The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-14
Il ARRAIGN HIM AS A SLAM
DERER AND A LIARw
BEECHER DEF1Es BOWEN TO SPEAK.
Bowen Ordered to Tell All He Knows.

plymouth church acted, Friday night,
on Bowens case just as had been predicted,
or rather had determined that it would
ordered the matter back into the hands OF
the examining committee, with instructions
to give Bowen the time he asked for prepa-
ration, command him to bring on all his
evidence, and put him through searching
investigation. The resolution adopted IA
as follows:
Resolved That tho whole matter OF the insin-
uatlons or accusations OF Henry G, Bowen
against the pastor OF this church be referred
BACK 10 the examining committee with instruc-
lions to continue the investigation begun by
them, and that they be Instructed TO summon
said Bowen before them, having first given him
ten days notice OF the time and place OF their
meeting, and to notify him that he Will be ask
ed TO state any and every fact within his knowi.
edge, tending TO support the insinuations or
charges contained In his letter OF the 4th inst .
and 10 give the names OF All witnesses known
to him, oywhom any OF tho facts within his
personal knowledge may be proved, and to sub
rigid examination as shall be necessary and
proper 10 elicit the fullest possible investiga.
lion.
MIR. BEKoHRR's DEFIANCE OF BOWEN.
After the adoption of the resolution, Mr..
Beecher said he was far from feeling in a
spirited humor. A controversy between
pastor and member of church was
very sad thing. To have quarrel was to
him in the nature Of funeral service. Mr..
Bowen was one of the oldest members of
the church, and he (Beecher) could not
forget that Mr.. Bowen's threshold was the
first he crossed on coming TO BROOKLYN.
He could not think of anything more sad
than to fad a man with whom he had
walked arm in arm, and with whom he
had taken sweet counsel, and whose hospi-
tally be had shared, turned against him.
Mr.. Beccher had thus far spoken very
quietly and sadly, but now he burst forth
in laundering tones, throwing into his
words all the vehemence possible TO him.
He said that If for The last fifteen years or
more Mr.. Bowen had been in possession of
these facts, and never brought them be-
fore him or before an officer of the church,
he was guilty of breaking his covenant
with the church. and be ought to be ex-
PEELED. If he (Bcecher) was what he was
alleged to be, lie should have been cast out
OF the church, long ago. He was not
guilty, and the allegations made by Mr..
Bowen were false. He would pronounce
them 30. He referred sacastically to
Do"sh cth''hitbt 'hdt hC lldt nOJ Ihu
time 10 prepare an answer to the questions,
remarking that he had time to charge him
with being criminal, the badness of
which the three epithets used ty Bowen
could hardly compass. There should be no
secrecy in the matter if he (I}ee cher could
help it, ard everything should be slfted to
the very bottom
Mr.. Beecher had now allowed his voice
to die down TO one in which were expressed
mingled sadness and reproach, when, sud.
denly, bursting forth with his loudest and
most vehement tones, he said "As for
myself, pronounce this allegation as false.
and, with Almighty God before me and
the Judgment day, arraign him as a Sian
derer and liar"
AS Mr.. Beecher sat down, there was en-
acted scene which has never but twice be-
fore taken place in the Plymouth church
lecture room, clapping of hands, stamping
of feet and men hallooing plaudiis ut their
pastor, while his wife bowed her head up
on her hands and wept bitterly for some
moments. The meeting then adjourned at
the call of the chair. The examining COM
mittee met Immediately after, aud decided
to summon Mr.. Bowen to appear before
them on the evening of the 23d inst, at the
residence of Assistant Pastor Halliday, and
give proof of the allegations contained In
his communication of the 4th inst