New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-03
SIDE ISSUES OF THE TALNAGE Trial.

AN OPEN LITTER PROM TIE REV. DIR. VAN DYKE
TO THE REV. DIR. sPEAR-USPLEAsANT CHARGES
MADE.
In his speech before the Synod of Long Is
land in closing defence Of the Rev Mr. Talmage the
Rev DR. Smear accused the Rev. DR.. Van Dyke OF mis-
representing the testimony OF Thomas Pearsal before
the Prcsbytery with reference 70 his conversation with
Mr.. Tamage about the rental OF the pews. DR.. Van
Dyke has sent the following letter TO DR. Spear:
To the Rer. g. +. SPEAR, u. d.
SIR; In what purpOrts to he a printed copy OF your
speech. delivered before the synod OF Long Island az
It's late meeting In Jamaica, the following statement
occurs: find also very singular omission IN Dr van
Dykes reference TO the testimony Of Mr. Pearsi who
was a witness for the prosecution and who expressly
testified that he ia conversation part OF which Ut.
Van Dyke quotes upon hi, authority, said to Dr. Tai
mage, why not rent the pewsi We can get more out
These we're tbe words OF Mt Pearsa when be was ak.
ng 10 DR. Tamage nd they clearly imply that the former
did not then suppose that the latter understood that
the pews were beng rented, especially when taken IN
him, YOL know my idea Is 10 run free church. Now
words of SIR. Pcarsa,l. shown by the fact that he
quotes all around then and yet by strange mishap 0f
mind lac fails TO see them Tney imply exactly The re-
verse OF what he seeking by his argument 10 estab
In this passage. which did not hear spoken in Synod
and therefore could correct Il, aid other
you accuse me coYeity but never
,ncess plainly OF wiul perveTson OF evidence In or
that are yourself guilty o. the offence you charge
upon did not profess TO quote ali Mr. Pearsalls
testimony. The extracts / made were fairly made,
without subtraction and hey fully express
the meaning the witness. Iu order convict
dishonesty and TO misrepresen an argument you
not able TO answer, you have CARRIED the esmOny Y.
The sentence yOu profess 10 quote and OF which you
saw These the words OF Mr.. Pcarsall when talk
ing 10 Dr. Tamage," not uttered by Mr.. Pearsall
on the witness-stand, and IL not found In the
printed testimony. You omit from the sentence YOU
nuote an expression which gives to II an enray differ
ent sense from that which would make IL convey.
AS found page 245 OF the printed testimony IL reads
thus in It's connection would often speak TO him
about IT, would say, Now, DOminie, most every Sun
day you that the free. without refer
that tits a humbug, and they Just laugh ut you. Now
said why not rent the pews square ont Another
year has rolled around, and let MS rent the pews
| We can get more out or them by THAT
| ! said In substance, that 10 him several
times but he would reply You know my pet idea rs 10
| run n free church Yes said but you not
running church You know that That Is about
the substance and then he would that when IL is
known that this is not tree church will leave It,"
out from your quotation You certainly ought u have
Them aud your acute mind must perceive that NJ
spoken by Mr. Pearsail 10 Dr. Talmage they conveyed
10 his mind the idea that the pews were rented IL
crooked and covert way, though not square out
Bat IN order az advocate TO defend minister
| You are willing 10 fasten a charge OF false
| mood and deceit upon another by such means ~
| in your speech quite gIarinR as the on'
| I have insanced. But this Is enough. l will no
myself to chaacterze your course IN this partcu
lar But let ask this question Ia IL not Law
OF our nature that when undertake 10 defend false
hood and deceit we expose ourselves 10 the immnen
peril OF falling into the sin Yours for truth IN,
righteousness HENRY j. VAN DYKE