Year: 1876

other gentlemen, while they did not talk any
pressed their concurrence with me as TO
Mr.. Bowen's duty, aud that his failure
change between tnom and Mr.. Bowen as 70 the old
time associations and services that Bowen had
dered TO Plymouth church He again repeated that his
assistance and cordial cooperation with the pastor had
continued down TO period when II was believed that
something had come TO his lBowens knowledge that
was not agreeable TO the pastor for HIM 20 know that
from that time the cold shoulder had been given him.
There was no one present at this interview but the
three members and Mr. Bowen


At our former interview took occasion to speak OF
an article the Independent having done injustice TO
Plymouth church. had said that thought ne was
wrong in permitting the Independent TO publish to the
world statement that Rule had been made to meet
Mrs Moultons case when IN point OF lacs had been
dlsclam responsibility for what was printed In the
paper that any had been fallen into II was not
Intentional At the second interview he said there
intention to misrepresent anybody that If that
| an error he would be ready TO correct it,


That is the only thing that remember that have
not stated in substance occurring the first
view in respect to this matter. am ready
any question that may be put TO me by the committee
or Mr. Bowen


BowEE's ANSWER


Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Bowens two sons pre-
sented the following to the Examining Committee of
Plymouth church at the residence of Rev. s. b. Hall
! day.


To THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH,
More than two years ago the Examining Committee
ofPlymouth church was told that had been SANDER
ing its pastor, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher; that was
probably the the trouble and mischief that
had occurred in the church; that | must be promptly
looked after, my conduct carefully investigated and,
II found guilty., be condemned and cast out
from the church wicked offender. Alter
months of most searching inquiry, a report
was made to the church by the committee
that the charge against mo groundless; that so
far they could learn had slandered the PASTOR
and that, in their judgment, evidence could be
found for the serious complaint against me. The
port of the committee presented the church at
a very crowded meeting and was unanimously
quilted OF any wron gdoing in the premises All this
Was wit


After these faithful and vigilant efforts TO learn
something against me had most sgnally failed it
began 10 be said in the church that actually
talking Too htue; that instead of opening wide
my mouth to the great damage Of Mr.
Beecher, guilty OF the grave offence
Of shutting It and saying positively nothing To talk
equally wrong II seemed to me quite plain, all this
time. that Plymouth church believed storm
gathering, and that just by way of experiment and in
order to divert public attention, some must be
found If possible who could be thrown overheard.
The storm stl kept raging, and every effort to find
some big mischief maker nimical to Mr.. Beecher
had been fruitless During all this excitement my
victions as to what was my own personal duty grew
stronger and stronger every hour. did not desire to
talk with anybody. determined to keep SILENT to do
just what had done in the past and did not forget
that | had made a solemn covenant in what has
since been called the tripartite agreement,
to bury the past and keep silent in the future
How we'll had kept that promise It does not become
now to say. But know this much that few men
have been sorely tried in regard to the duty
of mouth opening and mouth shutting-and both at





of men and women have piled me with advice and
gumens on both sides. have received thanks and
congratulations for keeping silent and solemn threats
to induce me to speak have been advised conhden
TALLY and even boldly TO smother my conscience
to 'let the past go and cry peace, peace" when


When Mr. s " White called upon me at my ONCE in
business hours-oncc alone and afterward with two
others-to talk tho "Bcecher scandal confess
that felt he bad chosen improper place and i'm
proper hour TO discuss an improper subject He how
ever expressed such friendly interest in and my
L allowed
But think soon convinced him that | had neither
the time nor the inclination TO argue with him at
length on that SUBJECT | said TO him, decidedly,
could converse with him any other party on the
tonic he had presented; that had my own views and
convictions in regard 10 the matter; that must be
allowed to act my own Judgment or, IN other
words to decide for myself what was my duty. told
HIM also that did believe In the practice of break
ing written agreements oven II others dd and, in a
word must beg TO be excused from disclosing to HIM
my views, feelings or opinions on the subject in
question. Mr. White pressed me with various argu-
ments occupying perhaps an hour or more, when he
said he hurry back to his Office to make up his
bank account His remarks were substantially tho
same both of the interviews in my office referred
by him. But he did not say on either occasion that he
desired mo TO understand that he was then taking


BRING ME- BEFORE THE CHURCH,


although he intmated that he might do so at some
future time. When received the summons, the
other day. to meet the Examining Committee of
Plymouth church | had the slightest
picion Of what was wanted OF No hint
intimation given in that summons TO the
nature of the grievances embraced in the complaint
aud must say that under the circumstances, am
utterly amazed that Mr. White should take up my time
or that of the committee with such rambling and trivial
complaints felt at first, as do now that Mr. White,
the Examining Committee and Plymouth church could
be better employed investigating the direct charges
against the pastor, made in the painest language
charges embracing the crimes of adultery and perjury
rather than in sklrmishng about IN new fields TO
II n few persons could not be scared or in some
way drawn driven into the difficulty


other men, far better and wiser than am, have
made mstakes and confess that have done so, and,
perhaps in this very But declare to you, and
through you Plymouth church. that have honestly
and conscenously tried in this whole affair to do my
duty faithfully God, Mr.. Beecher and to the church
with which am connected. l could not do more and
/ have not for one instant desired to do less.


The attempt this time to revive the practices Of the
Inqustion seems TO me most startling development
Has the time again when men are to be tried and
punished for their houghtsS Are those who arc ac-
ceped sound and orthodox in their fath 10 be
secuted, put upon the rack and then thumbscrewed
disclosing all the secrets of their inmost soul
Has to this thg It is not safe IN tins free coun
try to listen TO the confidential statements OF our
Christian brethren who seriously and with trembling
steps DOORS asking not for bread but for
help and advice in roubler Shall we say to such, Be-
goncl We are afraid to listen to youY"


In my more than twenty-five years connection with
Plymouth church have heard many sad story from
many sad hear-some for the loss of property, some
for the loss Of their dearest earthly friends and some
for the loss OF charactera greater loss than all May
God forgive me If have done wrong in listening
TO single case thus presented But for thus doing,
and that only assert | have been unceremonionsly
summoned to appear before this committee. And l
here and solemnly declare that there Is no
other basis for Mr. Whites grievances against me.
Whether he will have other grievances against aftcr
hearing this time remains to be seem


But let me ask few questions Who comes
here quote the words OF sander which have ever
uttered against the pastorG Who says that have ever
once any way except by silence, injured hmS Let
me ask, Has Henry Ward Beecher any grievances
against me2 II so, has he brought them before
this commtteeP Others as you know, have 10 the
plainest English charged Mr.. Beccher with both adu-
terry and perjury. They have challenged an invesga
tion In court OF in council and hardly whisper has
been heard in reply; Where was the valiant Mr.. $ v
White all this timer Where is he now 7 Dare the
gentleman, or any OF you, summon these accusers
into a court Of justice and there demand the evidence
on which these charges of adultery and perjury against
Mr. Beecher arc made Ifhe is absolutely innocent,
why do you not II you believed IL and thus put
an end 10 this horrible scandalg II he Is pure man.
here the straight road out Of all difficulty You have
unfortunately In my opinion, chosen dlnerent
course .


before you, charged with the crime OF "sience"
and It has been more than intimated here ana else
where that by this grievous silence have actually
uttered malicious slander; that by this persistent
40. nlaaaLl. 10 .aln