The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-16
WON'TPRINT TABER'S BOOK.
DAUGHTER cor THE PLdTEs AND
PROBABLY DESTROYED THEM.

"Faith and Fact" Was An Agnostic Work,
Though The Author Was Presbyterian
Church Trustee-InEersoips Secretary
Tried to Save the Plates But Couldn't.
1t became known yesterday that Miss Mary
A. Taber OF this city had secured possession OF
tho plates OF a book entitled Faith or Fact"
which was the work OF her father. the late
Henry NJ. Taber. and that in oil probability no
moro copies Of the book would ever be printed.
Whether or not the plates had been destroyed
could not be learned. The work 10 an attack
on Christianity. "illustratinR"-- to quote
from the title page-"the conflict be-
tween credulity and ytalIzed thought.
superstition and realism. tradition and
verify dogma and reason. bigotry and toler-
ance. ecclesiastical error and manifest truth.
theology and rationaisn. miracles and i'm
mutabe law. pious ignorance and secular
intelligence, hypocrisy and sincerity. theocracy
and democracy"
Henry NJ. Taber died on Dec. "a. 1897. at his
home. AZ West Twelfth street. He left large
fortune which was divided equally between his
son and his daughter. For many years Mr..
Taber had been the president and treasurer OF
the Board Of Trustees Of the First Presbyterian
Church at Twelfth street and Fifth avenue.
Although not member of the church. he
attended its services with his wife and it was
generally supposed that he believed in Chris
tianity. 1t was a surprise to many. therefore.
to learn that for twenty years before his death
he had been an agnostic and warm friend
and follower OF the late Robert G. Ingersoll.
Mr. Taber spent much time and labor In COM
pilinR Faith or Fact" volume OF 331 pages.
Col. InRersoll wrote an introduction to 1t. in
which he said that he considered it one OF the
most valuable aids to agnosticism that had APP
peared since the days OF Tom Paine. Out Of
Iafnropoa 70 ha f.ali 81 ia xvIf ~ o wac a
sincere Christian. Mr. Taber did not publish
his book until after her death. which preceded
his own by about year and half
Peter Ecker. Of 35 Fulton street. published
the book. Mr. Tabor paid for the plates and
received royalty on all sales. About 1900
copies were printed. Before his death Mr..
Taber gave half interest in the book to Gin
ton P. Farrell. Col. Ingersolls brother-in-law
with the idea. so his friends say. Of preventing
his family from suppressinR It.
Not long after Mr. Taber's death Miss Taber
decided that she did not wish to have the
book in circulation. Tho copyright was
In Mr.. Taber's name. and was therefore the
property Of his heirs. Through her lawyers.
Knox & Woodward. OF 81 William street. Miss
Taber directed Peter Ecker. the publisher. to
deliver the plates to her Mr.. Farrell learned
OF this action and told Eekler not to give UP the
plates. producing proof that he owned half
interest in the book The three -cornered con-
test continued for some time. Mr.. Farrell was
at last convinced that without the copyright
and the consent Of Mr.. Taber's heirs he would
be unable to publish the work legally. Accord
ingly. he signed release OF his rights and the
plates were turned over to Miss Taber's repre-
sentatives 1t is supposed that Mr.. Farrellw
REIN bursed for surrendering his claim in the
book. The plates were given up last February
and have probably since been destroyed.
Most OF the copies OF the book already print
cd have been sold. So far as is known. Miss
Taber made no effort to buy them up.
Ingcrsol said in his introduction to the
book;
This book will do great good. 1t will fur
nish arguments against the supernatural and
absurd. 1t will drive phantom from the brain.
fear from the heart. and those who read these
pages will be emancipated. enlightened and
ennobled."
Mr. Taber set forth his creed OF agnosticism
In his will and requested that there be no re-
ligious services at his funeral. Felix Adler
conducted the exercises and the body was
cremated.