Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-17
plymouth Church Troubles.
New York Telegram, Feb. l0lh.1

MIR. II. G. Bowen, accompanied by DR..
W. II. Ward, Of the Indef e2,dent, and his
two sots. appeared before the examining
committee Of Plymouth Church tonight
in answer to the summons to appear and
testify;as to the facts known to him in
referense to the charges against Henry
Ward Beecher. Mr.. Bowen read state.
ment in which he alluded to the unfairness
and ifregularity of the procedure, but
said that as he wished to assist the com.
mittee to make the examination thorough
and conclusive, he would make the follow.
ing pro positions.
II propose that three men within the
Congregational body be selected, distin.
guished for their wisdom and impartial.
ity, such for example as President Wool.
sey, President Asa D. Smith, President
Fairchid, Judge L. j. Foster, the Hon.
Alphetls Hardy, and the Hon. Julius H.
Seeley men in whose decision the whole
world fill have the utmost confidence.
and shall be pledged to keep all such ovi.
dence fecret, before whom only Mr..
Beecher and myself shall appear with
our witnesses, and before whom will
consent, without any reserve, whatever,
and as soon as they can meet, to give in
full the Ievidenc, which has led me to say
that have no doubt Mr.. Bsecher is guilty
Of adultery. hypocrisy and perjury.
l ask nothing more than that
they shall fully consider the question
which you seem to have before you,
whether deserve ecclesiastical censure
for my previous silence in reference to
Mr.. Beesher, and whether am justified
by the facts in my possession in making
what you call my infamous allegations
and insinuations about hlln, made in re.
sponse 70 your own demand for a reply
to Mr.. Whites grievances. am willing
to abide the censure or approval of such
a body af men, if Mr.. Beecher and Ply.
mouth church will also submit to their
decision, re.affirm everything I have
stated about Henry Ward Beecher in my
previous communication to you, and l
am ready to substantiatc 1t before such
tribunal.
HENRY G. BOWEN.
The committee decided not to accept
Bowen's proposition. because it was not a
case between Beccber and Bowen, but a
case between Plymouth Church and
Bowen, and should not be Withdrawn
from the church and taken before strau-
gers. Bowen said it appeared that he
was now on trial before them, but pro-
tested against the injustice of summoning
hin for trial and expecting him to an.
swer on SO short notice, and asked for 10
days in which to consult papers, docu-
ments, dates and memorandums referring
to the case. At the end Of that time he
would appear before them and answer
any questions that might be proposed to
him. He then requested that copies of
charges and specifications be furnished
him. He was ready at any moment to
answer any questions which referred to
the essential facts, only he was not ready
then for formal trial.
After the consultation the following
resolution was adopted by the commit
tee: =
First. The committee decline to accede
to Mr.. Bowen's request for further ad.
jsurnment.
Second. That they now urge him to
state any facts in his possession in sup.
port Of the allegations that he has made
affecting the character of the pastor. -
Third. That if he now decline to state
such facts, we shall Tomorrow evening
report to the church the action which has
been taken, and ask for instruction. ~
Mr.. Bowen then said as the committee
refused to give him the necessary time to
prepare reply he must withdraw. He
then read the following paper:
Had you adopted my answer to Mr..
Wh;to ovd +hon I;nv;tof3 ,,anG., a folio-
member in the interest Of the purity Of
the church to state the facts to which
referred, that you might know whether
or net the pastor was good man, I
should Rave been obliged to answer with.
out further ceremony; but you cannot
now put yourselves on that ground. You
tell me that my case is on trial. and l
now have the right to insist on an orderly
trial. 1 was not ready to speak the years
that kept silent. but am now ready,
when properly put on trial before any
proper tribunal, or before you, but I
must decline at this notice, and in this ir-
regular way. to answer your questions to-
night
He appealed to them while leaving the
room to give him time to prepare reply.
Mr.. Bowen then withdrew. The commit
tee remained in. session for some time.
After they had adjourned it was stated
that the committee would tomorrow
evening present verbatim report of the
proceedings in the case OF Mr.. eBeecher to
the church ct its adjourned meeting.
Boston Telegram. Feb. lol
The Congregational church in the An.
dover Theological Seminary voted on
Wednesday night TO invite Plymouth
church to unite with them in an ecclesi.
sstical council for investigation into the
accusations made against Henry Ward
Beecher. This vote expresses simply
the church's sense of the need of an ex.
animation, and Of the injurious influence
Of delay. The Importance OF the action
is suggested by the fact that this church
is connected with the oldest Congrega.
tional theological seminary in the couu-
try, with which have been associated
more than one third of the acting Consre.
gational ministry, and more than 1000
clergymen. IS