The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-17
MR.. CORWIN'S TESTIMONY.
DIR. TILMAGE'S ETGHT FOR FREE PEWS
IN ms TABERNACLE

threatening TO Resign ~ nm AuctIoneer was
Introduced Into tho Church-The witness
Asks the Protection of the Presbytery.
Yesterdays session OF the trial OF DR.. Tai
mage was attended by a diminished number OF
Prcsbyters. DR.. Van Dyke. yet suffering from
influenza came in prepared to debate the ques-
ton Of the prosecutions right to call witnesses
in addition to those already named in their cta-
ton. Debate was avertcd by the withdrawal OF
the motion Of Dr. Spear denying the prosccu-
TONS right to call more witnesses. Mr.. Willard
said it was decided not to try to cross the stream
until they came 10 II
Mr.. b. II. Corwin. for the defence. then tcst-
fed az to the third specification relative to DR..
Talmage's alleged deceit in reference to the as
signmcnt Of the pews, that one day Mr. Wells.
who was member Of the Pew Committee said
10 DR.. 1nlmage; " II you will allow us to put an
nuctionccr on the platform we can pay you
$4,000 n year just as easy as $1,000" DR.. Tai
mage replied: When YOU engage an auction
Ger you must engage n now pastor" The pres
ent Tabernacle was dedicated in May. 1874
The plan Of II FREQ church was carried forward
into the now church. On dedication day Dr.
Tamage said that the Tabernacle was to be a
free church. rs the plan had proved successful
in the old church. and it would be continued
The ree-church system made much work for
the trustees. and in 1875 they requested the
pastor To- adopt the prw-renta system. He said
in reply that il they would continue for six
months as they were then doing he would then
resign AMI 60 TO Europe and there would be no
muss and no misunderstanding and in the
mean time the trustees could look around and
get some ono who would preach to tho church
with the pews rented. He was firm and cour-
tcous in his refusal to have tho pews rented.
The trustees had worked hard. and they be-
lcved that they would have more money md
less work under another plan. They. however.
yielded 10 DR.. Tnlmage. The pews were in no
way ass gncd with reference TO the dollar aues-
ton. and tho whole plan in operation was in
harmony with the notice Dr. Tamage gave
from tho pulpit.
Q.-IIas the free church plan Of the Tabcr-
naclo proved shocking financial failure2"
A.-No. sir. There is nothing shocking about
what have shown. The statement made by
Mr.. Ives on the LAY the present Tabernacle was
dedicated was that tho church had cost in round
numbers 100000; that $4,000 had been pro-
vidcd for. and that there was s3j 900 to be
raised then md there There was a mortgage
on tho church ana every one knew IT.. We
didn't propose 70 pay that debt then II WAS
not nnnounced that the church WAS free from
debt. The trustees never paid one per cont. "A
month Tor the use Of money for current eX-
ever heard that they did was in tho letter u
Augustin - 10 the Presbyterian DR.. Van Dykes
letter..
on cross-examinaiion Mr.. Crosby asked
, You are the INTIMATE and c2nn cont friend
a.
70 That am on friendly terms with him.
suit Of this trial? A-Not penny
Own you not DO affected by tho result?
A;@N4t copper ,,,
Al want to see truth prevail. the righteous
shine forth M the light and the Just as the
MONDAY; | know what this court i, ! never
was IN more solemn place, according TO my
thinking, than this court. l felt That when
Mr.. Crosby-I am glad to hear you say So
Mr.. McCulagh said that he hoped Mr.. Cor
win would not forget two things that he was a
gentleman. and that he was talking to gentle
Mr.. Corwin appealed to the court to be pro-
tected from insulting questions,
Mr.. Crosby repeatedly asked the witness If no
had no. said that he had made over $500 by in
surfing the life Of DR.. Talmage.
pertinent, and Mr.. Crosby Withdrew it at tile
NJ, Corwln testified that he did not know
that DR.. Talmnge had made pledges TO get him
Christian at Iort lie did not know that it
was almost wholly through DR.. TalmaGes in
would have taken the place if he had thought
that DR.. Talmage had made any pledges about
In February 1876. Mr.. Corwin said he ef-
iesie,d a lrase for neX apartments fqr iyc years
Metropolitan Lie Insurance Company. He
didnt remember having said that he took the
paper would last as long as that.
MIR. Crosby offered an undated letter from DR.,
Talmage 10 Mr.. bennington in evidence. The
letter referred TO the live years lense. aud said
among other things: As TO the term Of five
years. that was done on the superstition that our
paper would last ~ long rs that
Q.-lou say that IL WAS matter Of general
Information in the office that Mr.. Remington
was not going To- carry the paper after the month
OF February A.-les. sir. l got that infOrma-
tion about Jan r.
Mr. Crosby Introduced letter from Mr.. b. II.
Corwin 10 Mr.. Remington. dated Jan. "A. 1876.
containing the following:
The books are evidence that the crsima' Vol is to
Ssy rs at e e.S aare f,er TeSsGes Ig T1Ss.'
ell
fu that We should advance when older papers fall on.
Q.-You said yesterday that Mr.. bennington
had given DR., Tamage in January 1876 as well
rs yourself. the impression that the paper was
likely 70 stop At any ssnsf A.-ies, SIR
MIR. Crosby then introduced the following:
NKw YORK. rcb. 7, is7e.
We .tii 1--we. and through your help and the Lords
through oui paper Instead OF Mr TAYLOR We get man
a. go'd or s' %lg %il do az NJ i9}oT, woTk SId
sal hay our icm"IanGs bepaItment kGgt up spirit
Kali ont into smooth watrrs Ne all mean 10 put our
4 D. Win TAlSAGE
Odd you not take some merchandise in
closing NJ with the Christian al WORK. Ain
the final settlement with the Christian at Work
j accepted merchandise and COLLECTIONS and
made the best settlement could. did what
could 70 avoid "A lawsuit
Odd you not take with you from that Office
note Of Mr. L. Remington. drawn for dis
and | nsdcred that 1t was club in my hands
60 make them settle with me. They proposed
10 charge me with stealing 1t. | said: You
can 70 along on that gait as long you please
You settle and Will give you the note. AT
length at the time Of the General Assembly,
while ! WAS under the influence Of that body. |
met MIR. Dickinson in the corridor. and alter
come heated discussion gave up the note.
The Moderator closed the session with the
Lords Prayer.
An English View OF the LetenIer Affair.