The New York herald., 1876-03-09
HENRY c. BOWEN.
He APPEARS BEFo1E THE PLYMOUTH SPECIAL
coMMrrRE AND MAKES ANOTHER STATE

Mr.. Henry q. Bowen appeared before the Examining
Committee OF Plymouth church last evening. IN the
house OF Mr.. H. l. Pratt. Hicks street, Brooklyn.
As usual the members OF the press were excluded,
and although some entcrprisns gentlemen OF that pro-
fesson entered the house they requested with
draw, In the face OF demand the part OF Mr. Bowen
that they should be allowed to remain.
Mr. II. c. Bowen arrived at the house shortly before
eight O'Clock p. NJ, accompanied by the Rev. W. II.
Ward, L. A. Bowen John L. Bowen and Henry
L. Bowen. Plymouth church was represented by
Mcssrs- s. V. White, NJ. X. Moody and f. II.
GarDut tho gentlemen that first brought the matter
before the church. The Special Committee Messrs.
II. L. Pratt Aaron Hcaly, L. C. Davidson. Samuel
Delcher and I. ~ Speman and the examining COM
mlitcc, Mcssrs. T. G. Shoarman, b. f. Blair 4. j. Til
ney, NJ H. Robinson and S. b Halliday The business
commenced about eight O'Clock p. N. and Mr. Iiney
conducted the prosecution on the part of Plymouth
church. A number of documents werc produced on
behalf of the church and the therein made
substantiated by the members OF the committees
present, who examined witnesses. The
for the prosecution closed last night and next Tuesday
evening Mr.. Bowen will be allowed produce his wit
Desscs In order subsantiate!hs statements In the
early part OF the evening the following the
charges against Mr.. Henry c. Bowen read by the
Rev. W. II. Ward, ID. ID. -
GENTLEMEN OF THEeCoMnIrTEE-The charges pre-
sented to me by the Examining Committee Of Plym-
outh church have been received, duly considered and
the following is my reply
deny that am guilty OF the first charge madc
against me, that Il violated my covenant with Pym-
ouih church by my sIcnce when questioned us 10 my
knowledge of Mr. Boecher's guilt
Because the Withholding OF ones knowledge and
opinions IS not a recognized offence.
Because was restrained from denying that had in
formation which convinced me OF Mr Beecher's guilt,
since such u denial would have been lie
Because was restrained from admitting It, hrst by
the fact that had made written covenant with Mr.
Beecher that | never would do SO; secondly, by my
OF obligation to the parties from whom had
ceived certain confidential iniormatIon; and thirdly,
by my indsposton To damage Plymouth church or
eny OF the parties implicated or to bring further public
dishonor ON the Church OF Christ.
Because my silence was benevolent silence, bencn-
cial to Mr. Beecher aud Plymouth church, and is be
regarded as merit and not an offence.
Because II It were then an offence that Il refused
either 10 affirm deny that knew such facts " have
listened to the exposulations OF the Examining
Committee and purged myself OF that offence
AS TO the second charge Mr. Bowen says
deny the second charge made against me- of san
christian, dsreputabe and dishonorable conduct in
my reply to the Examining Committee on February T.
written copy Of Mr.. Whites oral statement oil grev
against and to request time TO answer said
grievance" Because the statement in my reply being
the 'accusatons made therein could not be ''in
famous" In such sense that any infamy should at
tsch therefor 10 me. but only to Mr.. Beecher Be-
cause my statements made therein
definite and explicit that they SIN
Situations u Because the said statements made by
TO the Examining Committee were not voluntarily
made by me, but were in the nature of reply forced
from me by the persistent demand OF the Examining
Committee, that II it was offence for TO make
such atirmaton denial the fact that required
by the officers OF the church in action paraking of
the nature OF an ecclesiastical process against me.
thus to affirm deny should be bar to complaint
made against mo therefor by the Examining Com
mittee. Because offence that gave neither
facts the names OF witnesses" 1 not voun-
teerng to appear prosecutor, but required
willingly 10 make reply. Because had received part
OF my information In such way that did not think it
right the demand Of the committee, to give II
to Them, especially when other important information
available which they never sought to obtain Be-
II IL offence that did that time
gave and witnesses have since partially
purced myself of that offence w.t. my communi-
cation on the the 23d February Because the above
were an offence did still iurthcr purge self OF by
my oner made February 10, to give all names and facts
committee OF three impartial men, not members OF
the church and still further by my oner, made Feb
ruary 81 to give all such facts and names to commit
tee of the church, two OF whom had made complaint
against me- neither of which offers accepted Be-
the causing or permitting OF my statement OF the
4th OF February 10 be published Is not recognized OIL
OF the church causing permitting TO be published
/ my much more explicit and circumsiantia statement
OF February % Is bar TO It's treating an offence the
aforesaid publication by and further because had
been widely published and believed that l then
under process OF deception. ana felt that had the
| right to let my reply &c known deny that am
guilty OF the third charge OF equiyocation false
hood IL not false. but true that did very
fully occupy the ten days asked for by me in consult
ing witnesses and rciorrng to dates, documents and
memoranda and In preparing my statement OF the
essential facts my knowledge. Because IL not true
!
tons that might be put to me by the Examining Com
mittee. On the contrary, did explicitly state that
would under circumstances give to that committee
! anything more than the essential facts and
that season then proposed fair tribunal, con-
give all aud facts without Because no
express Instructions OF the church TO state any and
every TACT within my own knowledge can make my
refusal so to do other equvocation or falsehood-
To charge T. accusing Mr.. Bowen Of slander In
having made certain false and malicious charges
against the pastor, he answers:-'T deny that l
of Because
scharges" " OF adultery, perjury and hypocrisy made
By me against Mr. Beecher were not false but true
Because the statements made by me derogaory to Mr.
Becchers character werc not malicious In as much
had not wiliuliy thrust them before the Examining
Committee but had presented them only the urgent
solictude and demand OF that commtte, and also
under the intimaron that II | did not thus present
them should be excommunicated from the church
Because was then under no absolute obligation to
substaoae by proof any statements not wfullv made
by me, but which were drawn from mo in the line OF
what ! told was my duty by the officers Of the
church .Becauso did give circumstances which the
Examining Committee, in its procssed search for light
might follow up II they pleased BY the intcrogntons OF
other partes and because II that 4 Jailed
10 give tho names OF any witnesses by whom such
charges night be verified inasmuch as did give the
names OF very important wltnesses-to wit Mr. and
Mrs Joseph II. Richards together with abstract OF
their testimony Because In the Of the facts Ia
my possession, which am not at liberty to expose 10
the world have proved my good aIth by Offering to
present them to impartial tribunal, ana on another
occasion 70 hostile tribunal Because by the publi-
cation Of my communication of February
had laid myself liable TO SUIT Tor
libel before the civil courts; and tho TACT
that such action. has been brought against IL
presumptivo proof That hare not been guilty Of
SANDER. ="
In answer to charge s. charging Mr. Bowen with
unchristian conduct aud violation OF his covenant
with the church. he ssys:-"I deny that was guilty
OF unchristian conduct or violation any covenant
with the church In my action the evening OF March
l. 1870 Because u Is not true that refused TO answer
any question put to me by order OF the church; on
the contrary did answer the ony question put TO me,
which did not require to divulEc such names as
felt under obligation to protect Because was under
no obligation 10 answer any questions put TO me- in
asmuch my statements OF my absolute convction of
nr. Becchers guilt not accusations voluntarily
made by me- but were made under advice and require
ment OF the Examining Committee, and In tho course
Of what was told ecclesiastical process
against Because church has right
Inquistorially 10 compel any OF lis men,
bcrs, who, for reasons obligatory on his