New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-05
DIR. PETERS DENIES PLAGIARISM.
HOW HE EXPLAINS THE SIMILARITY De-
TWEEN HIS GEORGE EULOGY AND DR.
ELIPHALET MOTIFS ON HAMILTON

ELIPHALET MOTIFS ON HAMILTON.
The Rev. Madison c. Peters. pastor OF the
Bloomingdale Reformed Church, at Sixty-eighth-st'
and the Boulevard has been charged with piaeiar-
ism. Parallel columns were published yesterday
morning which tended to show that DR.. Peters IN
n sermon which he preached on Sunday night,
used without credit extracts from euiogy on
Alexander Hamilton delivered In 1904 by the REV.
Dr. Eliphaet Mott. the famous president OF Union
College. DR.. Peters is we'll known as one OF the
most fQrcibe preachers In the city, ana ms EN-
phatic comments upon pressing racial and political
questions have drawn large congregations 10 MS
church. In one part of last Sundays sermon Dr.
Peters said speaking OF Henry George:
"Approach and behold while l lift from the
sepulchre it's covering. Ye admirers Of his cour-
age we emulous Of his fame, we covetous OF his
manliness, approach him now How pale. how 81
lent. No martial bands admire the adroitness OF
his movements; no hats wave; no shouts SOUND at
the mention Of his Amazing change! A
shroud coffin. a narrow subterranean cabn-fs
this all that now remains Of Henry Georgey
These words are almost exactly the same as DR..
Motifs on Hamilton. while also, In other printed
extracts from HIS sermon. Or. Peters, 1t would
SEEM followed the same line Of thought as did DR..
Mott.
In explaining these condolences yesterday. DR..
Peters laid 10 a Tribune reporter who saw him at
his house, adjoining the church.
the Soul dwelling upon the principle Of endless
progression and then. by way of application
spoke Of the uncertainty Of life. The words at
trbuted TO me in the reports OF the sermon are
correct. except that extended upon the influence
that Henry George would afterward exert. IL l
used any words In that sermon which were not
mine and which seemingly did was not con-
scious at the time that they were other than my
own. If had known that they were not mine.
hay hoo
give them to the press.
THE figure 4 lift from the sepulchre Its cover
ing and the reference to the pale and silent
dead. as well "a the grave being subterranean
cabin, are figures common to the poets since the
worlds earliest mourning No one can claim a
patent upon such figures; - 49,. ...
II would like 10 explain. however that have
Just published n volume which is an encyclopaedia
containing the finest thoughts OF fu f1yr t tSe
time of Plato. on their Views OF the future NE
In gaherng these gems Il Is quit quite
eulogy on Hamilton was prepared for my book.
but subsequently with other matter was left out
nnd that the peroration on Hamilton appeared IN
a number of books which studied for the purpose
the figures used by Or. Mott have for long while
been familiar in my mind. and consequently the
in my discourse which are said TO belong 10 DR..
Mott would not occupy half a minute in delivering.
mo I destined TO outve Methuselah; I am q
voracious reader and have always acted on lord
his polished style by studying and making note
OF every sublime thought and beautiful expression
that he Those who hear me fire.
quently know that my sermons abound with quota
lions from the treasures and thoughts which the
master spirits Of the race have bequeathed TO
|
81 have always made It a point in my sermons
TO put the worlds wisdom at the service OF my
people. and dare say that often use. adapt and
develop figures OF speech which are not original
with me- and the originality Of which cannot
possibly trace. Chaucer tells us that out of the
old fields the corn, and La Bruyere
says select we'll frequently exceeds originality"