Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-03
Mr.. Bowen and the Plymouth Church
Examining Committee.

AN Associated Press dispatch OF the
23d says very exciting and unlookcdtor
events had occurred at a meeting OF the
Plymouth Church Examining Committee,
held at Assistant Pastor Halliday's house
in Brooklyn, on the evening of that day,
at which Henry G. Bowen appeared by
invitation, accompanied by his sons Ed
ward and Henry E., and DIR. Ward, pub
Usher of the Independent.
HENRY f. BowEN's VERSION.
The following is summary of Mr..
| Henry Z. Bowen's account of the affair:
! On entering the room Mr. Bowen was
| astonished to find a company of forty or
| fifty persons assembled, embracing the
members of the committee, the Chair
man of the Council in session, and others,
among the number being Henry Ward
| Beecher, his sons Henry and William,
Oliver johnson and Benjamin F. Tracey.
Mr.. Bowen being called upon for his
statement, presented and read it. Previous
! to doing so, he expressed his surprise at
such large audience, and asked the rea-
son of their presence. He was told that
the committee never objected to his bring
ing his friends there; the idea was that
Mr.. Bowen had a right to bring in any
friend he cared to; the only objection was
to reporters; that the company came with
| tue COmlulllcc luNltdtiohs h'' W.
Beecher's.
Mr.. Bowen repIied that he had no OBJ
lection, but the responsibility of publicity
must rest with them; he said he came there
to present his statement to the Examining
Committee and nobody else; that he should
decline to give it to the press, and if pub
lshed it should be by the Examining
Committee and not by him.
After finishing his statement and say
ing, in reply to IA question, that that was
all the facts he had to give that evening
he started to leave, when one OF the com
mittee protested against his doing So ano
Mr.. Shearman said ne (BOwenl would no
be permitted to leave the room.
Mr.. Bowen stepped toward the door o
the font parlor, when Mr.. S. V. White
|! jumped up and locked the door, took the
key and put it in his pocket, and as h'
saw Mr.. Bowen looking toward the dool
of the other room, Mr.. White called out
, Lock that other door" and several mel
: Jumped toward il. Every one jumped L
! his feet, but Mr.. Bowen was too quick
= and got to the back parlor door just beior
r several of the crowd got to it. His son
: Henry f., followed, rushed TO the door
l and called for the press, thinking tina
4 they were there. Here Mr.. Henry c
4 Bowen interposed energetically, thinking
n there was going to be row.
Mr.. Henry +, Bowen continued; Nj,
o father was IN the hall, my brother AM
G DR. Ward were in the parlor, and | SO
n ON the stoop outside and called for tn
i press, and the Associated Press repcrte
i and another rushed up, and Mr.. BoweI
: told them of the occurrence. Then on
h of Mr.. Bowen's sons upbraided MI
e White. Mr.. Bowen also expressed him
II self very strongly in regard to the trea
2, ment he received
u 90 MR.. WHITES VERSION.
N Mr.. S. V White was visited, and hi
n version is substantially hi
l. Mr.. Bowen read statement OF hiy-tw
pages, in which he failed Ia give name
or dates. 1t referred to scandals OF ten
h. eleven years ago. After reading fe
Y. pages he handed the paper to DR.. Ware
is Then Mr. Bowen stepped toward the doc
of and Mr.. White desiring TO prolong Il
re interview as much as possible, an
being seated near the door, turned Il