New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-05


The Prc,bytcry OF B.ooblyn, in discussing the
case of the Roy. Dr.. 1ulmage, discussed also the
newspapers. 1t did nor appear so much interested
IN the Doctors sins il he has committed any, as in
finding out who told the reporters that the Prcoby-
terry intended to act in this matter. Ii was also
singulary uncertain how far statements made by
the secular press constituted case of d" common
fafle" against the reverend respondent. such the
Presbytery ought to take up. After great deal OF
aimles. debate, which promised to be endless also
the Rev Dr.. Cuyipr came to the rescue OF the body
with little of the cOmm0nest kind of sense. " Ii Is
clear" h. said, " that the PresbyteTy has right To
recognize statements made by the public Journals
1T did with me- said DR.. Cuyicr, sharply. two
years ago. in regard to the occupancy of my pulpit
by a woman And then he clcnched hIs remark by
adding: " If anything is settled, it is that there has
been common fame about tho Tabernacle Church
and Dr. Talmage.' We should say so, The drollest
part of the whole was, that while the Presbytery
was debating whether 10 should treat newspaper
statements respectfully or not, the Rev. DR.. Tai
mage, in his own behalf, offered resolution pro-
vIding for his own trial then and there Some point
Of order prevented it from being entertained, and
So Dr. Talmage and his affairs were sent to a COM
mttec of investigations where at least for the pres
ent, we leave them.
We do not see why there should he one rule for
newspapers and another fOrindyiduas; nor yet what
difference it makes whether thing Is talked about
or printed. Journals give nothing but facts, and
if the investigation OF these facts be of the least
importance to Prcsby tcres do not see why Pres
byterIes should not be much Obliged to the journals
for calling their attention TO that which II becomes
them to know. People who sneer at any statement
as a mere newspaper story, show themselves to he
either weak or unfair, or both. People who are too
fastdou, to trouble themselves about " the sensa-
tiona" as they cali IT. seem TO forget that the
satIon which an unexpected disclosure occasions i
not in the disclosure itself hut in those to whom it
is made. Everybody likes news well enough until 1t
affects themselves unpleasanty-then it becomes
mere gossip or may be branded az libel II il is the
business of the Prcsbytcry to watch over the good
name and fame of it, members, the mere tact that
these alleged misdeeds have been published in print
affords 10 reason for a substantial verdict of not
guilty. or for a HOiic broselUi.
some attempt was made at the meeting to which
we have been referring to draw a distinction be-
tween the religious and secular newspapers We
do not think that there any occasion for this.
man is bound to tell the truth, Though he may not
be a church member. A newspaper IS equally un-
der obligation 10 print falschoods. though it
may not be the organ of "A church Ii the press has
mahgned Dr. Tamage he has several remedies lie
may bring his action for libel. lie may send c0un-
ter statement, tho columns in which he has been
misused. H. may preserve dlgnihcd silence. he
may defend himself IN his pulpit, and. for all we
know may do SO with complete success. But
neither he nor any other man amenable to Its juris-
dlction can plead properly that only newspapers
have charged him with this or that offence. And
TO do tins gentleman justice we must frankly adj
nit that he d ii nothing of the kind He courage
osly met the accusations against him, called loudly
for investigation, and let the newspapers alone.
There is a good deal of sense in this eccentric
divine. He is somewhat different from his clerical
brother VINO had learned all that he know about
Ibis case from the newspapers, and nothing from
common fame"