Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-11
DENOUNCED By a PASTOR.
4 Stir in the Southern Now York Bap-
fist ssociatiOns

From The Nfjp loTN mes
The Rev. Robert S. Macarthur, OF Cal
vary Church. threw bombshell into yes
terdav's afternoon session Of the Southern
New York Baptist Association, by de-
nouncing a prominentmembero Of the Rev.
4, Dewitt Talmage's church as an ex-con-
yict from Sing sing, and man for whose
arrest a warrant had lately beer issued
Mr.. Macarthur was speaking in reply 70
the Rev. Richard Hartley. of the Lsight
street church, who, in the course OF an
address on city mission work, referred TO
the hard field ana hard characters met
in the churches Of the lower part az the
city Mr.. MacArthur wanted his audI-
ence to understand that tue fraudulent
portion OF society had representatives iU
the uptown churches and in the fasnioua-
bic neighborhood.
Il had man." continued the speaker,
"in my old church in Tweuty-tnird street,
and he experienced religion. I prayed
and helped him. and finally put him iu
sing Sing. 4 loud cry OF Amen
Then'-aud Mr. Mac Arthur grew excited
this man. after his release, went over
10 Brook yn and became 3 power IN Mr..
Talmage's congregation. About year
ag0 he got more religion ~ a
glorious revival; but, brethren, he played
that on me once before. and ! have no
faitn i'm him. Tie is one Of the pillars OF the
Tabernacle to-day, and when the wife Of
the pastor went TO Europe he undertook
the teaching O, her bible class. Now. |
am going % expose this man, and II there
are any reporters in this room hope they
VIII take his name and make 1t public
property There is now warrant out
for mis- arrest and 1 hope the officers Will
serve it on him. The man | refer to is
Frederick Dodge, and he will find be has
played his lodges on the public long
enough" This address naturally created
much gossip, but the few who knew OF
Mr.. Dodge were not inclined to discuss
the matter.
MIR. Macarthur said last evening that
Dodge came TO this cityabOut five years ago
with letters from prominent Boston gen.
tlemen. He was then about % years old,
with good looks and rather proposes
ing manner, ami soon won his way into
the minister's confidence. lie represented
that he was a reformed rumseller, and be-
came deeply interested in the work of the
church. He frequently expressed a de-
sire OF obtaining a college education, and
more than once limited to some of the
wealthy members Of the church that lit
tie pecuniary assistance from them would
not be despised. No money was forth
coming, however, so Mr.. Dodge in some
other manner obtained admission to Mad
isOn College, Hamilton, n. Y. IL was
while at this institution, said Mr.. Mac
Arthur, that his true character became
known. He was detected in stealing
books from the library. and, in three in
stances, Of uttering forged checks on a
Boston firm. The latter irregularity was
hushed up, hut for the theft OF the books
Dodge was tried, found guilty, and SEN
fenced to serve term OF years at Sing
Sing.
Upon his release he went to Brooklyn,
and about year ago interested several OF
the trustees OF the Brooklyn Tabernacle
In his behalf, and on confession OF faith
Joined the church. To the elders who
questioned him at that time he told the
old story of being a reformed rumseler
adding that he had also been a heavy
drinker. These transgressions were
overlooked, and even induced sew
eral of the older members TO
take more active interest in
him. He became connected with the sun
day school, teaching a class of young
girls. Three weeks ago he led an open
air prayer meeting on Fulton street, and
recited his experience as reformed
drunkard. In the crowd who listened to
him was Mr.. Cleveland. of Hamilton,
who knew OF the mans life at that place.
This gentleman denounced Dodge
10 the managers OF the prayer meeting,
and the young man disappeared.
William SlaOn,o of No. 632 Pacific street,
and John Wood, OF No. 80 Lawrence
street, Brooklyn, both Of whom are trus-
tees of the tabernacle, said last evening
that Dodge had not been to the church
since Sept. l, and numerous inquiries had
lately been made for him. lie had no
home IN Brooklyn. and was there only at
irregular intervals. Both gentlemen
knew that the missing man had confessed
upon joining tue church that he had been
guilty of some wrong in the past but it
was not serious enough to keep him out.
Mr.. Macarthur says that the warrant
which has lately been issued for Dodge
charges him with committing a criminal
assault on a young lady residing in
Brooklyn. He did not, however. know
the lady's name or the name of the person
making the complaint.