New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-03
DIR. CUYLER TO RESIGN.
A SURPRISE FoR HIS CONGREGATION.

DETERMINED TO RETIRE BEFORE HIS POWERS
FLAG-THIRTY YEARS IN ONE PULPIT.
Tho Rev. DR.. Theodore L. Cuyler. Of the Lafayette
Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, surprised MS
congregation yesterday morning. AT the close OF
norerful sermon on The Conversion of St. Paul.
he read the following letter, CT which none oi MS
congregation had had the slightest hint: .
Nearly thirty years have elapsed since assunicu
the nastoral charge OF Lafayette Avenue Church
In Aprl. 1860 II was small band Of lao members.
nv the continual blessing Of Heaven upon US, 'hae
little flock has grown into one Of the largest ana
most useful and powerful churches In the ffesoS
terrain denomination. This church no" h"l'"e''
1880 members. 1t is the third Presby terrain ehfCn
In size in the United States. IL maintains wv
mission chapes has l $50 its sabbathschools' ana
is paying the salaries of three ministers In TINS Guy
and two missionaries in the South. For several
wears It has led all the churches Of Brooklyn IN inc
contributions 10 foreign home and city Missions anu
IL is surpassed by no other In wide ana '@r'e"
Christian work Every sitting In TINS spacious Ho"S0
has its occupant Our morning congregations nave
never been larger than they are this winter ihs
church has ever been to me like beloved cniia'
have given to it thirty years Of hard and HAPPY
labor and IL is now my foremost desire that It's
harmony may remain undisturbed and its prosperity
may remain unbroken.
"For long time have intended that my thirtie'h
anniversary should be the terminal point OF MY
present pastorate shall then have served this
beloved flock for an ordinary human generation ana
the time has come for me to transfer TINS
sacred charge to some who dn Gods good
providence) may have thirty years of vigorous work
before him and not behind him. II God spares my
life to the first Sabbath Of April ii Is my purpose TO
surrender this pulpit back into your hands. Ana
shall endeavor to cooperate with YOU In the search
and the selection of the right man to stand IN H.
will not trust myself to-day to speak OF the sharp
pang it will cost to sever a connection that mas
been to me one of unalloyed harmony and happiness
When the proper time comes we can speak OF all
such things and in the meantime let us continue
on at the blessed Masters work. and leave our future
entirely to His all-wse and ever-loving care
"On the walls of this dear church the eyes OF the
angels have always it written, i the LORD do
keep it, will water it every moment, lest any hurt
it. l will keep it night and day. 1t only remains
for me to say that after forty -four years of uninter
rupted ministerial labOrs 1t is only reasonable to ASK
for relief from strain that may soon become TOO
This announcement greatly affected the cOngregar
ton At the close Of the service some sopped no 70
they had heart to talk Of the change then.
To a Tribune reporter Dr. Cuyler sad - nave AYE
taken this action without consulting any one outside
of my household. MY church was never IN
better condition, and do not wish 10 Keep h9d Oh
failing powers shall allow the church to disinterIte
When / came here Mr.. Beecher said 70 me: Cuyler,
YOU are going out into the country There Is nobody
there A few years ago he said 20 me, Nou are IN
the centre now; / begin 10 find myself on the out
skirts I have never had any kind OF quarrel IN
my church and l want to leave IL in that condition
This has been one OF the hardest weeks of my life
II stay longer and start on new generations
work it must be the responsibility OF the church
and not mine. l am willing to surrender my
charge into their hands and let the future rest with
them. Were to hold on should feel that was not
doing my duty"
No action has been as yet taken nv the church on
the resignation. and 1t is uncertain when there VIII
be. 1t will take some time for the congregation 70
recover from its surprise. DR.. Cuyler does not at
present contemplate taking other p2Storate II MS
resignation should be accepted
Theodore Ledyard Cuyler was born at Aurora.
Cayuga County n. Y. January 10. 1s22. he
was graduated from the College Of NewJersey In 1S4l
and the Princeton Theological Seminary in 546. For
three years he supplied the pulpit OF the PRESBYTERIAN
Church of Burlington " j. and In 1e49 became pastor
of the Third Presbyterian Church in Trenton. lie
came to New York in 553. pastor of the Market
Street Reformed Church. and In 1860 assumed MS
present charge, which he has been the only
pastor. on the occasion Of the twenty fifth ami
versrv Of his pastorate April and 6. 1885. he
issued volume entitled Lafayette Avenue Church. y
He Is the author OF nearly 5000 articles in papers and
magazines and has written ten more books.
Among them are stray Arrows Heart Life. =
Thought Hives" and " From the Nile to Norway
Some OF them have been reissued within the last few
wears. DR.. Cuvler has long been an active worker
also in the cause Of temperance.