the essential facts re
lating to Bcecher, and in reply he only
read what was nearly altogether vindi-
cation Of his condn;. with report Of a
confession made to him two years ago by
a woman not named or identified, and
how he refused 10 answer this question,
and preciptately withdrew. Great
laughter. In conclusion the committee
recommended, in view Of Bowen refusal
to answer, and his preeipitate Withdrawal,
that he be called before the church at
the business meeting on Wednesday even
ing next, to answer orally ques ions as to
the accusations and inslnuations against
the pastor IN his letters of Feb. 4th and
Feb. 23d. Applause .s 4
Brother Mckay moved that M. Bowen
be summoned before the examining com
mittee, TO give him another chance to APP
pear and vindcatc himself.
q. D. White moved an amendment,
that in default thereof MIR. Bowen be
cast out as a slanderer, acting in defiance
Of his obligations IGreat applause
That he be summoned before the com.
mittee, aud notified that unless he gave
names, ETC. that he would b. cast out at
the next business meeting. Applause. I
Mr.. White said they should stand
triiiing no longer. There was no other
example Of a church being so hampered
by brother but one, and the other
brother had the decency to 60 and hang
himself. Great applause and laughter
lie thought Bowen ought TO be excom.
municated. Applause.
Mr.. Beecher here interposed and dep
recated the manifestations Of approval
and merriment. He said while there
might ne INDIGENOUS features connected
with the case Of the brother, yet it was
solemn thing for a church TO cast out
any member, and he (Bowen) was one Of
the founders Of the church, and is 4 mem.
Der, and the more tantaliziug his conduct
the more sad the spectacle. lie hoped
they would deal with the matter with
solemmty. la his own thought it was in
the nature Of an execution and a funeral.
After more discussion, during which
Brother Raymond called Brother Mckay
to order for gesticulating at him and at
tributing motives to him, Beecher said
that although most questions might be
settled by the committee, he was op.
posed to sending this matter back to
them. II was apeculiar case, and Ae did
not wish Bowen to be able TO say the
committee were his lBeechers) relatives
and friends, but have the whole matter
disposed Of by the church, which could
not in any way be called packed tribu-
nal. Applause.
Nr. Mckay then Withdrew his resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Sherman said they wanted to deal
with Bowen as a member. They had
more affection for him than ever, and
didn't want to part with him Just now.
Laughter. lie gave them as his chief
fact statement by a woman, and he
(Shearman) pledged his reputation for
sagacity that she was dead woman.
Laughter. He judged this from
Bowen's heart and history, and his drag
cling the grave and the brothel for eyi-
dence, and relying on the dead to sup
port his honor and word. They had sue,
cceded in getting him to fix the period at
between 10 and 25 years, but unfortu-
nately for him the study and prayer
me things to which he refers did not exist
together. Laughter. They had got
their dear Brother Bowen on the facts.
Bowen declared his willingness to go be-
fore any three of several men he named.
These are now appointed commissioners,
aud let him 90 before them and he, being
a member, the whole proceedings would
be privileged. Applause.
The resolution of the examining com.
mittee was unanimously adopted.