The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-05
Mr.. Bowen's Accusations Against
Beecher.

New York, Feb 4.
Tonight Henry G.. Bowen presented
letter to the examining committee of Ply
mouth church in answer to the grievances
of S. V. White, a member of said commit
tee. He commences by saying that the
church once unanimously acquitted him of
slandering the pastor. AT that time he
was charged with talking too much now
the charge is he is talking too little. His
silence was based upon the tripartite agree.
ment to bury the past and keep silent in
future. He relates the substance of the in-
terviews and concludes the letter as fol-
lows vi do rot propose now to give in
detail facts which have come to my know
ledge or incidents, disclaimers and conf
dental commune ations which have from
time to time been presented, or commune
cations to me in regard to the character of
Henry Ward Beecher, to his di'honorable
conduct in business affairs, to his trcacher-
Gus treatment Of friends, to his breaking of
written covenants, to his untru,hful state
ments in court to his lodging ali thorough
| Investigations, into his conduct and charac-
ter, to bis stolid Indifference when the I'M
just charge and malicious ISLANDERS
had been made against particular
members of his church, TO his recent
| contradictory utterances in regard 10 what
he characterizes as hodge pc dge council
rpp,pncaJ nf xyoluoc apI NJ,
Storrs and Buddngton. Which council at
one time he said had never positively OBJ
jected, but in regard to which, on another
occasion, he did positively say. won't
have anything to do with it. and finally of
his coarse abuse and slirderous charges of
perjury, uttered boldly ard publicly in his
own lecture room against an honest
christian woman who had dared, as she al
legged, to speak the truth concerning him
With this brief reference 10 matters which
have an influence in forming my judgment
| will now hasten to tell you frankly what
are my conclusions in regard to the charac-
ter of the pastor of Plymouth church.
have known Mr., Beecher quite intimate
~ since the day of his arrival in Br loklyD
! have been acquainted with him, socially
and privately, in church and in the family,
IN business matters and in religious met
tors. have heard attentively. but with
profound grief, What bas been said to me
confidently against him. | have felt my
n art stirred 10 it's depths tor dear friends
who, years before the present scandal WAS
published, sotrowlully begged my advice
as they assured me that their pastor and
mine had craftly betrayed the sanctity of
home, the very charge long after presented
to me by Theodore Tilton IN regard to his
own home never can, or will, be base
enough TO allow single name to be bruiled
before the world, although am
now ready to testify to the essen
tial facts before any proper
tribunal These disclosures | heard with
a sad heart and tried to accept the evidence
brought 10 the that Mr. Bcecher wa grief
stricken and penitcnt have read much
that has been sal for and against Mr..
Beccher in the public press haye with
utter amszsment read and ro-read and
| pondered over his published letters aud
| written confessions in regard to the seri-
Gus accusations made against him. | have
tried to weigh all the evidence which has
come before me with judicial fairness and
christian honesty. have read the wither-
ing charges which have been published to
the world against him. | have seen those
charges again and again hurled at him and
he calmly and boldly challenged to appear
before any impartial tribunal to meet
them. have seen him with all this
cloud of darkness gathering about
him apparently deiying public opinion, de-
flying the advice of his old e-long friends
embracing the soundest, ablest and best
clergymen in the country, and seemingly
defying again and again the very God of
heaven himself to cast him down. Now
being summoned here to speak and to
speak the truth, the whole truth and moth
ing but the truth, solemnly give as my
unwaverlng opinion in view Of all the facts
and evidence presented to me that the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, without even
the shadow of doubt in my mind, is
guilty Of the awful crimes of adultery,
perjury and hypocrisy. This ! say again,
and before the bar of this committee Is my
deliberate opinion, and may be permitted
to affirm that ! give it calmly, without
malice and with no other than sincere
desire to do any duty faithfully to God and
to man, to the church and to the world.
Signed IlRNRY g. BOWEN.