The New York herald., 1879-12-04
TABERNACLE AND PREsBYTERY.
WAITING FOR FORMAL ACTION ON TIE PART OF
TALMAGE's CoNGREGATIoN

WAITING FOR FORMAL ACTION ON TIE PART OF
TALMAGE's CONGREGATION.
The action of the trustees of the Brooklyn Taber-
nacle in recommending the withdrawal of the church
from the Presbytery was yesterday the subject OF
lively discussion in the City of Churches and Wig
orous reply from Mr.. Talmage's assailants was ex-
pected. So far. however. that expectation has not
been fulfilled. and the members of the Presbytery
seem determined to take public notice. for the
present at least. of the statements published by Mr.
Talmage's friends. 1t is asserted good authority
that until the Tabernacle congregation take definite
action and apply for separation the Pres
bytery will ignore the whole matter But that there
will be no amicable settlement is conceded, and
the Tabernacle may be regarded practically an in
dependent church for the future There will pos
sibly be some legal proceedings also, to add to the
interest of the quarrel the trustees claim that all
church property belongs to the congregation, the
Presbytery having claim it, while prominent
members of the latter body think that as the money
was collected for Presbyteria purposes and the
Presbytery is chartered body tue tabernacle peo-
pie cannot legally do as they please with 1t. sum
$500 is said to be still due for assessments tor the
ordinary work OF the church, such as expenses OF
the General Assembly and Synod. and demand for
this by the Presbytery would probably be refused
Yet without the payment OF all claims against the
Tabernacle the Presbytery will hardly give it the
necessary permission to separate.
A HERALD reporter called on Rev. Henry J. Van
Dyke. but found him indisposed to say anything on
the subject. He said he considered 1t more dignned
and becoming to take no notice OF 'such silly stun
him and therefore would not reply. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr.. Van Dyke was accused of perse-
cutting Mr.. Talmage through feeling of jealousy
WELL THE TABERNACLE.
Rev. DR.. Crosby was found at his residence in
Flatbush avenues but he, too was reluctant to say
anything publicly the matter. He said how
ever, that he thought the withdrawal Of the Taber-
nacle from the Presbytery would be productive OF
good results and that had long been foreseen The
Tabernacle had been of only benefit to the Pres
byterian Church. and that was by rolling up its
membership; but it was questionable whether that
real good, considering the peculiar tendencies
OF the Tabernacle and the manner OF admitting men,
bers. He said the talk about prosecuting Mr.. Tai
mage was absurd. On the question of doctrine he
said Mr.. Talmage's orthodoxy had never been
questioned. He was perfectly certain, for
instance, that Mr.. Talmage could pass an examina-
ton before any authorized body but then his whole
tone aud manner were such not to command re-
spect In fact, the Tabernacle included oil the evil
tendencies Of the day. and the Presbyterian Church
would be better without it. DR.. Crosby said he did
not to havo these things published. as he did
feel disposed to go before the public in such
controversy, and he was only just recovering from
attack of neuralgia. He did not think there
would be any ''row," and until the elders OF the
Tabernacle or the Church itself spoke the action OF
the trustees amounted to nothing. as they had no
jurisdiction.
several prominent Presbyterian laymen were also
visited, but they were unwilling to have their names
appear in connection with the controversy.