Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-27
CUTTING THE KNOT.
Rev. R. A. Hill Says Some Very In
cisive Things in Severing a Tie.
JUDAS AND HIS OTHER MAJESTY
Are Given the Weight of a Blow fol
Somebody's Benefit.
SOME COMPARISONS THAT STING

The Rev. R. A. Hill, who has been pastor
of the Seventh Presbyterian Church for the
last seven years, preached his farewell
sermon last night. 1t has been well known
that a faction of Mr. Hill's congregation
wanted to get rid of him, because he
frequently said things in the pulpit
which they thought he should not
have said. The reverend gentleman
stated last night that, while his opponents
only amounted to 10 members, he had
thought it better, for the success of the
church, to resign. He will remain, how
ever, in Minersville for another year, and
do such work among the friends of his con-
gregation as they desire him to.
For his sermon last night he chose the
text from John xiii, z: "What 1 do thou
knowest not now, but thou shalt know it
hereafter" and, in an extended discourse,
be drew illustrations from the life of Christ
Immediately before His death. He spoke OF
the treacherous Judas in very strong terms;
of the denial and blssphemy of Peter, and
the panic of others, who fled every one to
his own. OF Judas, he said that he had
been a man who, although being so closely
and Familiarity connected with Christ, sud-
denly developed into the
MOST HATEFUL AND ABHoRRENT
character. If there was to be a traitor, it
would have been better had he come from
the sons of Belial than from the friends of
the Savior.
To Ianyone familiar with the troubles in
the church, the whole sermon appeared to
be piece of sarcasm; but, when the Rev.
Mr.. Hill was asked point blank, he denied
it. A member of the Board of Trustees,
however, said: "There is certainly shoe in
the sermon that fits somebody"
"Now that have concluded my last SER
mon to you," Mr.. Hill said, before the
service was over, 81 feel it my duty to make
this appendix"
and, after purging the roll of the membership
Of the church, 45 were retained. who were at
that time supposed to be reliable members.
an increase of nearly 200 per cent
1t has been stated that the trustees
had money to spare in the treasury
before came. Possibly, but if SO it had got
well out of sight when l came. The assertion
that the church had been in easy financial cir
cumstances for a decade before my coming
here is simply absurd, and will be news to most
",
well know, the trustees obtained grant from
PresDytery of S4O0 to make up my salary
to the amount of $1,000 per year; and
as you well know, the congregation, even
after this grant had been made, could not sus-
tain itself financially without resorting to an
almost interminable routine of amuSements
and entertainments. And myself paid out of
my own salary for the first two or three years
the salary of our musical leader (S200). For
give me this wrongl-I am sorry to be compelled
to make this statement, but l must allude to
these facts to refute the SANDER that the
church has been retrogading financially during
my paStorate.
"A DIFFERENCE NOTED.
Since my first year with you the grant from
Presbytery has been decreasing year by year,
until, at the beginning of this year. more than
the amount Of my salary was reported in the
treasury.
During the last year we had also marked
increase in our attendance. We had also some
very fine revival meetings, and the only one
present who was not pleased was the devil. 1t
is said, whenever Gods people build chapel
the devil will build synagogue of Satan on
the opposite side of the street, and have
sometimes noticed that, failing in the syna-
gogue, he tries his hand at a congregational
meeting. 1t may have been partially so here,
but only partially.
1t is painful for Us to separate, united as we
are to the same blessed Lord. If l have been
the means of doing you any good, devoutly
thank God for it. and hope you will leniently
overlook my infirmities, of which you cannot
be more conscious than l am myself. Why the
present separation should SO suddenly and un-
expectedly take place, is question we cannot
answer: but our blessed Savior knows 1t ALL and
he comforts us by his statement: What do
thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know it
hereafter"
When the reverend gentleman offered his
last prayer as the pastor of the church, his
voice quivered. Everybody seemed more or.
less affected by the scene, and large num-
Der of the congregation fingered behind for
some time to shake hands with their retiring
pastor.
On next Wednesday evening an adjourned
meeting of the congregation will be held to
consider some financial matters of the
church.