The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-09
TRYING BROTHER BOWEN.
THE dNSWER TO PLYMO UTH'S LONG
LIST or ACCUSATIONS.
Plea Of Not Guilty and the Reason for the
Pien-rhe Prosecution Resting Amer Ex-
aiming Witnesses from the Church Only.

There was the usual wednesday night
procession from Mr.. Henry c. Doweu's residence
last night toward Plymouth Church, led by Mr.
Bowen and Joined In by his sons, Henry, Ed
ward, and John. and DR.. Ward Of the Indepcn
dent. The special committee OF Plymouth
Church, appointed to try Mfr. Bowen on charges
OF violating his covenant, behaving in an un-
christian, disreputabe, and dishonorablo man
ner with the Examining Committee, OF equlvo-
eating and falsifylnR, OF making certain false
and malicious charges against the pastor, and
again Of unchristian conduct and violation OF his
covenant, were awaiting him In the residence of
Mr.. II. l.. Pratt the Chairman, at II Hicks street.
Besides the Chairman, Messrs. Aaron Healy.
Samuel Delcber, T. NJ. Spellman. and @. c. Da-
wilson we're on hand, and Mr.. A. II. Davenport,
one OF the alternates, attended to nll up the
COON 20 on. Mr. 4. a. sbesrmsn, D. +. blair. +. j.
rilney NJ II. Robinson, and S. u. Halliday of
sesses sss sis as ala Mr " WSise, NJ k SooSy "nd
G.. II. Garbutt, the brethren who. according to
the eighteenth chapter OF Mathew. brought Mr..
Bowen before the church. At half past seven
afty. representatives Of tho New York. New
phalanx on the sidewalk to he ready to rescue
Mr.. Bowen In case the committee at
however, placably Disposed. After prayer. the
charges were read. MIR. Bowen then made the
MIR. DowEN's REPLY.
GENTLEMEN OF TnE Committee; Tue charges pre-.
.ensd TO me 9y the Essmlnns Gon@l,,se Of rym59.s nh
following is my reply; ..,..,
me- thsi viosied my COW nsni With r.ymout6 Church
bY my silence when Questioned as to my knowiedgc OF
lA) Dec use the Withholding Of ones knowledge and
opinions Is not recognized offence.
lB., beesu.e / was restrained from dsnyne that
S .c ~Sn 1cSs %n sa, % been oi n
GO Because rws. restrained IRON ,dmttlng 4 hist
Mr. Beecner a' hai never would ''"' DO so. see
ono BY ny sense Of obssiion 10 he psr,es from
and thirdly by nv indispostion TO damage Plymouth
pr pdo iT 81 One II: 81 & OE
'e,S; NE esh ssnSs os ~f c5eps
to oe regarded as merit aud not an offence:
q.sa eSsf Z .ara y % Gsny YIN iSss SSsS .ass i.s
amns comnis.e and purssd 1 myself oi thst ofcnce
deny the second cnarge made agsn't me & Of 10.
reply TO- the Examining Committee on fco 4. $50
witten COPY Of NJ whie's orai statement Of grew
ancc AGAINST me- and to REQUEST time to answer said
gss.Ss, ss :ss%e9i IN my gSS TSO, being Tg 0,,
nous IN such sense that any infamy should attach
therefor 10 me. but only to Mr. BeeeGrr.'
dennite ana e1pelt that they we're not "insauaon."
TO the ESaminins Committee were not voiunia.
1 made l by % mr ~ on. n, wss1 IL the nSIr !
Amining Committee: that u II sn,pnencc for me
required Dy the otacers Of the cauiea action par
taking o, tae nature Of an eeeesassA 81 process gPin,
made against me therefor by the Examining Committee
ueS SSfis's ss s.me. Of 70 ' no, ona
tesring 20 appear a. Prosecutor but was required I'M
| CfJ Bee iuse had received part OF my Information
aemsnd OF the commiiiee 10 give e.peclsiy
when other important Information was available which
| 90 Because n Il were an offence that did not at
since par.I,y paTssd %y.slt o. ,hs, oeeaee to w.t. in
further ns iPS' my s Crr
IN men nas , msr. s q q the % Se1rh M sn1 s an
me. to committee OF tue church, two of whom
! hac rsde comrl,lai agsinsi nc, neither Of ws.cs
H. Bccsus ts causing or permitting OF my statement
Ssa snec % II Srs .ScS an ocncc e
acton Of the church In causing or perttlag 20 o. pgo
melt OF fe9ruary s3 bar 70 u, treating a. sn Of
under S'S Ss y ons and s tha na
| h d the r.ht TO let ms repJ be known
NOT Guilty. oF FALsEHooD.
deny thAt am guilty Of the tnird charge Of squiyo-
CAJ because 1t false but true. that did very
fuy occupy the ten DAYS asked fVr hv me IN consuitn
memoranda. And 10 preparing my statement OF the es
(Bl Because u is no! true that promised that !
wovd answer and all questions that might he put 20
| did eIpicily STAT" that / would under no circlm.
ssscSi facts and Tor sas, reason INN proposed
before which could give all nance und facts without
90 because express Instructions OF the church to
aud every fact WI hin my own knowledge can
make refusal 81 TO DO either eQuVocAtlOn Or false
To charge L. sccusns MIR, Bowen Of .lsnder In having
made certain false aad malicious charges against the
| pastor he answers;
tea.t @ an me sSs Of Of nsIsf .S4 S psly
hypocrisy made by me against hr Deecher we're not
hl pscsp.s ne :tstsnen made BY me dsros,,ory
as cS%Sif2 sS NJ bS buy s pr.ghtR 4ai RlsS s ss ony 81
9s sSns ans % spa $ 81 Ni did
present them / should be eIcommunicated from the
90 Because was then under no absolute oeliGsa Y
univ ~ nsde I've me but which were drs"n from me n
no i've q What was told was my duty by the ON en-
lDl Bse,ase did give circgm:,snce. Which be he
might follow up II they pleased By nterroSstons oi
other parties and because It Is no, true thai faled tc
might be verified iaasmnch a. dld give the names OF
Joseph a. RcLGrds. together with an abstract OF the
IL because in the case of the my possession
which l am not at liberty to expose TO the public
to an Yimpsrs iriOunsl. and on smother ocesion 10
" Becsasc BY the publication of my coamunic atior
offeoruaTy had isid myself liable & !? SUIT for oe
. shS been e bcSsn sH @ Is proof
that nave not been guilty Of slander
NO UNCHRIsTIAs CONDUCT.
| deny that was guilty Of unchristan conduct o
violation OF any covenant with the church actor
G IF M4rsn HSa a s., refused to
any question put to me- BY order OF ae c,urch ON th'
sSen ad no, o'' reaaTe G me d'Sss such names
| felt under obligation TO protect
| (Bl Because was under no obligation ITO answer
any questions put To me, inasmuch as my statement
absolute % s1 lS oy me- sS ous va.
made under advice ana requirement OF tine Examining
Committee, and IN the course OF what was told, wa
an ecclesiastical process against me.
&C. Because no church has right inquisitoriay u
compel any OF us members who for reasons obga
tory on his conscience keeps any knowledge secre
to publish II an prove II 10 be true
(DJ Because II Is not recognlzedlOnence TO dcclp
TO consent the presence OF lawyers at conference
between church members. -
(k.) because IN this case Offering as did TO give a.
facts and names known TO me IN the presence OF MI
Reechrr to three members OF Plymouth Church know
10 believers IN Nr. Bcecher's Innocence aud one
| them lawyer any woman who might be fAlsey nc
cu,rd by II such there were, would receive all ne
crHpary without introducing other legal cout
| ell. ,. , -. , -,
ana condition. AS Is evidenced by the fac
that the church, after considerable debate at mrs
passed the resolution without making any proNlslo
Tor their attendance, and IL wac only US an aerthough
Mr. Beechers that my consent 70 ther presence wa
: BnooKLYE. March 8, 1876.
THE PROSECUTION RESTING THEIR CASE.
when he finished, Mr.. II. II. Blair OF the Ex
, amining Committee opened the case for tn
7 | church, and the testimony was begun. An on
v cial stenographer took full notes. All OF Tn
4 | Examining Committee testified to facts as the
/ | have already been printed. MessTs, White
. Moody, and Gar0qtt iQllowed with testimony {
their ittempts and failure to get at Mr. Bowen
| Mr. nONan examined aOm0 of TN