Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-05
DIR. TODD.s SUCCESSOR.

A Unanimous Vote Passed to Call
Rev. Dr.sPhillips of the First Meth.
Odist Church, W1lkesbarre, Pa, to
Become Its Pastor-He is an Emit
nent Methodist Divine with n Good
RecOrd-The Salary to be $4,000.
Nearly 200 members of the Society and
Church of the Redeemer were present last
evening in the lecture room of the church
to listen and take action upon the report
made'by the committee that had been ap-
pointed to look up successor to DR.. Todd
as pastor of the church. This report was
most enthusiastic on the part of the COM
mittee. They had agreed upon the Rev.
DR.. Lyman Phillips Of the First Methodist
church in Wilkesbarre, Pa, as their
choice. They had inquired and investigated
into Mr.. Phillips record, and found that
it was extremely satisfactory These gentle
men We're unanimous in their opinion, and
all had been to hear him preach excepting
was one and were SO glowing in their
praises that they carried conviction with
them. The committee consisted of Gen.
p, s. Greeley, chairman; NJ F. Tyler, N.
d. Sperry, G.. P. Merwin and Joseph Por-
ter. The chair was occupied by Deacon
Hale. The report was read by Mr.. Tyler
in the absence Of Gen. Greeley and after a
little discussion was accepted. The follow
ing resolution was voted for unanimously
by the church, "Voted That the Church of
Watson Lyman Phillips cordial invita-
ton to become it's pastor, to take charge of
the church on the 1st of April, 1891, or
before, if his engagement with his present
charge will permit" After the meeting of
the church had adjourned, the society's
meeting was held to take the final action
and, to use the words of Deacon Hale, the
moderator, this body used the same good
sense that the church had done by
voting unanimously to join in with the
church in extending a call to DR.. Phillips.
The salary was fixed at $1,000, year.
There was much good feeling displayed at
both of the meetings, especially at the for
mer, as the ladies were invited to vote in
confirmation of what had been done. DR..
Phillips is a man not much over forty years
Of age, and has been in the Methodist
church for the past seventeen years, but is
not what might be called strictly denomi-
national. He is described as a broad and
thoroughly orthodox preacher and one that
would do capitally in the Congregational
pulpit. He is New Highlander, Of good
old Presbyterian parentage, his native
state being Vermont. He was educated in
the school at Poultney, VT, the Ford Ed
wards Institute, N. Y, and graduated
with the class of '72 from Wesleyan Uni
versity, Middletown, Conn. He received
his title of L. L. D. from this university in
1889. He studied afterwards in the
parishes in Fall River, New Bedford, and
in 1881 went to the Summerfeld church,
one of about 900 members, in Brooklyn,
where he stayed the full limit of three
years and then went to the St. Johns
church of the same place, by invitation,
where he stayed three years and then went
again by invitation to the Summerfeld
church, where he remained until 1885,
Then he assumed the duties as pastor of
the First Methodist church of Wilkes
barre, Pa, which is the largest
district He is rated in ability among the
first half dozen preachers Of the country
of the Methodist denomination. The COM
mittee feel that he will not have any seri-
Gus objections in accepting call to
ord is no mean one. He has always had
charge of large churches, and has left
them in a fourishing condition, having
kept them up to their extreme limit. And
one thing that is not uncomplimentary is
that always he has left be-
hind him in congregation a large
group who deeply regretted his leaving.
He is described as quiet and dignifed in
his bearing and much like DR.. Todd in his
style of writing, though he perhaps, is
superior to DR.. Todd in oratorical powers.
He has a charming wife and three chill
dren. The church if they succeed in OBJ
toiy n,. oCf 1n
very fortunate.
Rev. DIR. Pentecost will continue to oc-
cupy the pulpit through the month of
August