The New York herald., 1879-12-18
DR. 7ALMAGES DEFENCE.
An Impressive Argument Before the
Long Island Synod.
"PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE"
Claiming That lie Did What Seemed Best
.,s.. According to Circumstances. 4sgs
my MOTIVES WERE PURE

my MOTIVES WERE PURE
Tho third day Of the trial of the appeal from the
Brooklyn Presbytery's acquittal of DIR. Talmage be-
fore tho Long Island Synod probably the most
interesting of all OF the days of trial Of the famous
preacher The interest greater than either of
the two preceding days. ana ministers and laymen
came from far and widc yesterday to hear the
speeches and the speakers. 1t was thought that
DR.. Spear would consume almost the entire day in
the delivery of address Of which great things
were expected by the defence But the speech of Dr.
Spear only ona Of the incidents Of day
frsught with incident and excitement. There
was very little doubt felt by disinterested
spectators that the minds of most of the members of
the synod were fully made up to the casting OF
their fnal VOTE II was evident to any one who OBJ
served closely the faces of the men sitting in the
body OF the church. The left Of the church seemed
10 be devoted to the friends of Dr. Talmage. while
the right was occupied by those members of the
Rresbytery and Synod who were opposed to tho
quittal. OF course there was no design in this
rsngement. but with few exceptions the line was
clearly marked il drawn down the
centre with piece of chalk. There is
no question that the friends Of the accused
have been outgeneralled before the Synod.
The plan of prosecution evidently prepared with
care and carried out with perfect discipline First
came Dr. Crosby who presented the facts of the
aud the evidence. Then came DIR. Sherwood. who
devoted himself entirely to the question of morals.
He was followed by DIR. vanDyke. who attended to
Dr. Talmage personally. For the defence DR.. Rock
well came first and made review of the whole case.
He was followed by Mr.. Williamson. who went over
the same ground and mixed himself and his hearers
that the effect of his address declared to be lost
Dr. Spear however. almost retrieved the fortunes Of
the day by his exhaustive and mastery address,
which won the admiration of every hearer. But
later in the day sensation caused by speech
from the accused himself--a speech which had been
evidently carefully prepared. and which was deliv
cred with extraordinary effect.
The hrst business of tho morning session was
wrangle over the minutes of the day previous. The
Journal contained mention OF the fact that objec-
tions had been raised on the previous day to some
remarks OF DR.. Van Dyke and that the Moderator
had permitted the Doctor to proceed The debate
was long. but finally it decided to indorse the
minutes as read.
MR.. w1LIlAMsoNs ADDRESS
Mr.. Williamson then took the stand and continued
mis- address, which had been interrupted at the close
Of Tuesdays session. He compared DIR. Van Dyke
room and slapping the face OF and kicking the
other got them into a fight. When the fight was in
and arrested them Dr.. a Van A DyEe he thoSghs
had caused all the trouble between Dr. Talmage and
Mr. Hathaway by his scrlbbling. The speaker then
went into an explanation OF church kilograms about
the debts. He suggested to the Synod that the in
huence Of DR.. Talmage for Christ so great that
the entire world would want to know on what evil
dence he convicted He thought that DR.. Tai
IMAGES accusers were bound to kill him any how, by
fair means II possible; if not that way. then by
foul means. Sensation and some laughter.) In con-
Guiding his speech he said:-I ask you to dislain
say to the accused. ..NeitLer do we condemn thee.
Let me quote from the play Of "Hamlet":-
KISc-Now, Hamlet, whero's Poloniuss
HAxLEr-At supper
%s:rs whS,ss Ss eats but whore o
tain convocaon of tecclesascaD cen at
Mr.. Williamson not always careful in his facts
and he was frequently corrected by DR.. Crosby and
others.
DR. SPEARS ARGUMENT
Dr. Spear followed i'll masterly address, which,
forty minutes He defended DR.. Talmages action
in the matter of the Christian at Work, and then
spent some time on the question Of the Tabernacle
free pews. The secular press had lied like Satan
about DR.. Talmage. (Laughter.) "Oh! I've been
there" said DR.. Spear. 1--WE seen the elephant.
I've seen his trunk and we his tail" daughter
checked by the Moderator.
When DR.. Spear had closed his remarks there were
about thirteen minutes left for the side OF the
fence. which were occupied by Rev. DIR. Ludlow.
who Moderator at the Presbytery trial. He con-
nsa Se entirely M to the matter &c of the
mage ana said that MIR. Hathaway had been
'aragooned" into the prosecution. Mr.. Crosby
objected to the word and insisted that there was
nothing in the evidence to warrant its use
Rev. Archibald Mccullough corroborated Mr..
r,
degrade the ministry to allow the verdict OF acqut
tal to stand.
viewed the speeches OF DR.. Rockwell and Mr.. Will
hanson iVr the defence. Their speeches he
thought were difficult to answer. but not because
but because they both teemed with in
accuracies and misstatements Of the evidence.
ln referring to the personal attacks of Dr. Rockwell
on the compainants he said that they with very
bad grace from him when his connection with the
case was considered or the folly and Ignorance
heh hadh mt N tia fo
spoke for itself. While he speaking DR.. Tall
mage accompanied by Mrs. Talmage. entered the
church and passed up the aisle to . seat the
front
rALMAeR SPEAKS.
After Mr.. Crosby ceased speaking there was most
intense silence tor few moments, and then the
Moderator announced that the Synod would listen
bytery. Another silence folio we'd during which DR..
Talmage and walked slowly to the front of the
pnlpit. He carried in his hand manuscript aud
his face was composed aud very white. Standing
for moment he looked about the assembly and
then turned to the Moderator. who said to him -
"Dr. Talmage do you speak as member Of the
Dr. TALMAcE lhesitatingly and in q low voice)-
Yes sir May be allowed a little more tims than
the usual ten minutes? What desire to say will
take about fifteen minutes.I think.
The MoDERAToR-As you are one of the original
parties you may have more time IL you wish.
Dr. Talmage then slowly turned and faced the
Synod again. The suspense was absolutely painful
Every face was turned to his, aud every one leaned
forward to catch the words that fell from his lips.
With what appeared to be an effort he commenced
speaking slowly and very softly although with great
distnctness lie said -
Mr.. MoDKnATon AND CHRISTIAN BRETHREN:--
gathered close by that time of year that celebrates
the nativity OF HIM who came to carry sorrows.
the heavens and earth musical with 'Good will to
That sound in oars, all asperty drops dead
and. without their asking it, forgive enemies
by 30 much as wo hopo to be forgiven Brethren.
my case is in your hands. "Put Yourself in his
Place Is the title Of u popular book which have
never read. have so often seen the namc of that
book in newspapers and placardcd walls that 1
Thought II would be good text for what have 10
ssy--"Put Yourself In His Place. Suppose you
had arrived at midlfc. all the faculties that God had
given you matured. yourself ready to improve by
the mistakes OF youth, feeling that you
work opening and constantly widcnipu In perfect
health OF body and mind your family about you their
career involved with your career four congre cations
of whom you had been pastor tho SPECTATOR That liz
MY condition to-day. Put yourself in my place.
Suppose that at the sIggeatinn of