New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-22
cIERGYMANS yINDIC1TION.

The accusors of the Rev. Dr. Rylancc have
hoon ANONYMOUSLY thrown out OF two courts.
They had four months in which to prepare their
c,so and substantiatc their charges before the
civil tribunal to which he had appealed Tor
;usticc and vindcaton Of his character. When
Tho dav for trial came they allowed the case to
90 against them by default One OF thcir
counsel sought to break the fall of his clients
ly asserting that new evidence had been Oh
taincd and that the case would be rcOpencu III
another court. The jury evidently were con-
WINGED that Dr. RyIancc had been the victim OF
vanton libel. for they rendered Il verdict III
his favor with $4,000 damages. I'm oppor-
tunitv for Icopenng the case has been ohefcu
bv the ecclesiastical court appointed by Bishop
Potter to investigate the charges; but mere
,oain thc accuScrs have inchod, and shown
that they have no evidence which they can
venture TO produce The verdict Of this court
has not vet been published, but as no attempt
was made to support the charges Il second vim
dication rs complete as the first is inevitable.
As DR.. Rylancc'S chief accuser IS reported us
amending the Psalmist's text so as to make 1t
read Put not your trust in princes nor IN
women" il is evident that there has been an
inter collapse in the campaign OF defamation
,coinsf the venerable and respected rector OF
i. Mark ;. Tho case will never be reopencd'
The chief moral of this transaction Is that
an innocent clergyman when traduccd should
lose no time in bringing his accuserS INTO
court. When his reputation for purify ana
honor is aS,aiod compromises are futile. Inc
bravc,t and most sensible course open to him
is that which leads directly to the civil courts,
where hi, character as a man, and not as 4
clcrrvman may be promptly and unelilyocally
vindicatcd When DR.. Rylance, under ms
anprchcnsion Of the circumstances resigned the
roctolship he seriously embarrassed his friends
who had not lost faith in him. By boldly
challenging hi, dcfamcrS to bring their eVi-
dcnce into court he removed the painful I'M
preston produced by his unfortunate re'isna-
ton. and finally obtained complete Nlndica-
ton. Ccrgymcn often shrink iiom taking
fho field AGAINST their accuscrs from mistaken
idn, that the Interest,", of religion viii suiicr
from publicity given 10 scandalouS charges
The interest, of religion at snch tm'N can pe
left 10 stand on their own merits. Their Inst
duty when they are falsely accused is TO 'Indi-
cate their personal honor As men.
While DR.. Rylancc's principal accuS'r con-
,idcrs il safe and discreet in his own hour OF
humiliation to rail n women n untIust"or'hY
witnesses. il is probable that his judgment Is
once more AT fault. The campaign OF deiama-
ton again,t the rector Of II. Marks had ITS
star,ins-poini in prejudice caused by his
breadth OF views and liberal ideas. His con
ncction with the Nineteenth Century Club and
his alleged ladicali>m IN matters OF religious
belief greatly disturbed some members OF ms
flock. and prcdi,po>cd them 10 believe scan
Galous gossip which came 10 their ears. Inc
p,cindice which was created 10y their own mar
row minded bigotry was undoubtedly largely
RESPONSIBLE for the abnormal crcdulliy when
they displayed in accepting >upcfiicIal evidence
and disgusting tlt'c. and condcmninS the
worthy rector. Instead of sneering at women
and seeking to represent themselves as honest
and innocent victims of ilighiy and maleVo-
lent gos>ip-. they had better make frank
confession of their own lack Of discrimination
in allowing themselves to be held in bondage
to their prcjudlccS.