The New York herald., 1879-10-22
The Verdict of the Brooklyn Pres
bytery Under Review.
DIR. CROSBY CRITICISED.
Five Sections of the Complaint Thrown
Out of Court.

d. Wright Southampton was fixed upon as
the place Of meeting for 1880 The Judicial
Committee withdrew to prepare q report on the Tai
mage case and the Presbytery Of Brooklyn also
withdrew to approve its minutes. that they might
be referred to the appropriate committee. Rev. Dr.
L. L. Swift addressed the Synod the interests Of
freedmen in secular and theological knowledge.
The leading Presbyterian ministers Of this State
have held their conference the subject of found
ing institution in this State tor higher education
Drs. Blayney and Darling, of Albany, and DIR. John
addressed the Synod. as they have addressed
other synods in the State the ssubject.
presenting important facts and asking tor
dowment funds. The proposition is to in
crease the endowment of Hamilton College
by S5O0.0O0 and to make it Slate Presbyterian
institution. Hence tho work of Drs. Blayney. Darl-
ing and Johnson now is to visit all the synods Of
the State in the bena OF this college. to constitute
it UNCONVENTIONAL committee of five
appointed to cooperate with other synods in this
matter.
COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PREsBYTERY.
Just before tho close of the morning session the
Judicial Committee. through Judge Armstrong
ported that for various technical reasons, and for
noncompliance with the ecclesiastical law of tho
| Church. only reasons and Of the complaint
against the Brooklyn Presbytery in the case of Dr.
Talmage in proper form to be considered by the
| Synod. The text of that complaint is AS follows
The sye notice of their intention Ito to COM
the Presbytoy Brooklyn in tho Of the Rev T. Dc
Witt Tal%ags p on trial before the Prsbytey on the
Because during the of the trial the
sympathy or the by and hisses
accompanied in several with ndignes
Judgment of the Court unduy bassod and its dignity
| and authority brought into contempt
| . Because mutual agreement made between the ac-
by S'sa
n pack OF Iaseh9ods "a So covenant to tho etse.
the oheracovenant resting upon no basis Of acknowledge
before the Prebsery With such effect
that many Of the members were led to account suh
the accused in the fourth specification; all of which
place. Improper and hurtfu to the interests Of justice
g. Because testimony for the defence-vix the affidavit
General HowardIwas | IL open violation Of
tion 49, and at such stage in the trial necessarily
sd As & t. s
aggravated because the affidavit in question had been in
before i was presented, coe March q.
"i the the ruled out
in the of truth and Justice have boon ad
sad plain snestoas, .nd 70 rofase 70
ruetng the of justice and confusing the minds of
6 the of the majority of the Presbytery
With Rf the % an s
grounds upon which many Of the based their do
lgon and morality into contempt We believe the charge
both as & s IN
the Presbytery "nurious to the interests of religion
have appeal redress TO
judgment o. tho whole Presbyterian Church.
Because the accused and his have justified his
whole forth in the testimony upon prnc
plies which directly opposed to those Of truth aud
UPON or in with such principles is Injurious
no; en sSSD but pas %bAS sscLrLAs
M GEEENi ,ou T. " sJlnas BTLKLEY.
snanEhs s 4 EAs.Gs { JONES, " adssH.D' sHsAHzAnD'
sEo g; + SSHaAsSBEsLAIS. { ,. Thfis TShkfisSS'
5 s. G G. EATON. Ton. HUH t NcDooGALL
THE AFTERNOON SESSIONS BUSINESS.
At the afternoon session various reports read
and approved. DR.. Butler presented the claims OF
the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society
of the Synod to the sympathy and Endorsement of
the ministers and churches. A resolution in this
line was adopted. which recognized the fact that
during the last five the society has contributed
10 home missions $4,000 and to foreign missions
larger sum. DR.. Whitaker presented an exhaustive
report foreign missions, III which the influen
OF missions ed ucation and literature shown.
Rev. Franklin Noble. of Hampstead, presented
elaborate criticism of tho report Of the COMMITTEES
Church Erection. from which he gathered that
l75 churches had been helped. in whole III part.
to the extent OF SS2,0O0 Rev. G. c.. Hall, a member
OF the Church Erection Board. Drs. Van DYKE Rock
well. Spcer and others spoke against the approval
of Mr. Mobiles report, Oh tho ground that it
attack on the management OF the Church Erection
Committee. and that the General Assembly the
place to present such criticisms. The result was
that the report iecomniitted. with Instructions
to strike out the criticisms
Rev. l.. IL. Footc presented report on ministerial
relief. from which it appeared that 425 families,
representing nearly 1000 persons have Leen
sisted this year. and that sa5 900 are now needed to
supply their wants. and that ~ families have
applied tor relief.
Rev Charles Woods report on ministerial e,,uca-
ton showed that the number of ministerial candi-
dates has steadily declined since 1874 that there
now 153 less than then. At the same time there
936 churches without pastors. G6 OF which have
30 members or less. while only one of 500 members
Is in that condition.
TAt.MAGE AGAIN.
Reports on the freedmen. publications and
other denom national interests also presented
aud approved aftcr which the judicial committees
report the Talmagc in the morning
taken up unfinished business. DIR. Spear. who
in tho double capacity of DR.. Tamages counsel
and member of the committee appointed by tho
Prcsbytery OF Brooklyn to defend it's action in tho
acqut.a of the great accused before the Synod.
made little speech in favor OF postponcnent until
to-day the grounds of convenience to the parties
interested in the result and his own ply steal
inability to enter upon tho case then. The post
| poncrncnt was. however too strongly opposed. and
then the Doctor took the floor to argue against tho
reception OF even the two reasons which the COM
mttco had reported in favor of adopting.
"It tho verdict OF the Presbytcry.' he remarked.
chad been contrary to what it was the gentlemen
who conpainants would not have APP
pcared in this synod but thoy are here legally
now inasmuch as they gave tine proper notice OF
this complaint and appeal DR.. Spear then
viewed tho facts, as already published conserving
the neglect OF the Presbytery's committee to pro-
signatures OF the witnesses, the reOrgaui-
zation OF that committee. the work OF Mr.
Crosby in getting the signatures Of the wit.
nesscs of the prosecution aud other matters
which have been published heretofore as proceed
iugs OF the Prcsbytery OF Brooklyn. Dr. Van Dykes
naino having been called by DIR. Spear witness
who read and signed his testimony without author
ity OF the PresDy terry, Interruption took place
by members who deemed this personality, which
should be avoided. Other members, however. in
sisted that the facts both sides should be given
so that they could vote inteligently as Christian
gentlemen.
sCouRaE mr. CROSBY.
DR.. Spear continuing. remarked that Dr. Van Dyke
could not have been witness and member of the
Presbytcry at the same time according to the book
in this case. DIR. Spear was surprised that man of
DIR. Van Dykes age and wisdom should assume such
position. But he was surprised that anothe
member Of the Presbytcry (Dr. Crosby should take
the matter into his own hands and procure the