New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-26
THE COMMODORES RELIGION


A SERMON FROM THE WITNESS STAND.
DR. DEEMS TAKES UP MOST OF THE DAY IN THE
WILL CONlEsT-A LONG EXAMINATION WITHOUT
IMPORTANT RESULTS.
There have been few sessions of the van
aerbit viii exhausting or trying 10 the Ie
pers Court and counsel than the one heo I'D the sur
rogates couukrOOm yesterday. There was so muoh Vc
dous and frutess search after minute testimony thee
was so much OF explanation the part OF counsel ana
witness and there little to relieve the monotony
of the proceedings that everybody became thoroughly
wearicd Nevertheless, the Surrogate preserved TIE
best Of humor throughout it ALL and even Mr. Clinton
and Mr. Lord did not indulge In MANY personal nlhgs
and repartees. The Rev DIR. Deems was on the stanu
during the day until the last halthour He is one OF
The few witnesses who have been on the stand
during the trial who answer cat'-
gorical question categOncally; it is evident also
that he knows how 10 say just enough ana
when say too much To answer the purpose OF 'ne
side in whose interest he is actually tesufying.
Mr. Clinton continued yesterday morning to examine
nr Deems The witness said that he recOlected times
when lie was with the Commodore and different children
called TO see him. Sometimes when william caleu 'no
Commodore would say, "Fil see him; ana al o'hel
times he would say "Tel him TO call again to morrow
The same things occurred at times when MIS- La Bau
and other children called On one occasion MIS- CrOsss
name was sent in, and the Commodore answered that
lie didn't want TO anyone. The Commodore refused
10 see Cornelius wDeni he called On any occasion
when the children called. during the Commodores last
illness neither Mrs. Crawford or Mrs. Vanderbilt at
tempted in any way the Witness presence 10 ais
Euage the Commodore from seeing the children
Mr. Ointon-During the CommOdores last Illness
did nc make profession OF the Christian religion ana
take the Sacrament from your handsi
Mr. Lord objected 10 this too remote from the time
OF the making Of the will, and as immateriaL
Mr. Chntou-Tbere have been so many attempts 10
nsperse the memory of the Commodore that did hope
that no objection would be made by the conesantto evil
dence showing that her father died IN the Christian
faith And s hope a spirit Of kindness viii steal
over heart and allow TO be admitted IN spite Oh the
legal objections.
AT this suggestion Mrs. la Bau seemed amused.
Mr. Iord-Mrs. La Ban is not responsible for the
objections but the counsel alone. There would he no
kindness In such testimony 1t simply shows, II II
shows anything. that the lees OF the Commodores
earthly existence given to better life. The next
thing we shall be called upon 10 hear will be that tie
prepayment is a member IN good standing of an orthodox
The Surrogate excluded the evidence.
Mr.. Cnton-Bctwceu the time when the Commodore
gave the church OF which yon are PASTOR ana jan
nary. 1870, did hear bm express his views III regard
10 the Bible and the Christian IeiglOni
when objection was made by Mr. Lord to the question,
modore had frequently expressed belief in the Bible
and Christianity. The evidence was ohered WIN we
purpose Of showing that the Commodore was not
The surrogate sustained the objection Even then
Judge Black not satisfied. He said he believed IN
giving the fullest scope 70 inquiries OF TINS charaele
he thought the court hhOulu hOu us NCtI~oH util
II could give II irrther cohsdelaon lHc NOuIt IT, S
gested that the objection should be WlthdIa"n IheI
that the answer 10 mis- question should be excluded
said he did himself think 1t competent but mad
offered IL to settle the question:. $780,. .... A.,
The Surrogate said that Thought that frequently
Court and he reproved such attempts.
Mr.. Lord examined or oss-eXamined, Dr. Deems
very closely the subject OF the COnmodOres disbelief
in Sprituasm as testified by INN Wednesday. He
said he paid second visit 10 the medium Foster at an
Invitation from the medium. extended through Miss
Phoebe Cary. Mr.. Lord questioned he witness about
his Sermon approved by tne Commodore, III which the
talucy of spirituallsm was attempted to De sIOWn
Dr Deems said that IN the sermon he denounced Spirit
ualism Mr.. Lord handed up TO the witness papers IN
which was reprint OF sermon pteacntd III tsO3 on
the same subject, and attached TO 1t written bef OF
upon preached IN 1o12 Inc witness was asheu 70
point out any passage in which SWrlluasm was de-
nounced. He said that the latter sermon was substa-
uay reproduction OF tne carrier, ana ue iedu sus
passages from the printed slips. Mr. Lord did not thnk
asked the witness what he understood modern Spirit
ualism TO be. He answered that he understood modern
spirituasm 10 teach that there were com
munications through mediums between spirits in the
other world both the dlsembOded souls OF human be-
tngs and the spirits of devils angels, and human be-
ings earth MI Lord asked II he had any authority
for the statement that Spirituasts believed in conmu
nicatiOns from angels and devils lie SAID ne cOud give
The subsequent attempts get the Gist Of the sermon
having the witness spend hour in preaching
IN full, were ndcscribably udcrOus He was finally
showed the talsty of spritualism. Proceedings were
stopped while Dr. Deems read over the reprint Ihen
he read passages aloud and going to give
the bulk OF when he stopped. The court
concluded 10 grant ny 10 nave
put in evidence The Surrogate thought one objection
TO this that 1t would involve ITS reappeaIance
III the morning papers. Judge Cdmstock expressed
sympathy for the reporters.
Judge Black said that he thought the sermon an
OK client orthodox far II went, but II didn't go
enough The counsel asked the witness II he did not
think that the sermon merely condemned the practice
of attempting to communicate with spirits as FOOLISH
rather than denounced the fasity OF the Deei Judge
Black said he thought the minister had treated the
Eprtuasts aud their theories very gingery and could
not imagine why. .
DR.. Deems replied that a sermon In coffin OF cold
type and the STROUD of newspapers lods was very
different thing from sermon IN Its delivery from the
pulpit. Ii like Loyden iarthe force was in the
delivery lie had been able to PRINT his thunder
lIaughteFl
Cornelius Vanderbilt DE Forest called by Mr.
Lord who asked HIN if he had the destruction
Of any will or other documents of Commodore Wander
b before after his DEATH lie answered In the mega
tive. In questions Of Mr.. Clinton. the witness
said that he had been in the with the Commodore
when members OF the family called, but that neither
Mrs. Crawford nor Mrs. Vanderbilt attempted TO DIS
buade the Commodore from seeing them.