The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-12
PLYMOUTH'S TRIALS.
The Examining Committee
on BoWen'e Case.
MR. BEECHER'S STRONG LANGUAGE
81 Arraign Him as a Slandere1
and a Liar"


evenings business meeting elected such evidences Of
strong feeling Rarely, too, has the Plymouth pastor
had occasion such strong language in defending
himself from the fierce assaults OF his adversaries
Nearly all the more prominent members OF
the church were present. The religious exercises OF
the evening were brief Brother Mckay in his prayer
impiored Christ, the helper, TO help the church to
triumph over ITS trials. Then there were hymns sung
and Mr. Beecher read from the Scriptures portion
including the passage, 'For whom the Lord oveth he
chasteneth, and applied the words history
Of Plymouth church. which Of late years he SAID has
been in deep waters 1t had twenty years Of undated
prosperity, without the vexations belonging to other
churches, and possibly would have become vain
and forgotten its mission but for ITS trials He adj.
vsed his congregation in bearing up against these
assaults not to forget what their real mission was
to suffer sympathy for their pastor TO take tho
place Of religious duty In 1874 there a council
and there is another and to those who receive
the brethren from abroad he would say II
ter Of Christian honor that they should not bias .
them in the slightest way by act insinuation.
He asked those who expected to be pres
ent at the meeting OF tho council not in
the slightest TO express approval or dsapprobation.
After Mr.. Beechers address Professor Hart ohered a
brief prayer then benedicton pronounced by
Rev. DIR. Beecher, and previously announced, tho
business of the evening commenced. The feature Oh
the business meeting Mr.. Beecher's speech. He
commenced calmly but with evident effort suppressed
his feeling As he warmed up his action became In
tensey dramatic and his last words spoken with
peculiar force and vigor of defamation. His theme
Mr. Bowen and Mr. Bowen's charges,
and he ended thus for myself have only this
to say-I pronounce all his ipslnuations and accusa-
tons false, and with Almighty God before aud the
Judgment Day arragn MN a slanderer aud lAr''
THIS conclusion ELECTED perfect thunder of applause
n faTE sod nf RrnNo An
which was dcaening IN its force and lasted for several
minutes, Full particulars Of the business transacted
THE BUSINESS MEETING
The business meeting was organized Immediately
after the Benedcton, with +. NJ Edgerton as Mod
orator
Mr. Thomas j. Tney, clerk of the church, said la
communication having been received from G. G, Dun
can asking that he be dismissed from the church. the
Examining Committee recommend that he be dis
missed and that his name be dropped from the ROLL"
Mr. Tilney read a report OF the Examining Commit
tee detailing mlnutely the transactions which took
place between Mr. Henry c. Bowen and
the committee ut the three meetings TO which
that gentleman summoned and the SUBJ
stance Of which has already been published
in the HERALD. The reader careful to make every
point tell by reading the speeches of Mr. Bowen beforo
the committee asking for time in semi-snivelhng
tone, while the remarks of the members given
with full effect The reading was frequently inter-
rupted by applause and laughter. AT It's close Mr.
ances he thankful that he able still 10 SIT up
He desired TO offer resolution another step in tho
This resolution he would now present IN lieu Of the
ordinary resolution to adopt the report
Resolved That the whole matter of the insinuaons
church be referred back the Examining Committee with
Instructions TO continue the investigation begun by them,
that they be said Bowen before
them having first given him ten days notice Of the time
be asked state and fact within his knowledge
his of The 4h inst and give the the Wit
neseS hnSwn 90 nm o Ssom aay oIher sS hD WITHIN ms
other and further thorough aud rigid examination as shall
cation thereof
These resolutions were explained in detail by Mr..
Tilney, and unanimously adopted amid loud cheers.
Mr. Beecher then advanced TO the 'front.' OF the plat
FORM when Mr. Mckay and called upon the
Moderator TO remind those present that II was not a
political meeting but an assetnbage of Chrsts chill
dren. and therefore, there should be no demonstration
OF either applause or disapprovaL
This speech followed by hush, In the midst OF
which Mr. Beecher began
BEEcHER's
l agree with Mr. Mckay In the drift OF his remarks,
because, although am much Interested in the mat
under discussion TO- night any person can be,
am very tar from feeling combatve-I am very far from
feeling the spirited humor that many OF the brethren
present are in controversy between any two church
members is sad thing; controversy between MEM
Der OF church and the pastor is sad thing regard
the relationship OF pastor TO church as not second
to the relationship Of mother to her
and where in this case the Intercourse began early
and continued without breaking for half score Of
years and still continued, n0minally for than
many years more, TO have even fracture, to have
quarrel a sad thing II certainly is TO me In the
funeral service, and not IN the nature OF
ordinary political speech or harangue.
Mr.. Bowen not only was one Of the earliest
members Of this church and ono Of It's founders,
but l don't forget that It was at his house
his threshold | first crossed when l came
to Brooklyn; at his hands and those OF
his now happy wife in heaven | received hospitality
which shall not forget We took sweet counsel to-
gether and to his indeiagabe zeal In that early period
of the churchs history we are indebted much tho
early prosperity Of this church and cannot think Of
anything sad than at this late day the Pan with
whom have walked arm in arm whose house was as a
hVAfh nF1u hanE tn xuhn
and in their early days learned TO love me,
almost all of whom may say grew up
al my knees TO find him in such antagonism as that
the other OF US is destroyed is not thing for
smiles II is nota thing for cheers Now, don't pro-
pose argue this question to-nght II Is not nj that
should do So only propose 70 say one or TWO WORDS
in the matter and Is that If for the last nfteen
years and more Mr.. Bowen has been in possession Of
such facts BIO now alleges In his letter, and never
mentioned them TO me nor copmunicated
Them to an officer OF this church nor in
OF the church itself he deserves TO be publicly
PEELED from the church for violation OF his covenant.
(Cheers) II ! am what ! am alleged TO be- and have
been what he alleges that have been and he knew 10
and permitted II without word OF warning TO to,
the church. he has committed a crime against this
church and against morality and II II was not and
the allegation Is leland II is lie, and
before God / pronounce it-then he was
guilty Of will not say heinous
Crime but another equally foul both OF them black
and both Of them from the pit for pronounce tho
allegations absolutely false that have been made
Further, let me say that when Mr. Bowen being de-
manded by his brethren 10 state all the facts aud what
was the evidence In MS possession, plcaOS tnat
IL put upon trial. and that he has not bad timebut ho
had time to write the letter and charge before tho
public OF this continent-he had time TO charge
with being a criminal that three epithets hardly
belt and compass-and having had time 10 set me up a
and publish u In the newspapers and IS asked,
what is your evidence ~ he has not had time
Q.aughtcrl Ought not that TO have been thought OF
before he published ~ have still another word 10
say and that Is TO the tribunal which he proposes
70 favor i-three foksa ripare tribunal ON the con;
dton that he light hide in their presence the names o
those parties and that their words may not OUT
in tho ADJUDICATION OF this matter But 20 secrecy
shall rest this matter fApplauscl II you nays
any disposition In that regard care not don't say
that won't certain respects 20 before sucn comJ
fnitiee but this say there shall not be secret III
this matter Is not explored to the bottom II shall od
because my will 10 set aside and don't propose that hd
SHAH hide himself nor will permit anything 70 od
hidden about by having referred TO three gentle<
mon with the understanding that they shall keep
secret the process before them aud only let ont what
they think What they think won't satisfy you; what
they think won't satisfy me- and since the master haa