Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09
uafrhnar &c ganrpaL
Mr.. Bowen Breaks silence.

Henry c. Bowen has at last broken his
long silence with respect to his pastor, Rev.
IT. W. Beecher. The occasion which forces
him TO the 'front.'" is the complaint Of S. V.
White, one Of the members Of Plymouth
church, to which he was cited to answer by
the Examining Committee. Ills answer is
long, but the most important portion Of it
consists in the fact that he asserts It as his
unwavering opinion, that Mr. Beecher is
guilty Of the crimes Of adultery, perjury and
hypocrisy.
This charge Of Mr. Bowen is quite as re
markable as anything in the history Of the
scandal. II goes beyond the statement Of
Mrs. Moulton, and alleges that Mr., Beecher
has craftily betrayed the sanctity Of other
homes than Mr.. Titon's. Mr. Bowen gives
no facts by which the public may ascertain
the correctness Of his opinions lie contents
himself with the statement Of his own CON
victions. Aud there, for the present, he
rests. lie intmates that he will not be base
enough to disclose names, though he will
give all the essential facts. lie darkens still
more the cloud which hangs over the head
Of his pastor, but he discloses nothing by
which the public can learn anything, except
his opinion Of Mr. Beecher. Unless his opin-
ion is speedily sustained by facts, Mr..
Bowen must inevitably stand as the great
est slanderer in the whole list of Mr.. Beech
er's adversaries. No man Of high or low po-
sition can be condemned justly for an Of
tense which exists only in the convictions Of
other men. Mr. Bowen may give II as his
solemn and unwavering opinion in view of
all the facts and evidence presented to him,
that Rev. H. w. Beecher is guilty Of the aw-
full crimes Of adultery, perjury and hypoc-
risy," but other men want the facts and evil
dence The publication Of Mr.. Bowens
opinion, may be a terrible blow to Mr..
Beecher, but unless Mr. Bowen follows it
with the facts that justify his opinion, Mr..
Beecher may charge hin with the wicked
ness Of the Great Accuser. And then we
must remember that "facts and evidence
which will satisfy one mind of Mr. Beechers
guilt, will not satisfy another mind. The
bic. Mr. Beecher has right to say TO those
who are agitating this mournful case, 4" !
demand facts and not opinions. If am to
be cast down from my high position, let it
be for what ! have wrongly done, and not
for what others wrongly believe that have
done"
1t is true that men may say Where there
is so much smoke, there must he some fire"
Yet justice requires that no man shall be
disgraced before the whole world on a mere
inference While Mr.. Beecher has been ter
ribly charged with atrocious crimes, the
character of his accusers has been most for
tunate for him. His own actions and letters
have been his worst foes. Mrs Woodruff,
who first published the charges, gave voice
TO the hopes and wishes Of harlotry. Mr.
Tilton, as well as Mr.. Mouton, had confess
edly denied and sought to cover up the of.
lenses which they finally alleged Mrs
Moulton was the one clear and honest wit
ness to confessions which she could hardly
have misunderstood. And now Mr.. Bowen
throws against Mr.. Beecher the weight of
his opinion, which is thus far only an
opinion. But Mr., Bowen has been the Meph-
istopheles Of this. whole affair. lie stands
charged, before the public, with wrongs as
great as any other infractions of the dec
alogue. lie is reported TO have used his pa
per- the Independent, for a large considera-
ton, as pious means TO defraud his limo.
cent subscribers of their hard-earncd CAPT
tai, in the interest of the Northern Pacific
railroad. lie has not been regarded as
man scrupulous rs to his word, aud as to
means taken to secure his ends. lie con
fesses that he has known for years, that his
pastor "has betrayed the sanctity OF the
homes of his dear friends" and yet he has
continued to support that pastor aud give
him currency and honor among men. What
sort OF morality is that which will sustain in
the pulpit an admitted and abandoned adul
terer, and receive, for aught we know the
communion at his hands? The partaker is
as bad as the thief
And now, since Bowen is what he is, the
intelligent public demands not his opinions
but his facts. Innocence never need shrink
from Henry c. Bowen's opinions. It may
well call for his evidences. If he is only to
open his mouth to utter his solemn beliefs, it
were better he had kept eternal silence. Let
him tell the world on what his convictions
are based.
But while we say these things in justice
TO Mr.. Beecher, we do not attempt to con
eeal the fact that these things, taken in con.
nection with his by-gone relations to these
men and with his own confession, render his
own position more painful and sad. lie can
only scatter this horror of great darkness
which has gathered around him with light
Truth and purity and innocence, when
falsely charged, demand light--all the light
possible. Light Is the salvation of purity
when wickedly assailed. And of what pos
sible use can the advisory council be now
For three hundred ministers and laymen to
meet in Plymouth Church aud discuss Rule
No. I, or the trivialties of church pro
cedure, when the church itself is rocking TO
and fro with the action of the elements, and
when the head of its pastor is beat upon by
thunders and struck with lightning, would
be the most mOurnful spectacle in all his.
tory. No Interpretation of rules can silence
this storm. No deliverances on church pol
ity can hush these thunders. Only light, if
he is innocent, can save Mr. Beeoher now
Only confession, penitence and humility, be-
fore God and man, can save him il he is