New-York tribune., 1879-05-09
MR.. TALMAGE ACQUITTED.
A CLOSE VOTE on THE CHARGES.

| BRETHREN.
| The Brooklyn Presbytery acquitted the Rev. Ne
Talmage yesterday Of falsehood and deceit by
vote of % to 20. the large majority which wa
expected having been reduced by the votes of the
lay elders, who stood to 3 for conviction. reso
luton offered by DR.. Rockwell was adopted enr
| bodying the result Of the vote in an expression o.
| opinion by the Presbytery that Mr.. Tamage had
been entirely free from any intentional wrong. Dr.
| Van Dyke presented notice Of appeal TO the
! Synod of Long Island, signed by eight members o.
| the minority. Mr.. Talmage then stepped forwart
and addressed the Presbytery for half an hour II
one of his most characteristic speeches. The Rev
Mr.. Greene and Dr. Wells replied briefly to allusion
which Mr. Talmage had made to them. and thu
Presbytery adjourned until Monday next at p. M
|
| CLOSING A PECULIAR TRIAL.
Yesterdays session of the Presbytery, up tt
the completion OF the yote presented striking con
rast TO that OF the previous day. There were few ap
peals to sentiment sympathy, and most OF the argu
ments consisted OF calm review OF the evidence and
simple statements OF the ways In which t bad affected
the minds OF the speakers The last speech Cd Wednes
| day was by Mr.. Halsey, who launched ptess satire
| upon those who had framed and who supported the
charges and reused the friends Of Mr. Tdmage 20 the
highest pitch Of enthusiasm by his glowing pictures OF
the grandeur OF the work which the pastor OF the Tab
ernacle is doing, aud the purity and excellence OF mi
character. The opening speech yeserday-aso for the
deiencewas clear and logical statement OF the men
processes by which honest mind had been able TO
reconcile hearty dsapproval OF the acts alleged In tho
five specifications with belief IN the absence OF wrong
intent on the part Mr. Talmage. This speech the
keynote OF those which followed and was the means Of
On motion of Air. Williamson, IL was decided
| TO remain IN session until a vote should
First Presbyterian Church then called, Mr. IIaha.
way and Dr.. Butter haylag requested Permission TO
| fha1T Ilu N.
Mr. BabcOck spoke OF the pecuaries OF his position as
member of The committee WnlcA had !Ormuiated me
charges. A pc had examined the evidence tnat came
before the committee he had become convinced that
moral ob92Iiy. Whicn he Thought had grown u5 from
| his great aud lOng-cOntnued popularity When the
testimony Tor ths prosecution produced ne could
see no way TO clear the accused minister OF some
charges when the defence opened light was let IN.
The Withdrawal OF the seventh specification upon Mr.
Talmagcs sworn statement OF his intentions gave him
legal standing before the Court and entitled hsJudges
to take his testimony az 10 his Intention, III other mat
ters In conclusion he said: II We excuse the man
and condemn the acts place me on record as voting mol
| 10 sustain tue speclhcatiOns''
LAYMEN's VIEWS OF CHRISTIAN HONESTY.
Elder Chamberlain Of Fort Greene Church. said h,
was impressed fayordby toward Mr. Talmage at first
but was disappointed when counsel objected and Mr
Tamage refused TO answer when questions were asked
calculated throw light the subject The frank con
The witnesses for the prosecution had contrastec
strongly with the evasye and in some cases insolent
of the witnesses for the defence 81 yoe hs
said " to sustain these specifications"
Elder Eaton, of Clinton Street Church, said: To my
mind everything perfectly clear except IN regard te
one specification, aud must vote TO sustain them. The
only harsh epithets when have been applied to An
Tamage have been used by his friends who have sought
to put them in the mouths of those who may feel com
PEELED to vote disapproval Of his acts"
| Elder Hampton, OF SLOAN Church said he thanked
God that the trial would result in Mr. Talmage's 40
qqttal ,., ,,o oooo,, ,,,,,o,, cot, ,,ot ha n.,
been panied more than IN his life but was com
PEELED to give his vote to sustain the specifications
Elder Laimbeer. of Westminster Church, thought thai
the trial had accomplished nothing except to show that
ministers we're only human lie should vote Dot to sus
Elder Pierson, of the Tabernacle made long speech
in which he eyinced emotion. HIS opinion was favor
able to his pastor Ninetynne out OF hundred OF the
congregation were heart aud soul with hlIn and Do
leved no charge against him.
Elder McDOIgal, OF South Third Street Church. said
al believe tho charge against Mp. Iaimaze has been
| fully sustained" Elder Sexton, OF Calvary Church
tons" Elder Thomas of Ross Street Church, said Il
cannot resist the conviction that Mr. Tamage has beer
ness honesty aud this Presbytery Is bound 10 dc
eide" Elder Young OF ThrOop Avenue Coureh, said
| have tried carefully 10 ind honest doubt by
which might give my decision according TO me law al
laid down by Dr.. Spear, aud have not been able"
The Rev c. c. Hall said the trial in its inception
mistake. aud in its progress failure. He arragned
the motives OF the ana entire con
der Bulsey, OF Memorial Chnrch, said II believe
these hgh charges have been sustained and must Sc
adjuigc II wish bear evidence o. trutn and hon
esy." The Rev. W. Hathaway made speech in wb'ee
he sad the specification relating 10 MIN had been intro
duced in the charges without his knowledge and against
| his Will. He asked 10 be excused from voting.
DR.. j. G. Butler was the last speaker. He said he
would have believed the evidence regard TO several
OF the Specifications, but he could NOT thinl tla; Mr.
Talmage had intended 10 do wrong. The matter does
not the general character of Mr. Talmage It CON
only few isolated acts think we are not called
upon to take vote on this matter He has been ex'
onerated by expression Of opinion; but tnere has
been recorded vote. and 1t would be the wish OF all
who have expressed an opinion Ia favor OF sustanlaS
the charges tIa there sGOud be no recorded vote He
then o1ered a resolution that aeomnittee OF six oi
eight, representing equally tDe opposihS Ele"s De APP
pointed TO prepare minute to b. presented III the hnai
Tnis resolution was urged b. d.. Birler, Mr. Babcoct
and Others ON the ground thai 2 re or mght be pre-
without expressing approved OF some of bis acts.
| RESULT OF THE VOTE.
Dr. Van Dyke opposed the resolution, aud IT was do
cided that vote should be taken The roll called
with the following result the general charge some
of the members voting for only part OF the specIca-
| tons:
To sUsrAIy-The Rev. Mcssrs Bridges. Butler,
Greene Jones' McCleland, Nelson. Sherwood. c. II.
Taylor, Wolf, Wells, Van Dyke; Elders Eaton Morse,
Bulkley, Chamberlain, Hazard, Thomas, McDougal,
Young and Sexton-20.
NOT TO susrAIS-The Rev Messrs. Benedict. Baldwin.
Callan Drake, Davidson, Evans, Foote. Freeman. Gil
bert, Hall, iiaisey, Hastings, Meury Seender Rock
La5. LsiS'' -'eH' ''''''A' '''''"' '''''''
whcn the vote had been announced DR. Rockwell
! offered the following preamble and resolution:
whereas The Presbytery OF BROOKLYN have cited the
Rev L. Dewitt hlmagr TO appear before II as charged
10y fame with talsehood aud deceit under seven
| specifications and
Whereas. Mr. Ialmagc has answered The citation with
the plea not guilty, and has also requested full ex.
| animation OF the matters alleged against him ; and
Whereas, After iu aud prolonged ttlai the speen-
cations been unsubstautated Dy satisfactory eyi-
dencc been clearly disprOveu, or have been uy
explained TO any guilty purpose or intention of deceit
| and wrOng-iOrn1; Therefore,
Res0ired, Tnat the charges he dismissed improved
aud dsprOyed and the Presbytery hereby express 10
M Tanage It's heartfelt confidence IN him minister
Chcs and desire tnat he and hiS church
may share abundantly IN the divine blessing and that
his ministry may prove the source OF rich spiritual
blessing to his people and to the community among