New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-16
PREACHTNG-FOR AND AGAINST.
THE TWILIGHT CLUB DISCUSSES ITS ABoLI-
TON WITH EXPERT TESTIMONY.

IION WITH EXPERT TESTIMONY.
The Twilight Club which has interested itself in
many questions of social Importance yesterday
subppnaed six or seven we'll known cergymen from
Mammalian Brooklyn and from other places beyond
n7 limits OF the State to show if any exists
why preaching should not be abolished.
II helo court in the Carnegie Hall restaurant
Fhty-siXth-st and Seventh-ave Many women
friends OF the club attended, and all paid strict
and impartial attention both the prosecution and
defence, After dinner for the witnesses defend
ants and jurors, the club through It's chairman,
Charles F. Wingate, began the proceedings with
the usual cry
The Rev. Or. W. S. Grove pastor OF the Church
OF the Eternal Hope was the first witness. 1t was
MS opinion that the law seldom abolishes any
thing 1t abolishes that 1t would be wise have 1t
abolish preaching, for then the Twilight Club would
to church. Indeed I am inclined to think
ligion would be better off, he admitted without
so much preaching. The question Is, Could not
ministerial powers be better devoted to lecturing?
Men who go to divine service not touched.
Why, they say, that's only preaching! Once l
put text on to talk and nobody interested.
The next time 1 took the text off, and the
thing caught everybody. 1t is very possible that
1t is not well to have religion stereotyped. Why
when men get away from church and a sermon they
think they have escaped religion"
The Court in the following language invited
Colonel ]. B. Wilkinson, layman, to take the
stand:
The Colonel is Vestryman, who knows all about
the internal machinery of the church-how the
CLOCKS are wound up, how the texts are drawn
how the music is run-in short all the contrivances
to amuse and-what shall say-humbug
This witnesses testimony largely supported the
defence. He believed that never grew tired
of the great preaching by Moody and Bangton
Booth He asserted that when ministers
equal to their Callings they among
men, 1t the ''msfts" whom he denounced.
THE practice of law he explained. drives
mshts into measuring calico or shovelling in the
streets, but the msft clergyman s always cler-
gyman, and he goes around victimzing congrega-
ton after congregation. They should be suppressed
by law in any other way.
He felt confident that a rule the ablest
did not go into the ministry because they rebelled
the dogma which weak minds glad
to accept. In his system things should be so
formed that the greatest man with the big heart
could about helping his fellow men,
The Rev. Alexander J. Curr, of the Broome Street
Tabernacle. then presented his plea.
Yes, sir"-he meant Your Honor'-"if you can
suppress preaching But when these fellows
chucked into prison. they will come out, like John
Knox to set all Scotland fire, or they will
preach in Pilgrims Progress for all generations
II you get indicted he will prove to be an
0ut good man in fo Manr 81 tbis civ for o1c
at least" The Rev. Mr. Curr wandered from his
testimony at this point. but the Judge did not re-
didn't like tall hats in his church preached from
the last four words of the verse. Let him that Is
said me "ouSF,op "O' come GOWN, '-Osl-E ne
fears in the districts like the lower East Side, and
sEeta of-mnsteFs who are standing up for de-
Al this point the Judge stated that he would
pany: He understood that that corporation was
ton would take all the congregations money
pany, said he had heard that in the preaching Of
e had & Bo he seef oHtd OF the evening
II cannot yet give up my devil" the lawyer
liking for him. but it is so comfortable on a
gloomy day, when things have gone wrong, to in
His Satanic Majesty. If YOU haven't room in your
other place to send O him Sou ca" Always nave
Some preachers I would have abolished-spch
against the Unitarians and the ,typewriters, /
confess love the typewriters; Another class of
speakers that should be stopped is that who when
the bloodiest. texts to be found and then an
e and 'f hat @ Gf the %y % m
If that were so, it you'd be better for this planet
vented from using the pulpit and started reading
the b seT Ra9 On Per Mount Mt Rroov
the defender of the Unitarians and the type
serious matter he saidt4is Question He had de
MPeTa6e ayqIded the 6omPaHy OF ministers and
see enough of the realities Of life the suferings.
Actors like Irving, he thought, knew much
about the actual, and stirred up the deeper moral
John D; Archbold also of the. Standard Oil Com
question ought to be reversed and read Preaching
ought to abolish the law and the lawyers -
Edwin r. Holden, Vice-president of the Lacka-
wanna Railroad, then called. THE preacher"
he pleaded does the best he knows how: we
charge him with delinquencies which, in the last
analysis belong to us
DR.. Edwin c. Bodies, formerly of this city,
spoke These of his reasons why preach
ing should be abolished by law TT would fill the
churches. for If IT were penal offence attend
everybody would go. 1t would increase the size of
the ministry by adding spice of danger to It, Gov
ernor Roosevelt, with his strenuous life, would
presume. take holy orders himself. 1t would boom
the observation-disclosures men who now have only
savage countries in which to bear the cross Dr.
Bolles defined preaching interpreting to others
what one has seen of heaven within himself
The Rev. DR.. Adams, of Brooklyn, said that he
was greatly frightened when he got the notice of
the club. He feared that II was in earnest and
he handed IN his to Tammany Hall to look
out for another job IF you stop preaching he
said, you strike blow at the foundations of
civilization you knock off the capstones of poetry
you shut off all of McKinley's messages, you shut
Roosevelt up tight a drum. and you prevent
Rudyard Kipng from writing his imperial brand
of poetry"
The Rev w T Eltsing and others also
heard.
Then a poll OF the jurors taken by sending
all who believe in preaching home and ordering the
others remain and fight II out with the MN
listers.
CONNECTICUT BRIDGE WASHED AWAY.