Year: 1879

At the Brooklyn Tabernacle yesterday morning
the immense congregation was on the tiptoe OF ex-
pectation. awaiting DR.. Talmage's answer to the
communication from the Board of Trustees request
ing the pastor to consider the aivisabiiity OF with
drawing from the Brooklyn Presbytery. DR.. Tai
mage Friday night had intimated that he would
reply to the letter of the trustees yesterday All
sorts OF opinions prevailed to what would be the
decision. The majority however. appeared to think
that DIR. Talmage would end all trouble by the
short and decisive method OF withdrawing from
the Brooklyn Presbytery. But those who
better acquainted with him, knowing his orthodoxy
and conservatism, confidently asserted that he
would remain in the Presbyterian communion in
spite of all temptation to leave it and would only go
out when forced out. Every felt uncertain. and
it not until he publicly declared that he would
still try to maintain his connection with the presby
terry that the anxiety in the minds of his congrega
ton was dispelled.


A MANIFESTO.


The services proceeded as usual until after the
usual Sunday collection had been taken, when DIR.
Tamage stepped to tie front of tho platform and
said:-"I have announcement to make OF much
Importance. hope it may be received in silence"
Then he read from the manuscript his reply to the
trustees. 1t was as follows:-


'At the beginning Of last week the trustees Of this
church passed a resolution asking me. in
quence of what they style 'the wanon and persist
ent pursuit and persecution OF their pastor. that
initiate a movement for the taking OF this church
out of the Presby yteran denomination This resolu-
ton, coming from my warm and long tried personal
friends whose sacrifices and services for this church
have.brought under strongest obligatlon-a reso-
luton expressing 1 believe. the feeling OF the
whole church-absorbs my serious attention. espe-
cally when these brethren me that they will
cheerfully join either in going or staying.
reply to their letter by saying that persons
go we'll the trustees Of this church understand
tho outrages committed by those clergymen who have
the idea that there is not enough in Brooklyn
for this church and theirs. dety any gentlemen III
the profession of law medicine to find any such
strange intensity of pursuit as has been demon
strated in my case. The chief agents in starting
this trial declared in the that they wished my
acquittal, yet within fifteen minutes after my ac
qutta they appeal to the Synod for reversal OF that
decision. The opinion currently expressed in the
community may be true that our enemies, LETT in q
sinking condition by the decision OF the fresbytery
are now STRUGGLING 70 get ashore. It Is not De WIT
enemies have not been content with assaulting me.
but have ried to damage the financial credit OF our
church by sending to religious newspapers letters
packed with financial talsehood.


HOW COULD THEY EVER IT?


efappointed detectives have tried to microscopize
every imperfection. Our reception of members
has been belied spies have been sent out, one of
whom was found on the window ledge at night lis
tening to u conference between myself aud church
officers The sanctity OF the domestic relation has
been invaded by all emssary sent to branch OF my
family to il seventeen years ago there was not


misunderstanding out OF which something could be
manufactured for Presbyterial effect. who. finding
nothing. apologzed for the act the ground that
had given the Presbytery permission to investigate
my entire life. This / have in affidavit taken
before notary pubic. misnnderstanang a oe,
| from the place where it was buried three
years previously. and made specification AGAINST
me, though all the misunderstanding arose from n
false and impertiuent letter written by one OF my
asssilants in religious paper damnatory OF my
church. This pursuer made the trouble first, and
then, aron,ed at the fact that 1t had been settled
three years before put in the spade of the midnight
resurrectionist do not wonder at the outburst OF
righteous indignation OF my board of trustees
against these ecclesiastics who have taken much
of precious time and expended thousands OF
dollars, which they upon the churches. :n-
censed because my own church will not help pay for
the stillettos with which they have been stabbing
us. When Boothsshot Mr.. Lincoln he did not send
to Mr. Lincolns administrators bill for pistol and
shot. (Sensation.)


with the vast majority of the ministers Of the Pres
by teran Church side, shall. to get rid Of
denomination? To leave the Presbyterian Churc Ia
would be difficult step tor me. was born IN the
Presby terial family. tho Reformed Church being u
part of that family. My father and grandfather and
greatgrandfather served as elders at her affairs.
was born in the Presbyterian Church, and there
was born again. She is my mother. have preached
the Gospel twenty-three years in her putpits.
have taught my children to revere her. love her
body OF men not to be found in any denomina-
ton. She has shown her determination to vindcate
my rights. The majority OF the members OF the
Brook Presbytery noble hearted men and when
my before them they gave me triumph
over my enemies My Presbyterial friends stood
firmly though every conceivable influence was
brought to bear on them to make them antagonistc
to myself of my friends being offered by OF
ing i'll effect:-"You take this speech against DR..
Talmage and deliver it, and You shall have the credit
OF its being yours. The plagiaristic bribe was re
jected because that brother had aber speech OF his
own my side. We must not as u church do any


thing that would imply want OF confidence in those
| clergymcn who have manfuly battled on my be-
half or do anything that would look like imgrati-
| tude for their magnificent service.


DECLARATION FAITH.


"I believe in the Brooklyn Presbytery and in the
Long Island Synod, and in the General Assembly OF
| the Presbyterian Church, and in God the Father
Almighty, and the Holy Catholic Church. 1t is only
question how much annoyance and nagging the
great Presbyterian denomination will allow my
condemnation. Sometimes I have thought
| would expose the moral rottenness OF some OF my
| pursuers and show by return OF assault how very
thin walled is the glass house of some who are pet-
| ing me. Gentlemen thinking ought to hght IRE
with fire. have put in my 4iands material enough to


make bouquet for scandal mongers for the next
| year. But have no spirit for such work. never
| pursued anybody and don't mean TO begin now.
| tApplauseD All / ask is that the Synod of Long


Island the General Assembly of the United States
| call oil these pursuers and let me 90 on in tho
| glorious work OF proclaimng sympathetic Christ
| to suffering world. tApplausc.) Brethren, our
wisdom is to stand still and tho salvation OF God.
| II the Presbyterian Church want us they can have
III
| go together. (Applause.l This church is made up
! OF personal friends. With such men tins Board
of Trustees and those whom they represent could
be happy anywhere. IL the bad treatment goes on
I will say to the Board OF Trustees and
| Session. Where thou gocst VIII so, where
| people aud thy God my God This church was
built for to preach in and here shall preach till
God in whose hand our breath Is shall tell me to
| stop. (Applause From letters received from vari-
parts OF the land since the passage OF the rcsolu


ton by the Board OF Trustees judge that we will
/
done you will hnd engraved on the plate OF the
ke at the foot OF this pulpit the name of minister
| of the Presbyterian Church who with ten thousand
| impcrfections tried to do his best.


my loving salutation to the official Board OF the
| church and for my enemies the prayer of Christ,


Father. forgive them, they know not what they
do My sermon will be somewhat in the direction
indicated by these last utterances.'


| SERMON.


DIR. Talmago's sermon had for its subject "The
| Disposition of Christ" and the text from Phil


ippians, H., 5"Let this mind be in you, which was
alan In llrist Lnaus.n Ilnrn IL nnthinn lnrn