The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-04
"BALD-HEADED TYRANTS. "

Rev. A. II. RoBINsoN's SERMON IN UNION
TABERNACLE no 3, wILLIAMsBURG-A BOARD
OF TRUSTEES HANDLED WITHOUT GLOVES.
Brooklyn as the City of Churches contains some
peculiar religious communities. but none of more
peculiar origin than that which has within the past
Few days been organised under the name of Union
Tabernacle No. 81 In the fall Of the 1874 Rev.
5. Miller Hageman was called to the passionate
Of the First Presbyterian Church. corner of
Sixth and South Fourth streets. Williamsburg. and
after filing the pulpit for year rejected
by the Presbytery account Of the rregularity of
his certificates The majority of the congregation
then seeded and formed Union Tabernacle No. l,
worshipping in Apollo Hall. Time revealed the
vagares of the youthful pastor. and the Tabernacle
split alto 1T two years ago into two branches one 60
ing to Smith Hall under Hagenan. whose adherents
grad ually deserted him. The other went to Com
poste building. on the corner of Fourth and South
Second streets. where, under the preaching of
Rev. A. II. Robinson. they remained till
few days ago. disagreement then breaking
out between the Board Of Trustees and the
pastor. another split took place. Mr.. Robinson
started Tabernacle No. 8 at Masonic Temple Grand
street Last night he preached a sermon the sub
ject of his difficulties taking for his topic. "The
Bald-headed Tyrants Of williamsburg" BY this
he dashed his old trustees. His text was Ec-
clesiastes w.. lilo. returned and considered all
the expressions that are done under the sun; and
behold the tears of such oppressed, and they
had no comforter: and on the side Of their oppres
sors there was power, but they had comforter
and from Proverbs --"Oppression makes wise
men mad" He said oppression and tyranny seemed
universal In all ages. and among nations and con-
ditons OF men, but oppressors were generally bald
headed. Youth, kind. generous youth rarely were
tyrants; but men when they gathered up their years
felt like Expressing Kings were not as individuals
tyrants; but their councillors. bald headed men. by
their delegated authority oppressed the people and
tons take the place of kings Railroad corporations
had taken millions from the people and dominated
over government. national and state, and the time
must come when the people would rise in their
might against their boards VI directors.
...-.a STRIKING NEAR AT HOME. ...t-
Look at our Brooklyn elevated roads; their bald
headed directors smuggle their charter through the
Legislature, and then pounce upon our property
and reduce its vane one-hslf, aud We have
dress, because OF this bald-heAded tyranny. They
have money to fight us in the courts, and bald
headed justice goes against u.s. for it says the
Legislature gave our property away. But our reli-
gious bald tyrants worse; they ostracise
every. one who believes not as they do. A bald
headed sceptic is the worst you can find. for
he will not listen to reason, and ia bitter that
he will often strike blow before he says
word. Baldheaded scientists tyranncal in their
opinions, for knowledge tends rather to prejudice
and bind than to liberate. Yet many them will
allow man to hold his own opinions the subject
Of religion. But the bald headed tyrants of the
church corporations. popes in thenselves--be they
bishops. preachers. deacons trustees or laymen--do
not want any to believe except just they do.
They Will ostracse every who does not agree with
them and drive hundreds OF good men out of the
church. Such the bald-headed tyrants want
to speak OF tonight--men who. like Ehud, will
hail you with, fla it well with thee, brotherY'
and then drive the dagger in your belly, or, lacking
the courage to face you. will stab you in the back.
Such boards of trustees who will dr. We away
minister because he will not be their tool--men who
do not believe in rotation in Office. but who retain
Office till they think the Office can't run without
them; who by ciqnes control elections in the
church, use the church funds for their own pur
poses. and thus bring disgrace and suffering upon
the cause OF Christ; bald-headed tyrants who so
manage ministers that who speaks the
truth Is arts and must be got rid of at
once. These the men would warn you against,
who insist that minister must be silver
tongued and golden throated. that he may not offend
any OF those who hear him by telling the hard truths
of Chrst's preaching. And what is the remedy
against this ty ranny? neutrality-suspicious. thought
sctton and Christian faith; utter refusal to obey
the behest OF any clique of an individual bald
head that falsehood cannot prevail, but each
OF God will trust himself act Tor himself and place
himself in no mans hands. lie may for the time
be in the minority. but. the Lord liveth, truth
shall prevail and then and then only shall we put
IN end to the bald-headed tyranny under which we
are sufferinp -