The New York herald., 1870-05-04
TIE TWO-PENNY LIBEL.
Result of Dining aShine for All !"
Reporter.
Trial of the Rsv Chas. B. smyth for Hospitality
on the sabbath-Pharisaic,.i Folly Of
Fossil Presbyters-Tb,, Grand In
quisitors to Report To-Day.

C0mfAenced yesterday. The occasion was an
august one, while the impressive proceedings
iAspired feeling OF awe and reverence.
The hall of justice was the Eleventh street
United Presbyterian church, and the tribunai
@he First United Presbyterian Presbytery OF
New York, comprising the following reverend gen.
temen:-y. G. Findley Moderator; A. c. Triss l.
Harper, ID. d.; J. Harper, T. Armstrong, Robert
Harper, Mr. Thompson and Elder Isaac McGay. They
were ali dressed In ominous black. The reverend
gentleman WAS arraignel on the complaint OF John
Rosenrorough and Harman C. Henderson,, members
OF the church, who complain that according 10 an
article published IN the sun the llth of Aprn last
Chares b. Smyth, minister aud pastor OF the church
IN question was, on Sabbath day. guilty OF the fol-
lowing mlsdemeanors;-
&c snS % ws PRESENT na asked them 10
refreshments Then he led them well known liquor and
s lie 'yp private door
been yen he himself the oarfsspsr @ to bring , him %
the former q which aads hs took FIVE nssr
been disposed Of ali arose to smyh, turning
the SarEeepe caroossiy requested him hans VA,
right" and the party passed out and separated
This was the crime that sent the lutter among
the reveren;ial hearts Of some Pharsees-the terri
BILE outrage for which the reverend gentleman
was to undergo public trial. He faced 1t like
man.
shortly after ten O'Clock the Presbytery, with very
distended vsages, congregated around the pulpit
beneath which sat the Moderator and the reverend
clerk. who seemed to be much impressed with the
deep soIemnity OF the investigation. Gin and
milk ana on the Sabbath, too Horror OF horrors |
There was about bali dozen ladies sitting near
the entrance, who seemed to take the whole thing
as n Cd joke; and capital affair the whole thing
proved.
Of T..
he prayed that their abor in search OF truth might
be attended with the best results large, good
Gatured lCoking member of the Seventh avenue
Presbyterian congregation here allowed To take
part in the proceedings, and his handsome face
rendered more bright and cheerful by the scowling
glances thas m surrounded a It. Indeed the gloomy
ordinary human being plead guilty without trial.
A STAB IN THE BACK
was here Sought 10 be inflicted IN the shape OF Pc
iiiion FROM some individuals, praying that the pas
teral relations between the Rev. Mr.. Sm5th and
his congregation might be dissolved. It failed aud
thrown upon the table with some feeling Of JUS
Lce Mr.. Smyth's objections TO ts introduction
were as follows:
object 10 the above named document for the fol-
lowing reasons, 10 Wit:
Fyrst--ff The caption or SAID document be sueh as
II above described, lhe document is not as IL pur.
ports TO be, "frem The church congregation" for
is, in fact petition from persons acting in their
individual capacity, ana not Iiom "ihe congrega-
ton contrary 10 The Book OF Discipline, part H., Oh.
vi, art. iv., sec. 3.
Secend-As a petition 1t Is inadmissble; for the
Iion is sought, if not rom the pastor, application
shaa be made from the congregation" and its
language implies acton by the people as cOngre-
CATION, and lot as indviduals. (H. D., part IL, ch.
Vi, art. w., sec. 81
inird-The said document was brought 10 the
noicC OF the congregation last night regularly and
Burreptiti0usly.
Fourfh-when 1t did come v the notice of the
congregation they rejected it, as'is evident from the
resolutions they adopted, true copy whereof Is
kei eiO annexed.
T4Tl-It was brought about by a course OF pro.
ii The said document be received 10y this presbytery
requires INVESTIGATION, to see II = was not In lis
and therefore conuary TO The Book OF Discipline and
20 the ordination VOWS OF the cniel actor thereln.
Book OF Discipline, part ill., Chap. VII. art. IL. Sec a.
Strtn The petition iemDtaces charges some OF
which are serious; yet the persons pre!errlng them
have not acted upon the rule laid down by Christ in
SerenM-The reasons specified in said document
are for the most part fiiyIlons or untrue
As already mentioned. The document, by unani-
nous vote, was laid upon the table. The reverend
gentleman then referred to meeting held by his
col gregatop, at which the following was ulaEi
nous adopted
w r: sTss E. N e. Su. Of LIZ
rlss R sy and ,s faI s;. There thereon is now
and saa Of sas . full .s S4..Ss
@ 81! Ta.sss Fr:.sy,e5isn :assss & :, isssssTs
or nsnu1o "ssps na 9n a;
there be individuals who think that they have
ground complaint against him. their duty Is to follow the
Tule Laid down by Christ in the way Of private interview
s A ss 12 sssS @ ssS
such matter by the congregation at this time
ANSWER TO THE CHARGES.
Mr. Spyh then presented his answer TO tie
charges preferred against him. He said:-fOr
answer IN tbis cause to the complaint the above
named defendant says that the complaint, in the
language II which it is framed Is untrue in every
particular and respectfully requests that the pres
bytery pronounce judgment accordingly upon them
fupy9
the complaint is based and to acquit hun of all the
charges In full Bus the defendant further says !
that after church on Sabbath the tenth day Of April
ast, he went so a respectable nUtal on Broadway, |
ate beefsteak, slipped some gin and MIX from the |
ormer, OF which liquids he had about six teaspoon
lus, according 10 The best OF his recocction and |
q pot of black lea for lunch; that on the same
occasion there were two gentlemen with him
oysters raw each, and one Of them glass OF |
ale the other some gin and mllk, the same quantity
rs the defendant took that it being the sabbath day
did not pay the bill, but requested |
tne cashier to make note OF the amount anu de- |
tendant Called and paid the bill the next day. De-
the church: tnat forasmuch a. ne teaches Bible class
beie at two O'Clock it was not possible for him to 20
Z ing much exhausted after preaching and |
(, er a very busy week. he felt very much in need,
avn pg company with him on the occasion, he
s!ie yes that when the attendant circumstances |
la We shown by the evidence, the Presbytery will
,usid, er them sufficiently extenuatng to render |
lat ia ct excusabe, and hopes and respectfully re.
uests ,Wat accordingly censure shall be passed |
pom hinN therefor.
After some desultory conversation az to the man. |
er in which the Investigation should be conducted
ost Of those present being apparently 'at sea"
4 on the subject. the members OF the PresDytery |
,n fortaply arranged themselves for the Pharasacal
,sa nt. Some Of the reverend gentlemen armed |
eTn selves with well pointed pencils and by way OF
lieio displayed Qulres OF f00lscap upon which to
Dt the awful narrative OF the crime. The scene
as lpl posing, and few OF the reverend gentlemen
avlng wiped their spectacles, looked aOft and
ousy clN os3ed their thumbs prepared for
THE TESTIMONY.
Mr. John Stephen in reply to numerous questions
the pros ;utOrs, testified that he remembered the
IN of Apri,A when he went to the Eleventh street
resbytoran hurch to report the sermon Of the Rev.
r. lniyth for the HERALD; remained In the church
1fi rl1p close of the sermon; when Mr. Smyth
mo nom the loulpt ne went no to him and re-
tested lest that he might supply him with some
',,,nn !, ~ In dgc Blackstone the law OF
e lnferv. upon v 'bcii Mr. smyth had preached; Mr..
nvth said he wac going to lunch, and invited him