The New York herald., 1876-01-20
BOWEN AND BEECHER.
Action Of the FOrmtr Before The Nmop,h
Church Examining COM diltte.
S. v. WHITES, GRIEVANCES.

5. ". WHITE . GRIEVANCES.
The Examining Com.oittee OF Plymouth church met
At No 5s Willow stree, last evening to hear Mr.. 5. "
Whites Statement Of grievances against Henry T.
Bowen, who had been summoned to listen TO them Ike
wise The meeting was at Rev Mr. Halliday resi-
aence and conducted strictly in private, and
The press were not only denied admission,
but Their cards not forwarded TO
persons the committee room. MI Cleveland posi-.
lively refused 10 allow any COMMUNICATION 10 De sent
in. Al eight O'Clock Mr. Bowen, with his sons, ap-
reared before the committee and TO his
preston had very stormy time Of IT. indeed" The
upshoi OF the whole discussion that Mr.. Bowen
was TO receive a written statement Of the grievances
and have time TO reply TO them In the same
Mr. BowEN's STATEMENT.
Aler the meeting the HERALD reporter called at Mr.
IL c. Bowen's residence, and in presence OF his sons
and other gentlemen, he made the following
ment:-
Yesterday morning received this letter.
No. IS WILLOW STREET, BRooxLYS,(
Jan. IL, 1876 !
H. C. BOWEN
DEAR SIR At a meeting OF the Examining Commit
tee OF the plymo9th church heId ths evening AZ me
<equest of MI. V. White and at which he was pres
ent and made statement Of grievances he had with YOU
the following resolution was passed, which was IN
s<ucted 10 forward TO YOU
Resolved That Mr. S v White and Mr. Henry O.
@ M &c ea se sye ae
ing the 18th lust at eight osoes to state and hear me
receive such advice as the committee may think h to
give in the
Respectfully yours, ; b. HALLIDAY, Clerk
made no reply to this but attended the meeting Of
the committee tonight There were present when
and my sons and my stenographer Mr.. J. B. Cary,
tered all the members OF the Examining Committee
except Henry Ward Beecher. They Rev. Dr. Ed
ward Beecher in the chair; Thomas j. Tlney. Mr. S.
B Halliday. clerk OF the committee; Thomas G. Shear
man v f. Blair, Henry N. Cleveland and the com
piainant S " White, who is member OF the
committee was asked VINO the gentlemen
with me / replied that they
my two sons and stenographer, whom had
ployed 10 make verbatim report Of the proceedings
Direction was made TO the latter's presence; but
] insisted that / should be allowed TO have
q reporter, that l might preserve, for ref
ercnce, the doings of the committee and
know exactly what the grievances which Mr.
White would state to the committee. Further objec-
made TO the reporters presence by several
members OF the committee and on motion OF Mr..
Shearman the committee withdrew to another room
for consultation After an absence of FIVE minutes they
returned and stated that they had unanimously
DETERMINED EXCLUDE TnE REPORTER.
again insisted that II was his right under the circum
stances 70 have reporter as otherwise he would have
then moved that a committee OF two be appointed to
escort the reporter to the street door This motion
seconded and then said, 'Mr Cary, you need
not stay and he thereupon withdrew, accom-
panied by myself and sons to the door. ! said
10 the committee that the reporters exclusion
virtually exclusion Of myself, l would have
record OF the proceedings. ] and my con-
suited in the hall as 10 our best course and we decided
60 the parlor and listen what they had say
sn accordance with the summons Of the committee On
entering said should like TO hear what Mr. White
had say and what advice the committee would have
50 give Inc. Nr White then made this statement
WHITES GRIEVANCE
IN November last called at Mr.. Bowen's ONCE in
New York aud had interview with him regarding
Mr. Beecher. told Mr.. Bowen that it generally |
understood that he possessed OF information,
whether true or false regard to Mr.. Bcecher winch
he refused TO make public; that some people believed
II 10 be true and that It was Mr. Bowen's duty TO
state frankly. whether he personally knew |
anything against Mr.. Beecher or not If he did not
know anything personally l said he ought to say so,
and If he dad he ought to tell Mr. Bowen declined to
any questions put by me regard to Mr..
Beeche and avowed that ho had thus far been silent
the subject aud intended 10 remain SO In the future
That was the substance interview Iaterward
called upon him with Messrs. NJ. X. Moody and E. Il.
Garbut members of the church. with the results.
Mr. Bowen declared that he would answer questions
except he was called into court and interrogated
ACTION oP THE COMMITTEES.
That was the substance said Mr. Bowen, Of Mr..
Whites grievance He had other allega-
ton or charge Of any DESCRIPTION n ngapst ssoSs: me-
sad they were ready to hear anything that
j might have to cay in reply to Mr.. White.
ing that the summons had given me right 20 say
anything AT any rate, was totally unprepared; the
time given me was so short l insisted, however,
upon having the statement OF Mr. Whites grievances
in writing stating that would then give II attention
and make respectful reply ! said that ! felt hurt
that the committee should have summoned me
tremendously and without any intimatlon directly
or indirectly OF what the grievances
and thought ] WAS being treated Justly n
cordance with Congregational usages stated that in
this instance Plymouth church. by having given TO the
press the day before received IT, the summons TO at
tend the meeting hadviolated its own code OF honor
Mr. Halliday said he considered the imputation cast
upon members OF the committee by tho charge
insult
reafrmed that IL must have been given 10 the press
by a member Of the committee, and called upon the
chairman TO ask each member present whether he had
given TO the press; several denied the charge at
once and the chair about call upon the
when Mr.. Shearnan arose and admitted that he had
made the reporter OF New York paper statements
from which the facts published might have been in
ferred.
then announced my readiness TO hear any advice
the committee might wish to give me The chairman
stated that they wanted TO hear from first but de
cned 10 talk, SAYING had not been invited there for
that purpose. The commit ttee then stated that they
had nothing say stated that could not and would
not make any reply TO MT White that occasion.
They SAID they would give all the time needed.
then asked for copy oil the report of the proceedings
which had been taken In shorthand by Mr. Tlney and
stated that | would then make careful reply.
further stated that n ! permitted
at the next meeting 10 have stenographer
present would not attend but send written
reply as / desired In any future meeting
90 stand on equal terms with my sccuser, who had
reporter present then withdrew, leaving the com
mIitee in consultation
The reporter called upon the committee but was
fused any information whatever. Mr. Bowen, at the
beginning OF the meeting, wanted TO have the press