The sun., 1878-10-26
DIR. DEEMS CRoss-ExAMINED.
Talks with the Comnod sbe-t the Church
Of the Strangers.

The Rev Dr. Deems, In the Vanderbilt will
case. Yesterday, said that his sermon opposed
10 modern splritualism. that was approved by
the Commodore was preached on the 25th Of
November 1872 DIR. Deems testified to being
with the Commodore in his last Illness and
that the children OF the Commodore called 10
see him.
BY Mr. Clinton-On any occasion. when tho
name Of any of his children were announced
did Mrs. Vanderbilt or Mrs. Crawford dissuado
or attempt to dlssuade tho Commodore from
seeing them or any of them2 A.-Neither Of
these ladies ever in my presence attempted in
any way so far as could sec. TO dissuade him
from seeing any Of his children.
Tho Surrogate said after ono Of the usual
controversies between counsel. that the case
seemed to be conducted by the counsel with
constant effort to cntrap the Court into some
erroneous decision.
Judge Black dsclnimel any such design.
scIf@ The sOrroT"''-i' the Court understands her
.Ex-JudRe Black-And she thinks she do
Tho Surrogate-1t has been my effort 10 con-
duct this case so that neither side can take an
exception that wi send the case back
Ths surroeato-Oh. of course Go on with
Mr.. Lord began to cross-examinc DR.. Deems
on his career as n clergyman. The Doctor said
he was admitted to preach in 1889
Objection being made. the Surrogate satd
No cross examination tending or designed to
disparage the witness can be allowed in this
case
Dr. Deems added: | do not know why the
COmmodore gave mo my church. do not
rccollert any conversation with Mrs. Wander.
bilt ABOUT the Commodore giving me that
church. heard her say she wished some ono
would give me church.
Q.-Did you not understand that she spoke 10
| the Commodore on the SUBJECT A.-Nevcr
Q.-had you any doubts on tho subject? Al
Q.-Did you learn from Mrs. Vanderbilt that
she suosc to her husband on the subject Al
heard sho spoke 10 the Commodore about tho
difficulty ~ people climbing two sets o. stairs to
gct 10 MY services In the University, The Com
modorc had admitted. witness added, that hc
had always felt the want ot an education when
be- was in company. but he did not let rcoplc
know IL. Witness urged the Commodore, rs "A
very conspicuous American citizen uncducatcd
t. leave some educatin nnal monument ot his be-
lief ou that subject. That was before the Com
modore's rift 10 the Nashville University
dore'- saying when asked whether hc would
So Cornelius J. NandeIbit, his son. - do not
After long examination about the sermon
| that the Commodore approved. DIR: Deems said
that the Commodore told him in 1869 that he
| believed the commrnications came from the
| spirit of the medium. rather than that OF the
| departed.
O.-IIavc you no knowledge from Commodore
| Vanderbilt that from 1854 down to the time of
| his death. he had been in constant communica-
| ton with spiritual mediums aud physicians 2
| A-Nouc whatever. In 1872 the Commodore
said hc approved my sermon on spiritualism.
| snd believed rs did. He snld he believed the
! Bll.r Wa. no revelation of Gods Will to man.
and he thought 10 20 beyond 1t was TO insult the
! Almighty. Substantially that.
o.-bo you recoll, 4 that yourself and two
| other witnesses. including "A lady. signed "a
! paper which Commodore Vanderbilt requested
| yoU TO ei-n-a lady who is across the ocean ;
! Al cannot recoect signing any paper of that
| Kind
Dr. Deems was called to recount nsain how
! the Commodore gave him the Church of the
| Strangers. He told the Commodorc that he
| wOulI NOS be- any mans chaplain. and the Com
uolurc said no man hHd loss use for a chaplain
| thUu himself. lie wanted the Commodore tu
| pat Il ia thr hanGs of trustees. but the Com
! mod.rr declined, saying. " II | Put II in the
! hands ~ irustr"s and YOU preach so that they
| DO not like II. they Will bedevil you until you
| quL tLaughtcrl l would rath or trust ono
| man.