New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-09
MIR. BOWEN'S ANSWER.
TEARING BY THE CHURCH COMMITTEE.

bile a dense and joyous tnrOng OF plymouth
Church people enjoying the Mayfower festival and
fair IN the lecture and Sunday and church
psrlors last evening small representative body Of the
church was arraignng Mr. Bowen half block away from
the church doors Themeeng was held at the house OF
L. Pratt at Hicks and Orange ss There were present the
Special Com ttee appointed to try Mr. Bowens case
consisting OF Messrs. Pratt. Aaron Heaey f.. g. David
son, Samuel Becher, and T. NJ spelman; the Church
Examining Committee, composed OF Thomas g. Shear
man. b. f. Blair, Thos. j. Tilney NJ ii. Robinson. and g.
II. halliday the three church members who originally
brought the matter before the Examining Committee
S. V. White NJ. X. Moody and f. H. Garbutt. A. H.
Davenport acted alternate the Special Committee.
Henry C. Bowen accompanied by the Rev. Dr. VIM.
H. Ward OF The Independent. and his sons, Edward A.
John F.. and Henry T.. Bowen.
Thos j. Tilncy Clerk OF the Church. conducted the
against Mr. Bowen The charges and resolutions adopted
of the last meeting OF the church read Then Dr.
Ward read Mr. Bowens the several charges
follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE; The charge. pre-
sented to me by the Examining Committee OF Plymouth
Church nave been received duy considered ana the Io
lowing is my reply
IL deny that l am guilty OF the nrs; charge made
against that 81 violated covenant with Plymouth
Church by my silence when questioned as to my know"
(al Because the Withholding of ones knowledge and
opinions Is not recognized odense.
information which convinced me OF Mr. Bcechers guilt
since such denial would nave been a lie -
(c) Because was restrained from admitting H. first, by
the fact that had made n written covenant with Mr..
Beecher that never would do secondly. by sense
certain confidential Information and thirdly by my In
disposition to damage Plymouth Church, or amy Of the
parties implicated or 10 bring further public dishonor on
inc Church OF Christ.
,d Because nv silence was benevolent silence bene-
ncal TO Mr. Beechcr aud Plymouth Church, and IA TO be
regarded as merit and not an oiense
either TO affirm OF deny that knew such facts" have
since listened to the eXpostulatons Of the Examining
Committee aud purged my scf " that ofense
II. defy the second charge made against Of I'M
christian. dsrepntnble and dishonorahe conduct In my
reply 10 the Examining Committee on Feb. 4, 1876
Idj Because IL recognized offense 10 demand
written copy Of Mr. Whites oral statement OF grievance
against me, and to request time to answer said greV-
(G Because the statement In my reply being true the
in such sense that ANY nmy should attach therefor 10
t) Because my staten, nts made therein we're def
mite md explicit that they were not insinuations
On Because the said statements made by me to the Ex
anining COMMITTEES were involunary made by me. but
In the nature of reply forced from me by the per
sistent demand OF the Examining Committee that n
iC was an oaense for me to make such affirmation de
naI the fact that WAS required by the officers OF the
church, in action partdkug Of the nature OF an tccie
SIasiical process against thus Ia affirm or deny
should he bar 10 complaint made against me therefor
e, Because il II no offrnsr that gave neither facts
the names OF Witnesses rs was not volunteering
toappear as prosecutor but WAS required un~iilinsy
ca Because had received part OF my nfor cation IN
snch way that did NOT think It right oven on me d,
maud of the committee. TO give TO them especially
when OF important Information was available when
they sought TO obtain.
g Because that Ifit We're onense that did not at
partially purged myself OF that onense, to w.t. Ia my
cOmmnnic alton on Feb %.
purge yse OF II by my offer made Feb. 10, to gave all
names and facts TO committee OF three impartial men
members OF the church, aud s further by my orcr
made Feb % TO give all such facts and names to com
mtee OF the church. two 81 whom had made complaint
against me- neither of which offers was accepted
90 because the causngor permttingoi my statement Q,
the 4h OF February to be published "a not recognized
ocnse aud bee II such an uncnse the action
OF tue church iu causing or permitting TO ne published
my much more explicit and circum,tautal statement OF
frb - 1. a it, treating ocuse the aforesaid
publication by me; aud further because 1t had bee
widely published and believed that was then under
process of discipline aud ie that had the right to
iii deny that am guilty of tho third charge of
Invocation and fasehood.
al because IL j. false hat true that did very fully
occupy the ten days asked for 10y me In consulting VII
nrsses and referring 10 dates. documents, and nemo
rands and in preparing my statement OF the essential
(bi BrcAi,e 1t IL true that promised that would
tue Examining Committee. ON the contrary. did eI-
pcitly state that would under no eircumsiAncss give
aud for that reason then proposed fa,r ttonn" con
give all names aud facts without reserve.
~ Because no eITess instructions OF the chnich 10
state any and every fact within own knowedse can
mako my refusal 80 TO do either equiv ocaon OF false
~ To Charge Four accusing me OF Islander In having
made certain false nnd malicious charges against the
tor answer That deny that AMI gully OF the charge
tGl Because the Charge Of adultery perjury and
hypocrisy made by nguinst MI. Beechrr were not
(5 because the statements made by me derogatory TO
Mr. BeecEer's character wen not nnuci3n' lnasmucn
AS had not wiully thrust them before the EXAMINING
Committee, but hat presented them only on Tie urgent
soctude aud demand OF that Committee and also under
lie lntimation that II did not tnu- present them /
should b. communicated from the church 40
~ Because was tneu under no absolute obhgltOn 70
sbautiate hy proof any statements Wilfuly made
by me. but which drawn from me In the line oi
what l WAS told Wa my duty BY the officers OF the
lon Berause did give circumstances which the Exnmn-
ing Committee ia prof ssed for light. might fol
low they pleased by the nterrogatiOns Of other parties
aud because II ia not true that failed 10 give the
fN l4dru HDa
verified masmuch M aid give the nance 0t two very
Important witnesses, TO wit, MI ana Mrs Joseph H.
Richards together with an abstract 0f their testimony
10, Because In the case Of the facts IN my possession
winch an liberty 10 expose 10 the public, have
proved my good faith by offering 10 present them To an
impartial tribunal, and on another occo-ion to hostile
of Feb e. had laid ms liable 10 suit for libel before
the civil courts and the act that no such acop ma
been brought against mo II presumpuNe PROOF thht
have not been guilty OF SANDER -, -,t.
v In answer 20 Charge Five charging with unchrls
church, deny that was guilty Of unchri.an conanct
or violation ofany covenant wi tho church IN my action
ON Ia. evening OF March /. 1875.
II Bcsuse In /. not true that refused TO answer any
questions put 10 me by order OF the church on he s
ttary did the only question put 10 me. Wncn
did require 10 diyuge such names as iet 'huer
Obligation Ia protect. -, -, "a. .- a,,,
qics Ions put me-" inasmuch rs my statements OF my
absolute conviction 81 Mr.. Beecher's quit were hOt he
cu-atinp. Voluntarily made by me, hut were mau'
under advice and requirement NJ the Examining Commit
and in the cOurs" OF what was toid was WI
ucnl process against me- 81
tS Because no church has right Enthusiastically ot to
counsel any Of Its members who for reasons oDnsa"
on his own conscience keeps any knowledge secret W
publish II anu prove II to be true. IT., g.,
I Becase ii IA not recognized Ofense To decline 10
consent To the presence Of lawyers at conference Ne
II, Because in this case offering | did TO give an
,acts and names known to me IN the pre-cnce of Mt
Bercher to three members OF plymouth Chnrch kho"n
to he believers ia Mr. Beechers innocence, ana one OF
them lawyer any who mignt be- inlsey accused
by me, II such there was, would receive al ne'eS7'''
protection without introducing other legal counsel. ,
n