Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-10

Mr.. Bowen responded to the summons Of
Plymouth Church, on Wednesday evening,
and read second statement, in which,
while still lefusing to give names and par
ticular dates, he said be was absolutely con-
vinced in his mind that there were circum-
stances which pointed very clearly to Mr..
Beecher's guilt about 1857 or 1853. He
offered to 90 before q committee of three
members of the Church, Messrs. White,
Mackay and Garbutt. and gave them his
facts, they agreeing to preserve the names
and identifying circumstances secret. Mr..
| Shearman moved that the members named
| be appointed committee, and at once re-
tire to listen to Mr.. Bowen's statement.
The members named objected to serve if
they must be held to secrecy.
BAD ENOUGH.
Mr.. Beecher taking part in the general
debate, said think it is bad enough as it
has been. | think it is bad enough for
man to sit at the communion table from ten
to fifteen years, partaking of the bread and
wine at my hands, all the time knowing, as
he says, that was an adulterer. 1t is bad
enough that whenever business difficulties
came to head, this matter was darkly in
llIdlcQ " duu II IL Udu
enough that | was the editor by renewed
contracts and by obligations. 1t is bad
enough that during all that time he (Bowen)
expressed himself in the most cordial man
ner to me. 1t is bad enough that stigma,
resting on some unknown person, foated
from one to another 1t is bad enough that
now when the matter is to be brought to a
head that he wishes to condemn TO eternal
ignominy, by the breath of the accuser, be-
hind her back, by giving her presence only
under such circumstances that she is helpless,
the victim of the slander So monstrous and
so outrageous a wrong done to any innocent
woman | have not known, and | am willing,
not only to 90 before that committee. if the
person implicated may come by counsel, and
avail herself of the right of questioning. |
em willing. He it is, who has stabbed in the
dark for twenty years, who is unwilling.
Mr.. Shearman favored SEN ding the matter
before the committee Of three proposed by
Mr.. Bowen. 90 i want" said he, - the
names of the ladies who may be accused, if
they are dead or alive land they are not
aliye), to be brought out by Mr.. Bowen, or
else want Mr.. Bowen to 20 down damned
by his own action"
AT this Mr.. Herbert Bowen sprang from
his seat, and, with glaring eyes and clincbed
fists, was apparently going to strike Mr..
Shearman, when his father and one Of his
brothers caught hold of him and brought him
back to his seat.
After considerable further discussion re-
solution was adopted to the effect that Mr..
Bowen be granted the privilege of going be-
fore the committee of three, as he had re-
quested, but the motion stipulated that any
parties other than Mr.. Beecher who might
be accused should be allowed to have
friend or counsel with them. Mr.. Bowen
refused positively to submit to this
Mr.. Shearman moved that the Committee
of three be instructed to wait on Mr.. Bowen
and summon him before them. This was
done, each member Of the committee going
TO Mr.. Bowen and summoning him in person.
lie refused, however to 90.
The report of the Examining Committee
was presented, charging first that Bowen
violated his covenant with the church in not
having either affirmed or denied when he
knew anything damaging TO the pastors
character secondly, with unchristian. dis
reputable and dishonorable conduct in the
matter of his not answering the Examining
Committee Of the church, before whom he
had been summoned. The third charge
against Mr. Bowen was that of talschOod
the fourth with having slanderei the pastor,
and the fifth charge accused Mr.. Bowen
with unchristian conduct in violating his
covenant with the church ia declining TO
answer the questions Of the committee.
The charges were referred TO a committee
and the meeting adjourned.