The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-04
"C0MM0N FAME
TIE BROOKLrN PRESBYTERY VOTING
TO H1TE IN INTESIIG4 TION

The Brooklyn Presbytcry had a historic
meeting Yesterday afternoon in the gallery Of
tho Second Presbyterian Church. in Clinton
street. OF which the Rev. Arthur Crosby. rcla-
tive OF the Rev. Dr. Howard Crosby Is pastor.
There was n gathering Of solemn faced pres
byters. n number having silvcry locks. Tho
churches all around Brooklyn and one or two
on Staten Island were represented where ordi-
narily dozen or fifteen members make UP the
meetings. The elders OF tho Brooklyn Tabcr-
naclc attended In body. and large company
az ccntlcwomcn from T. De Wits Talmngo's
congregation huttorcd in Then there was
curious company from the Grcenpont Prcsby-
tcran Church. Interested in the scandal affect
ing their elder, John y. Sicurns. ;ho Secretary
OF tho National Temperance Society. Mr.
Stoarns. yet feeble from overwork. and ap-
parently III from excitement sat on. back
bench and number Of distinguished clergy
men warmly welcomed him. and gave him ex-
prcss ions Of their confidence and sympathy
His troubles. however. were insignificant. COM
pared with the portrntous cloud that gathered
over TnlmaGe's Tabernacle. Ono Clergyman
said. as he sat down.
"whew, What crowd. T. Do Witt Tai
mage has drawn this upon himself. and If he
forces the Prcsbytery to deal with him. wont he
be ripped to pieces. though p
just then Tamage strobe into the room, his
face struggling with smilo'which frightened
his eyes.
Oh. Brother Talmagc" said tho late speaker.
who had predicted his complete mastication by
the Prosbytery. glad to see you. You're look
Ing we'll"
The speaker shook hands cordially with Mr..
Talmacc. The latter sat down. stretched out
his extremitics. arranged them. and awaited
developments.
The Rev. J. VI. Ludlow as Moderator and the
Rev. J. Milton Greene as Secretary. opened the
meeting. The Rev. c. H. Taylor Of the Green
point Presbyterian Church. sent the resolutions
81 the session OF his church on the case Of Mr..
stearns. These. after relating that he had boon
Charged by common fame with violating the
seventh commandment. and that the session had
recognized tho charges. and desired a thorough
Investigation Of them. say that the inquiry into
the same was referred to the Presbytery. be-
cause there were only Jour resident members OF
:he session. one Of whom was the accused per-
son himself and because two out Of the three
others felt that. for good and sufficient reason.
they could not be impartial jurors.
A protest from Charles Kennedy. member OF
the sessions. was read. in which he pronounced
the refusal OF the session TO deal with the
scandal first itself, to be cownrdly and unchrs-
tian. and said that there was not before the
Presbytery any charge. or anything " which
Mr. Stearns could plead.
letter from J. y. Stearns was also read. In
which he pronounced the whole action Of his
church to be illegal and against precedent. He
reAsscrted his innocence. told OF his vain de-
mands for trial by his own session. which
WINS confessedy a projudicel body. and added:
Il am ready TO be tried hy your body uhe Pres
byteryl. and ready 10 have any charges against
my good nnme examined Ia any way your body
deems best Tho documents submitted were
Put IN the hands ot DR.. Wells. Dr. Butler and
Dr. Durvea. rs judicial committee. 70 report n
line OF action for the Prcs1ytery at that meet
ing. Mr.. Stcarns retired with the committee
Then came DR.. Talnage's turn. The Mode
rator asked Il there was any business. but no
one responded. There WAS IN ominous silence.
and eyes Tell upon DR.. Cuylcr the Rev. samuel
i. Hasey. the Secretary. the Rev. j. Milton
Greene. and other leading spirits in the anti
Ta.mage movement. but no one stirred. Tai
mage closed his eyes and smiled The Mode
rator said he WAS glad 10 see the Presbyterian
chur hes Of Brooklyn moving IN such harmony
that there WAS absolutely nc business ~ hand.
He supposed that they would have TO await the
return ~ the absent committee. Then the Eev.
Arthur Crosby said that he dil what bee WAS
about 10 do reluctantly and under deep con-
Viction Of duty. loving. rs he did the good name
OF the freshyterAn Church and It's ministers
rently al his remote boot. MIR. Crosby cont. nued
his expression Of the feeling oi low. which
prompted him. and a smile lridcet Mr. Tai
maGe'e face from ear 10 eur. Then Mr. Crosby
offered the following:
W1.,.,. The Rev. 7 De Wit, Talmare. D D i,cnsrgci
BY common fame with fal-chool aud deceit. and With
using imrtoper methods ~ preaching "A'ch 'en1 .
nl,., ~; is dgiy d ne rrcty,cry TO protect ne
ssiSd AID to saisa those Who Offend to propsf Dis
R..J,-i 1nat committee consisting of three minister.
elders Dee appointed investigate and
aud rerori III, Presbytery what any iarier acton
shall be taken
Tho resolution was received with droopna
spirits. and no one seemed Just ready 10 dis
cuss H. The Moderator was about - DEMAND q
vote. when the blind pastor Of the Fort Greene
land said that there were grave charges in the
preamble. and he sought 10 know what wnr'
charged by common fame with fasohood and
deceit He wanted 10 get some.of tho lines Of
thought witch lrd To- surn conclusion.
The Rev. Mr.. Wood SAID hs was amazed at thc
charge IA that or Of iasehood from common
flames tongue. and hs mad read the papers. lie
wasn't aware Of anything 81 the Kind.
Other brethren began to throw doubt upor
enough 10 say about DR.. Ialmage 10 attract the
Presbytery's attention.
talked about and Il reference 20 the files o
dozens OF newspapers Will show that there is
Presbyiery IS willing 70 say that they VIII No
investigate u case 81 this Kind. when brouEh
bound Il. aIo4t the resolutions" said NJ
Crosby On. lon- 70 sec tho nam" oi Dr
Talmage and the Brocklyn PresDytery rleanse'
OF thes" lInpuiatous. added the young min
lister, his voice tremulous. | want To- III
some Of the load that l. gathering upon him on
ty taking this matter W oihfia,ly why, there
Is IL perfect tempest OF opprobrium catherine
about DR.. Tain ige in this ro-ard. The reiig
iou- newspapers are flied with cNpo-tulRtiou
rebukes. and solicitations and almost every
nIHu we meet in society has strong opinion e
express on IT, one way or tho Other. | long q
seq that sii~nc"d. A. far Us the Brooklyn Pres
bytery Is concerned"
The thunderboit hung fast on the definition
OF common fame" One elderly brother ho
against Talmage. ran down stairs and hunts
upa book of discipline. from which on lis re-
turn the ModeratOr read the definition OF com
mon fame" II required the rumOr 10 speeii
some particular sin or SINS.
Brother Davidson, who was wrapped IN
heavy oyerroat and in thought. arose slowl
and said: think We are making common
fame ourselves
The Rev >. T. Halsey said there was no US
trying to wAltrwash the thing Every man Il
this room kuows that IT has been talked about,
he said. " DR.. Tamas- knows that this hA
been talked about aud he delights ia IL. Ii Wi
be good thing O. hnvo i now ground int th
dust aud sent into the bea % oblivion. Tho
say TINT TalmaEe hurts us. and We don't liz
it' that ho breaches g. tAousau !s.'whiie "
preach 20 empty pews. Well. hs don't hurt m'
Ny church wasn't full before hs came and Ina
never been full since. have never heard mn
preach, although ! have read some Of b,
Lan.rs nAy Wn arc E0lng Tor IAlmAErs soa-L