The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-11
THE GREAT SCANDAL.
TumultuOus Proceedings in the Plymouth
Church Lecture Room.
BOWETS EXPULSION RECOMMENDED
What Mr.. Beecher Says Plaintiycly and What
DR.. Ward Fiercely Interpolates.
"YOU ARE GUILTY, SIR"
The Counsel of the Sphinx
Elected.

took place last night In the lecture Of plymouth
church The room only about half filed. The rain
undoubtedly prevented. crush, which had been
anticipated, and perhaps tho announcement,
made by some of the newspapers, that Mr..
Becchcr himself out Of town, robbed
the meeting o. great doal OF It's interest for some
persons Tho occasion OF last evenings assemblage
the rendering Of tho report OF the special
tee appointed to investigate the charges made against
Henry C. Bowen by the Examining Committee. Tho
report was handed in, and It condemned Mr.
Bowen, finding him guilty Of four OF tho
five charges preferred against him ana
part OF tho hnn charge. Tho Examining
Committee through Mr.. I. G. Snearman also maac
supplementary report and offered resolution calling
for tho accommodation OF Mr.. Bowen one of the
most remarkable and exciting discussions grew out Of
these documents and the result very serious to
Mr. Bowen and his counsel, Rov. Dr. Ward, OF the
Independent The latter dismissed from tho room
for being out Of order and
Mr.. WAS CONFRONTED WITH MR.. BEEcHRR
and, u must be said, was discomttcd The upshot OF
tho proceedings was the adoption OF resolution, at
Mr. Raymonds request. which called for the selection
Of Row. Dr. Taylor as witness TO au interview to take
place between Mcssrs. Beecher and Bowen, at which
the latter to tell Mr. Bcecher oil he know dctri-
mental 70 his moral character.
Before tho opening OF tho extraordinary session Mr..
Bowen accompanied by his Clarence and his coun-
sell Or. Ward entered the lecture and took
the front row. Shortly aitcrward tho Special Com
mittec and Examining Committee entered and almost
immediately aterward tho meeting called order
by the Moderator, Mr.. r. N. Edgerson. Mr. Tiney
clerk, and Mr.. H. W. h Howard read tho minutes OF
the last meeting The proceedings prcfaced with
q short prayer by Mr. Davenport and, after tho read
ing Of the minutes, Mr. Sherman, OF the Examining
Committee. appeared Then followed brief silence,
which broken by the OF tho special commit
tees chairman, Mr.. Pratt, who read the report Of
which the following IS an ABSTRACT
rnH SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
sommsss relate. the soarss Of The inquiry i
represented the committee that he had to
he lady rsRs appear Mr. Bradh~w Confirmed sS
The Dc enc also stated that he had % no per
shaw and bis testimony in ibis connection was
prosecution oSjesssd ana sndsv nos aa%issd
claimed IN The nrss ehsrss cans 70 affirm deny The
the admission the same time denying the charge that his
assertions regarding Mr. Beschor would nsrpreta-
proceedings aud testimony your committee that
the first and second charges were fully by tho evil
nnd that the third charge with
sustained appeared BY The evidence tina. NJ. Bowen
construction the testimony nsendsd % tell
deliberate fssehood any proper So
onsnins false and msciou. cSarsesn and falling to sub
YOUR sona.ss ars ss tn. m in
.hs hh charge refusing g Ap;wc pa By ,hs
second and third specifications Indicates mainly that Mr.
Bowen could not agree With the church upon whs.
named ~ himself and 50 the arrangement was
that such failure constitutes violation Of eoyensns
In view Of the offences committed by Mr. Henry Q.
Bowen proved by the evidence committee hereby
expresses the opinion that Plymouth church ought 20 In
a s hc isi Smsd q %
Samuel Bechsr. Aaron Hesly. T. N. speman. E. Q.
While this report was being read, Mr..
Bccchcr came quietly In and took scat
win me members OF inc examining committee
tho report Mr.. Pratt made somewhat lengthy
aud elaborate speech explanatory OF the special
paid tribute 70 tho fidelity and courtesy Of
DR.. Ward and Mr.. Bowens sons, but added
ns nsf cso mot so a. s a.
condemnation. He next reviewed Mr. Bowen's church
history and amentcd his terrible fall from high
mir. Bowcn's silence, said he, '.was no recognized
offence; but hold that silence is some
s s%ss ws % be sss wSa
Mr. Bowen considered Justification for not producing
his principal witness should undoubtedly have been
sufficient justification for not making his principal
statement
REPORT or THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE
ccpscd and then he" NJ shearman read BRIEF ropor. Of
tho Examining Committed, which. Is as folIows:-.
The Examining Committee respectfully report the follow.
He Henry tai Bowen 91 INC n'' w. eA'S'
That about the ID day Of March written copy Of
who appeared = fsw days sfer and pus in an
and defence ss" osn the
special committee whom sne matter had teen referred
half ssss" ssy 'ans.I
was and The case closed Mr. Bowen
having reminded the committee that a. rrevioqs meeting
ne y he psea smme zen Re 70
Es ans for e ss
sss y s, Mr. Bowen made The
e the Eisu'ains co%%,,ss 'y,s a, snow: against
ns and q M
Pratt. q this committee under tho promise and
flying circumstances shan never bs given
mentioned BY him. except under compulsion o.
'as and hs r
:. md r re LED
H. ssS isssf X he on
NAT ,n alone 70 IN ss % ss e% s alone. sss
then 70 communicate ali that no knew. and finally iomeet
Mr. Pratt NJ s.snsr and the laas, Sns1s.d
% be present on any q hsss occasions The committee
so % na @ aris 10
b sss sss d fys sossa q nj
I've s: - 's Ssw.s ' ss s''~sa
Pratt took place on .ns evening. O. Ap 20 and r. Ia,s
called upon him and Informed him Of Nr Bowen's rrepos
ton and ia acceptance that he had had interview
with Mr. Bowen AZ Mr. Beechcr's desire, Mr. Pratt re-
quested Mr. Bowen meet him and Mr. Beccher on the
nex Friday morning This M Bowcn rcfused 70 DO unless
he should permitted bring Mr. Francis ~ Moulton
with him, claiming that Mr.. Pratt had declined 10 call
Mr. Bccchcr that the affair entirely closcd and Mr.
Bowens discharged To this condition, entirely
nconstcnt with Mr.. Bowcns stpuations, BY which
any lady allowed TO bring friend With her,
sir Pratt declined the ssh rs he replied
Mr. Bowen. stating In substance that Mr. Boechcr de-
manded that he (Mr' Pratt should inform him. either IN
Mt Bowen's presence or out OF ". Whatever
facts Bowen had commrnies,ed; that he Mr
object 20 Just pr0cecding that his (Bowcns memory
fault. that he Pratr had declined 20 call Dir.
Bechcv that Mr. Bceccr 81 when the inter-
view took place. and did till several days after
ward.
Mr. Bowen responded claiming that the case closed q
the nrst Interview. and declining to meet Mr. Bceehcr
unless ihcy two should meet stone Il M Pratt was pres
then Mr. Mouton be Also but contentng that
Mr. Prat should inform AR Bcrchcr 81 Mr. Bowens state
fnents. amer his (Nr. Bovcn's) closed
The committee, In closing their would say that
Mr. Pratt explicitly denies that he declined call Nr.
Decchcr - she proposed Interview thar he Mr.
Bowen understand shat he considered the matter closed
that he said did thing from which suc infer
snce could be drawn But having Conferred with VT
Bcechrr on his return 81 Mr. Bowen request
hg Immediate interview in Of the agreement,