New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-11
PULPIT SKETCHES.
fOIIy HALL. OF THE FIFTH AVENUE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH.

A little man in a great church or great
man I'm little church, Is an unfortunate combination
whether ministers churches are considered. Anu
sneh fated alliances sometimes happens for ehuehes
are not infallibe interpreters OF clerical eaore any
more than ministers OF their own resources But
With great minister In great church the relation Is
crowned with the promise OF abundant frufnness III
good works. II is universally conceded that Dr. Johh
Hall Is great In pulpit and pastorate ana thht he
ministers the greatest church IN the Presbyterian ue
nomination In America and under such fencious con-
junction we are likely to experience disappointment
In counting ND the results First the church and then us
minister.
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Society dates back in
is history 10 the first society Of that
was established in 1907 colony from this society," com
prsng many Of the most celebrated families OF that Pc
Rod organized q church in 1907, and built thclr
house of worship in Ccdar-st. between Nassau and
Liberty In old list OF pewhoders may be read the
names of Archibald Oracle, James Lenox, Stephen
Whitney, H. Auchincloss, W. odman, DR.. Hosack, j.
Hyslop ]. Aspinwall, the strongs and Elisha Colt
In 1884 the then up town movement carried the so
ciety to Duane and Church Ste, whence furthcr re-
moval to Fftl-ave and Ninetecnth-st took place IN
1852 In 1875 the society, after another and propany
final concession 10 the push of trade worshpped Tor he
first time in the magnificent sanctuary where the same
avenue Is crossed by Fiftyfth-st. The congregation
Nils the church. which provides two thousand si'unRs
The carly traditions of worldly thrift ana sociai s''
ton continue, and among the membership ana pew
holders are enrolled of the wealthest ana most IN
anor+jo, peonein instance, the sloanes
tho stuarts the Jaffrays Robert Bonner, Robert Hoe,
Elliott F. shepard, Dr. Agnew, Charles l-anier D. ~
yernye and Henry O. Narquand In the isl OF elders
leacons and trustees the names of men VINO disn!
and ennoble any position secular or ecclesiastical which
laymen may serve.
THE HOME OF THIS GREAT CONGREGATION.
The building with its chapel cost one million and sixty
thousand dollars The material ia brOwnstOne and tie
architecture freely modified Gothic. and the spirc for
symmetry and effectiveness may be ranked with That OF
trinity Church and that OF Holy Trinity Church
on Brooklyn Heights. The interior Is frank
attempt 10 subordinate the limitations OF proper
Gothic. church to the sole and supreme one OF an
auditorium assembly rOOm-where the pastor y MIN
self liturgy and evangelist The attempt is successful
although the worry the eye and the floors seem 10
subside at first Ike the unsteady deck of ship bnI
every individual commands perfect view OF the pulpit
and preacher and the absence Of columns ana pillars
and the fine management OF the ceiling secure absolutely
pcrfect acoustic effects, the gentlest tones OF the
preacher are distinctly audible throughout the immense
Interior Spacious galleries encrcle the four walls the
organ and pulpit completing the cncure The finish Is
i ash and the organ and pulpit are OF the same
material The effect therefore is cheerful and nviung
md under the great elongated skyligh and pleasantly
toned Windows all pervading harmony OF light ana
color is secured. An enormous organ, built by the
Jardlnes, aud Beautifully Volccu "'''
and the loft for the cholrwhich consists OF single
preccntor-is worked out into rejecting canopy above
the pulpit platform just underneath
Three active chapes are sustained by the sociey-d-
trued in parts OF the city where there Is most pressing
need of mission wOrk-ata total outlay OF moro than
$4,000 yearly. The church itself is full OF societies
and charitable organizations, and affords small encourag-
ment for drones theorizers. The strong head ana
heart at the centre the organization 10 nvgor
ate the whole society with intelligent energy and earn
esness The church with its three chapes has mcn-
bcrshlp OF nearly 1000 communicates representing
ALMOST all contrasts and conditions of society Among
the most celebrated and nstumenalities made
use of by Dr. Hall In his ministrations Is 'stem OF
Billie classes for the study OF the Sacred Scriptures ana
Che pastors class often attended by members OF other
fois drawn by the and flavor OF bis Instructions
THE PREACHER AND HIS WORK.
And now for a closer glimpse OF the minister himself,
unlcr whose spiritual husbandry this solid thrifty de
velopmcnt has been accomplished The great preIcher
Is at the same time great for works that shall re
main must be fed upon Word aud Ife upon preaching
and character The merely popular preacher makes his
work on his nes and his influence and record die when
he dies he is nothing but ephemeral phenomenon
the admiration and stimulus OF day Their words do
follow them, and only WORDS for such men accomplish
TO works DR. Hall is rich in edifcaon and instruction
which rpen in works lie born In Armagh, Ireland,
In 1929 and is OF Scotch lineage. He precOcious
scholar entering the College Of Belfast in his thirteenth
year, and 1t is not without Significance in stndy OF his
sermOnizing to mcnuol that he was during his cduca-
tional training frequently Hebrew prlreman so that
well grounded scholarship underes his earliest studies
in the Scriptures In 1882 he became pastor OF the
First Presbyterian Church in Armagh and In 1853 he
advanced 10 the pulpit Of ST. Msrys Abbey Church
in Dubn In 1867 he visited the General Assembly Of
the Presby Church IN the United states dele
gate from the corresponding body in Ireland and such
was the impression which grew ont Of these official rea
hafo he Of he
received, and accepted, call from the Fifth Avenue
Society, the negotiations having been conducted y cable
communication He had already enjoyed the unique dis
tincton of honorary appointment by the Queen 10
Commssionership Of Education in Ireland.
Dr. Hall entered upon bis work in 1867, in the old
church at Nineteenth during these sixteen years
steady and vigorous growth has followed his ministra
ton In all Its departments. He Is now fifty four years
old and may be said to have hardly reached his elm
actefic Of influence and strength lie is TALL burly In
ngnre suggesting the athlete rather than the pctist
and enjOysa physique built in generous yet symne
lfcal proportions His eyes blue, viyacous, and
heamiBg with kulliness and at times genial humor He
breaches in gown and bands HIS voice is low, rich and
musical quality yet modulacd and managed that
catches and holds attention and Is easily heard In every
part of his church His words come deliberately yet
with the candid simplicity OF innocent, hearted
life in which intellectual arts and refinement clearly
take the second place The congregation are straight
way hushed reverend attention and while the speaker
never wastes tihes with word, each word seems 10
invest loving welcome in the hearers, sincerely IN
sympathy are speaker and people. familiar hymn Is
read with much tenderness and unction. The organ
gives the tune; hymnbOOks rustic in every the
tenor precentor takes mp the melody, and the solemn
fervor OF the great volume OF song brings 10 mind the
traditions old Covepanters al their simple
The pastor reads chapter from the Old Testament and
almost every finds the place and follows his expressive
delivery word by word. The conventional long
prayer sdscuve and surchargcd with the special pur
pose OF the mornings ministry. Another hymn follows
in which everybody joins heartily, and the full voiced
ehorale aroues emotions of soemny rarely touched by
more elaborate ritual worship.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SERMON.
The text is short epigrammatc in form. easily remem
bered. The sermon 10 send down root far