Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-03
DIR. EWING TO RESIGN.
The Pastor of the Sixth q. P. Church
Will Ask to be Released.
HIS CONGREGATION MUST DECIDE
Whether They Desire His PastOrate Dis
continued or Not.
PRESBYTERY WILL ALSO TAKE A HAND

Rev. r. B. Ewing, d. D., pastor of the
Sixth q. P. Church, on Collins avenue,
surprised his congregation at the morning
service yesterday. by announcing his inten-
ton to tender his resignation, and calling
special congregational meeting, to be held
within the next two weeks, for the purpose
of considering his action.
This step is taken by DR.. Ewing owing to
the controversy among the members OF his
church in regard to his recent marriage to
the sister of his deceased wife. 1t had been
announced that he had promised to make
complete statement to the congregation
quence the attendance was considerably
larger than usual.
DR.. Ewing stated that he had made no
such statement, nor had he intended to make
any explanations to the congregation about
his private affairs He had heard of some
dissatisfaction among a few of the members,
and he thought it best to give them an op-
portunity of deciding whether or not it
would be for the future benefit of the con-
gregation for his pastorate to be brought to
close.
NOTICE OF HIS INTENTION.
DR.. Ewing was seen in mis- pleasant home
on Shady avenue, East End. yesterday
afternoon, by q DISPATCH reporter, to
whom he said. 81 have given my congrega-
tion notice to-day, and will repeat
it next Sunday, that will
offer my resignation as their
pastor. 1 think it is the proper thing to do
in view of the dissatisfaction that exists
among few of the families. 1 have no
quarrel with any of the members, but have
the kindliest feeling for one and all. But L
understand that some of them are grieved,
and desire that the Presbytery should settle
the matter. I think the numbers who are
dissatisfaction at least those who express
themselves as being issatisfed-is limited to
less than dozen. But they have their
grievance, and of course they are entitled to
bearing, and 1 propose to throw no obstacle
in the way of their securing fair and i'm
partial settlement of the whole affair. 1
also propose that the congregation shall
have an opportunity to say whether shall
remain or not.
rREArE8 VERY WELL.
II cannot tell what the congregation will
do. The members have treated me with the
utmost kindness since my return, but can
not judge from that whether they will vote
to retain me or not. 1t is likely the Pres
bytery will take the result of the congrega-
tional meeting as the basis for its action,
and will regard it as evidence that should
either go or stay. l have no plans for the
future. 1 am waiting patiently for the re-
suit of the two meetings. 1 cannot tell
whether / will insist upon my resignation
being accepted, even should both the con-
gregation and the Presbytery show dis
position to retain me. The real power, of
course, is with the Presbytery. They placed
me In charge of the Sixth Church, and they
alone can release me-"
The Sixth U. P. congregation was organ
lied in 1856, with about 14O members. At
that time, and for many years a terward,
services were held in a small, frame, chapel
like structure, on what was then called
franklin, now Flavell street, in the Nine
teenth ward. In 1876 lot was purchased
on Collins avenue, and a handsome edifice
erected, at cost of about S45, 900. The con-
gregation now numbers about 400 members,
and includes the names of many of the
wealthiest residents of the East End.
TWENTY YEARS IN CHARGE.
Or. Ewing has been in charge of the con-
gregation for over 90 years, and the greatest
increase in the membership of the church
has been the result of his labors. Peace and
harmony have always prevailed until the
present trouble began. There has not been
the slightest dissension, heretofore, at any
time, but on the other hand, the church has
with the utmost harmony. Even
now. those who are condemning the pastors
action in the strongest terms, still retain a
high personal regard for him, and have
never yentnred an unkind word to him.
The session of the church, recognizing its
duty to take some action, decided, at recent
meeting, to refer the matter to the Presby-
terry. This will, no doubt, be an interesting
meeting, and the action of that body will be
anxiously awaited by all interested.