, 1876-02-06
TIE BOWEN LETTER.

TIE BOWEN LETTER.
The letter addressed by Mr.. HKSRY G.
Bowen to the Examining Committee OF
Plymouth Church, which was printed in our
last issue, is the most formidable document
that has yet appeared in the records Of the
great scandal. If it be true, it is moro
crushing than the original allegations Of Mr.
TnroS and Airs. Mou1roN. If it be not
true, then is Mr. BowEs the most unblush-
ing perjurer and slanderer Of all time. In
either event, it is statement which cannot
be waved aside, or treated with that policy
Of silence which was but recently so yaunt-
ingly enunciated, only to be continually
violated.
1t will be remembered in this connection
that 1Ir. BowES has been an intimate nc
qugintance Of Mr. BEEcHEn,s since the day
the hitter first arrived in Brooklyn. Socially,
he was his friend. ReGgiously, he was q
counselor and adviser. He has been promi-
nent pillar Of Mr.: BEEoHEns church, and has
contributed largely to its success. He has
been associated with Mr.. BEEcHEn in the pub
ication Of an important religious newspaper
Of 1arge circulation, with which his name has
been identified as publicly rs that OF AIr.
BEEcuER. It will be furthermore remem-
bered that Mr. BOWEN has been known to be
cognizant Of material facts in this wretched
SANDER business; that both parties to the
trinl were aware Of this, and were reluctant
or afraid to coll upon him to testify as
to any of these material facts; and that,
when he was brought forward as witness,
his testimony was confined by common con-
sent to side issues, md giyen with so many
reservations that it cut a very small figure in
the case. There is one thing, at least, to be
set to Mr. BowES's credit: He has kept his
part Of the tripartite agreement faithfully.
Plymouth Church has bounded him to desper-
alton. The New York and Brooklyn press
hayo taunted and yilifed him. As he him
self says: "From thatday to this have been
wickedly and Indignantly assailed in MY
business affairs. All sorts of crimes and mis-
demeanors hare been charged or limited
at, and I have been held up to the
world as g man totally unworthy Of either
respect or confidence" Notwithstanding
this, he hns kept his lips Theoretically
sealed, until ct Inst he has been
brought to bay by Plymouth Church itself,
through the grievances Of A1r. S. V. WHITE,
who has imprudently, as it would seem at
lenst, sought to bring Mr. Bowen to trial for
keeping silence, and drive him out of the
Plymouth communion. The action has
opened his mouth, and he has launched
thunderbolt at Arr. BEEcHEn. The accusa-
ton which he makes is vastly more damae-
ing than the original allegations of Mr.. 1n-
TON, or the subsequent statements of Mrs.
Mou1ToN. It not only asserts what Mr.. TIL.
TON asserted, but it goes far beyond and
back Of it, and lays at Mr.. BEEcHER's door
dreadful accusations, which, If true, make
him the very incarnation Of hypocrisy and
vil1ainy. Mr.. BOWEN does not suggest, or
insinuate, or hint, this time. He speaks ont
plainly and says:
have felt my heart stirred to It's depths for dear
friends who before the present scandal was pub
Ished sorrowful5 begged my counsel they assured
methat their pastor and nina had cratt,ly betrayed
the sancity Of home the very charge long ater pre
sented to nc by THEODORE Turox In regard to his
OWL home never can or will be base enough to al-
low single to be hrutted before the world al-
though am now ready to testify the essential facts
before any tribunal
And again:
Nov, being summoned here TO speak, aad to speak
the tFuh the whole TRUTH and nothing but the truth
solenuly give 1t IS my unwayeflng opinion, in view
OF al the facts md evidences presented to me- that
the hsF HENRY WARD BEEcHER, without even the
shadow Of doubt in my mind is guilty Of the awful
crimes OF adultery, perjury and hypocrisy. This,