The New York herald., 1879-02-04
7ALMAGE AT BAY.
Accused by '.COmmOn Fame'' of False
hood and Improper Preaching.
DEBATE IN TIE PRESBYTERY
A Committee of Five Appointed to In
vestgate the Charges.

1t very manifest yesterday afternoon that
something unusual to come before the Presby
.ery of Brooklyn at its session in the Rev. Arthur
crosby's church. Ladies and laymen in numbers
hardly the meetings the presbytery
present early. Stewart L. woodford stepped in for
few minutes but had time to wait to listen to
the subsequent proceedings. Major Corwin, of the
Tabernacle, and the entire session of that church.
besides other members of the congregation, had
to attend the trial of their pastor. heterodoxy
in doctrine and sensationa.ism in preaching and
other very grave offences having been alleged against
him by common fame.
John N Stearns. OF the Greenpoint Church, and
his friends and counsel also present. Dr. j. NJ
Ludlow was moderator and Rev. j. Milton Greene, Of
Staten Island. clerk. The moderator opened the
session of Presbytery with prayer; then the clerk
read a communication from the Greenpoint Church
session. in which they said that common fame had
charged that Elder j. n. Stearns had broken the
Seventh Commandment. The matter referred
for investigation to committee consisting of Drs.
Van Dyke, Halsey and Rockwell, and Elders Ide and
Eaton
NOW FOR rALMAeE.
Rev. Arthur Crosby read preamble and resolutions
charging. the authority of common fame, that DR..
Talmage had been guilty of falsehood and deceit and
with using improper methods in preaching thereby
bringing religion into contempt that the reputation
of any member of the Presbytery dear to all
the rest, and that committee of three ministers and
two elders should be appointed to investigate
whether or not there any truth in those rumors
of common fame so that if there not the charac-
ter the accused brother and his reputation could
be FURNISHED instead of being tarnished by the Pres
bytery. Mr.. Crosby remarked that his paper merely
the fact that Dr. Tanage had been talked about
concerning the things named that the fact can be
bx 10
the United States
Rev. Adam McClelland demanded more information
before he could vote that paper. Neither could
DR.. c. Wood vote without further light and he pre-
sumed he was as well informed on the subject mat
ter as Others he read the papers. The idea Of
mon fame charging DR.. Tal,nage with fasehood and
deceit was news TO him. Elder Drink not aware
that common fame charged anything of the sort
against the Tabernacle pastor. The fact that certain
things lad appeared III the papers had little weight
with DR.. Wood. He knew there was howling and
gnashing of teeth, but he would not be willing to
vote for paper like Brother Crosby's on such re-
ports DR.. Davidson called for the reading of the
Book of Discipline on investigating against
brothers moral character The moderator read
from chapter g. sections A. s, but they did not meet
the requirements of the Mr.. Crosbys resolu-
tions presented it. They refer judicial process
while his paper called for investigation to find
out whether there should be s,lch process Dr.
Davidson said there another section which re-
ferred to the Prcsbytery itseIf making com
mon mon fame, and nd, he thought that was what
learned all he knew about this from the
newspapers and nothing from common fame. The
newspapers had been running this Presbytery, he
said for the last seven days. and had that
they were going Tor Talnages scalp. 1--WE all know
OF this resolution. Brother Tanage knows it and
delights in it, 1t has been said that We jealous
not cmptied mine II was not full when took it
and it has lot been full since. Qaughter) But for
the sake of Brother Talmage and his church these
things ought to be probed that both may be brought
out more bright.
THE MYSTERY OF NEWS GATHERING
How did the press get the thai the Presbytery
was going Tor DIR. Talmages scalp? Mr.. Crosby
said he had not reporter and he had consulted
with only three members OF the Presbytcry in re-
gard to his action. he had members of the
New York presbytery who had greatly encouraged
he had spoken had given the matter to the press
and it was therefore mystery to him how the
crosby added. if there shall be no need OF judicial
process in this case 1t will put quietus on the re-
hsious press; but the daily press can't silence
easily"
Rev. NJ. AIcCuagh thought the charge of fasehood
very grave one, and as DR. Tamage the floor
and of he could speak for himself, and he Mr.
McCuilagh) woulo be glad to hear him give an inside
view OF these things that would clear the minds of
the Presbytery "It is true" the speaker added.
'that many OF our people know nothing about them
except what they read in the papers They don't go
70 hear him because they live too far away. Dr. Tai
mage has branded those things lies and the man
who promulgates them a villain
heN. Alfred Taylor would ike know the extent
OF the common fame. '"fhc secular papers" he
said THAT have given this thing tho common fame
that has brought this congregation here must have
Received 1t from one OF four persons Mr. Crosby says
he did not see reporter give il TO the press now
which OF the three associated with him did, and thus
made this common fame p
Major CoRwIS Soito rocc-That s.tle point
Dr. Cuyler was not aware that this subject would
come before the Presby,ery lie had seen some na,,.
thorized statements that charges made against the
Tabernacle pastor Dy common fame would be taken
mp by the iresbyiery. Now" said the Doctor "the
% lk tnp rio
that lhc Prcsbytery has right TO recognize state
inents made in the public Journals. 1t did it two
years ago with and my church in re-
gard to the occupancy OF my pulpit by woman.
Nov if anything is settled. It is that there
has been common fame about the Tabernacle Church
and DIR. Taniage." But DR.. Cuyler did not like
Brother Crosbys resolution. II looked TOO much
Ike putting DR.. Talmasc on trial. and he, for one
was not willing TO give Brother Tanage the crown
of martyrdom tor sensational preaching. He there
lore offered substitute tor Brother crosby paper
which called for committee OF fiyc-three ministers
and two elders-to visit the Tabernacle and inquire
INTO an the common reports concerning the debt sub
scriptions and all the rest. More than this said
Dr. Cuyler, eve cannot DO, ana less ought not to
CONTRADICTORY RESOLUTIONS
Mr. Crosby wanted 20 know how this committee
would get at the rumors in the daily papers DR..
the newspaper Offices but they could go to the Tab
ernacle Church. Elder Freeman, of the Tabernacle.
Thought the resolution OF Brother Crosby incon-
sistent and ludicrous. 10 charges Dr. Talmaqe with
falschood and deceit the strength fame
and then asks for committee to 80 and find common
fame.
Mr. McClelland had been told since he came in
that common fame had reached TO Philadelphia aud
elsewhere, and he thought the investigation called
ior should be had. member thought both resolu-
tiops cast an imputation tho Tabernacle Church
and the Presbytcry could not vote for them unless
they believe there j. something wrong in the Church
"But said he, ''if they believe there is anything
wrong then they should put that Church trial"
DR.. Van Dyke said the two papers agreed in that
They proposed remedy for evil or supposed OWL
because they both ask for "a committee to Investigate
something, and, he added, eve not such fools
to appoint committee to investigate il there be
nothing TO investigate. Now. want to know
whether Brother Talmagc is unussly assacd by this
common fame, that may throw ourselves in the
lreach and protect him and IL the who have
signed their names TO charges against the Tabernacle
Church pastor-trustces OF the Church and relatives
OF the pastor-wil come forward aud prove those
charges. well and good. II not. this Presbytery is
bound TO protect the good name of Brother Tamage."
pn. 1ALNAaE WANTS he INvEs1IGATED
A., 'l,iv