New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-07
BIRTHSTONE CORNER"
MUCH TALK ABOUT BOSTON PREACHERS
STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF THE PASTOR OF ADiRoN-
pAcK MURRAY's CHURCH.

rBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUhR,I
BosroN. June 6.-Relgious circles,in Boston
have been somewhat aatci the past week by remarks
q, nanful character concerning the conduct OF the
pastor OF a prominent Congregational Church toward
brother clergyman OF the faith Tho Rev. Or
Herck OF the Mount Vernon Church one OF tho abest
and most highly esteemed clcrgymen In Boston, mas
lately received calls from Syracuse and from New
Haven both Of which he has declined. preferrinS TO
remain with his present charge
Last Sunday morning after announcing hisdecson 10
remain in Boston, he said: " But some things have
arisen which, while they haycl not altered the facts,
nave perhaps opened my eyes 70 certain probabilities OF
the near future which / did not so thoroughly
take into account 1 might have \ DONE
dislike TO speak OF the matter, and do 40 now
because only by doing can s-explain my
action Some three months ago It was brought
to nv knowledge that asperons had been made upon
my ministerial WORK I'm this city for tho past fourteen
wears and assertions tending to dlscredt the condition
OF this church in distant community had been dcho
eraey uttered under the avowal that sucn representa-
tons were matter OF common talk. These representa-
tons. whether true false. were made with studied
carefulness by person whose place In the community
"a religious teacher would to preclude any dis
honest or dishonorable purpose My attention was
directed in the emphatic manner TO the fact that
seemed 20 be playing least in the OF Ookerson
losing game that seemed TO be working against the
nws OF nature AMI as / reviewed what | had known
personally Of the gous history OF Boston, and es-
pecially what has been silently aud stealhily taking
silently and steathy and Inc yitaby the days
aud months and slipping away from onrpo-scs-
son-it became clear conviction that either the condi-
OF the game must be changed IN some faac way OF
the end could not be remote
Dr. Hcrrck been urged but he refuses to say more
on this subject Following however IL the current COS
sip In rego circles When tue call was extended 10
him from Syracuse the committee wrote 10 two Cd Bos-
| toms prominent Congregational clergymon, tho Rev
Drs. Webb. OF the shavmut Church, and with
row. OF the Park street Church. n. hcrFiek Is III
DR. Webb and Dr. WthTS~ rspr,snt me OH 'Ge1o
From DR. Webb the committee rscoyg1 k.hdy ie.Ses
less kind IL Suggested lis said. unsoundness vital
questions OF faith aud gave the impression that Or. Her
rick was losing ground In hs charoh which the
writer said was dwindng away. VIII, 80 ,,.
hts reply 70 the syracuse committed, called
Dr. GrrG loaG and ge bin he to latter sse%
hear that he had written unkind things about hlln Mr.
YER Spt long after this it came to the ears Of tho
Syracuse committee that DR.. WfOw had dlsOwned any
breach Of christian etiquette 50 the committee soh'ho
Rumors OF Dr. WIIhrow's course had in the meantime
| as an attack on the christian character Of
| THAT sir is a psychological mpossibty," aud there.
upon produced the letter. much to the discontinue OF
| said and how Dr. Withrow explained his con
duct DR. Herrick refuses 10 tell lie mas
refused to give the Wthrow letter FOR publication. lie
referred TO 1t pointedy ~ las SUNDAYS sermon re
prompt deenatOn OF the Syracuse call and Ills delay IN
deciding about the call 10 Now Haven. .
The PARK street Church destined 20 retain It's
prominence before the world Tho building. which 1, al
Park aud fremont sts.. was long known as birthstone
Corner II has had In IFS cyetu history Of seventy
years several noted pastors, the Rev Dr. stone FoO1
and able man. who afterwapi went to san Francisco.
used TO astonish OF his staid Old parish
toner's by his fondness FOR iost horses. Inc
Rev w. II. II Murray astouished the dcacons
and good others by his eccentric course and MS
fondness things that seemed rather unclerca
and DR. WithrOw. who came from Indiana to Boston nine
years ago. created ripple In ecclesiastical circles
not o the most agreeable nature.