The Portland daily press., 1876-02-26
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Last Nights Business Meeting.
BROTHER BOWEN's CASE DES-
CUSSED.
He is to be Summoned Before the
Church.

NEW YORK, Feb. 25-The weekly prayer
meeting and adjourned annual business meet
ing was held in the lecture room of Plymouth
church tonight. The attendance was very
large. Mr.. Beecher's opening prayer was a
magnificent presentation of Gods unchanged
bic goodness in our vicssitudes and griefs. The
parable of the bad ruler importuned by the
widow into avenging her cause was read by
Mr.. Beecher and the inference drawn that God
will avenge his elect who cry day and night to
him and that cares purify and ennoble US.
They had all suffered, he said, because they
one go to the hearts of all, but they were met
as before in gladness as strong as before, or
stronger, apd the church was in better heart,
not simply because there was dscernment of
a clcud or two lifting, but because they had
learned to bear the will of God These things
after all were small compared with the eternal
joys, and instead of indulging in anger and re-
proaches they should break their fetters by
songs and pray themselves out of prison, march
ing by the guidance of Gods angels.
At the business meeting the report of the
examining committee was read by Brother
Tilney. 1t recites Brother Whites grievances
against Bowen, how the latter was asked for
the essential facts relating to Beecher, and he
only read what was nearly altogether vidica-
tion of his own conduct, with report of a
confession made to him ten years ago by a wo-
man not known or identified, and how he re-
fused to answer their questions and precipi-
lately withdrew. (Great laughter.) In con-
clusion the committee recommended in view OF
Bowen's refusal to answer and precipitate with
drawal, that he be called before the church at
p. M, to answer orally questions as to the ac-
cusations and insinuations against the pastor
in his letters of February 4th and 23d. Gap
plause.)
moned before the examining committee to give
him another chance to appear and vindidate
himself.
s. V. White moved an amendment, "That in
default thereof Bowen be cast out as SANDER
er acting in defiance of his obligations, (great
applause); that he be sOmmoned before the
committee and notified that unless he gave
names, &C., he would be cast out at the next
business meeting" (Applause.) DR.. 81. v.
White said they should stand trif1ing no long
er. There was no other example of church
being so hampere6 by brother but one, and
that brother had the decency to go and hang
himself. Great applause and laughter) He
thought Bowen ought.to be communicated.
(Applause.)
Mr.. Beecher here interposed and deprecated
manifestations of approval or merriment. He
said while there might be ludricous feature
connected with the case of the brother, yet il
was solemn thing for church to cast out a
member, and he (Bowen) was one of the found.
ers of the church, and the more tantalizing his
conduct, the more sad was the spectacle. he
hoped they would deal with the matter with
solemnity. In his own thought it was IN the
nature of an execution and funeral.
After some discussion, during which brother
Raymond called brother Mckay to order fol
gesticulating at him and attributng motives te
him, MIR. Beecher said although most ques
tions ought to be settled by the committee, he
was opposed to sending this matter back tC
them. 1t was peculiar case and he did moi
wish Bowen to be able to say the committee
were his (Beecher's) relations and friends, but
have the whole matter disposed of by the
church which could not in any way be called
q packe tribunal-(Applaus
Mr.. Mckay then withdrew his resolution.
Mr.. Shearman said they wanted to deal with
Bowen as a member. They had more affection
for him than ever and did not want to par
with him just now. (Laughter) He gave
them his chief fact statement by a woman
and he (Shearman) pledged his reputation fol
sagacity that she was a dead woman. CLaugh.
ter) He judged this from Bowen's heart and
history. He was dragging the grave and the
brOthel for evidence and relying on the dead tc
ceeded in getting him to fix the period between
Is and 25 years but unfortunately for him, the
study and the prayer meetings to which
be refers, had not existed together daughter
They had got their dear brother Bowen on the
facts. Uaughter.) Bowen declared his will
ingness to go before any three of several men
he named. These are now appointed commits
sioneFs, and let him go before them, and he
being member the whole proceedings would
be privileged. (Applause.)
The resolution of the examining committee
was unanimously adopted.
Shearman then read report of the examin-
ing cvmmitsee in which it is stated that 173
churches and 20 ministers were asked to join in
the Advisory Council; 124 churches and Il
ministers accepted the invitati IN; 80 churches
declined, and of these 16 had work of their
own: were not heard frem, and of those de-
clining only three gave reasons for objecting
The meeting adjourned to next Wednesday.