Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01
UNEMPLOYED MINISTERS.
The Subject Under Consideration by Il
Washington Presbytery Today.

The Subject Under Consideration by the
Washington Presbytery Today.
The adjourned fall meeting of the presbytery
of Washington held its session in the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, on 9th street. at 10 o'clock
this morning. The devotional services with
which the mornings work began, were con-
Quoted by Rev. T. ID. Richards, the last
moderator, who presided
A lengthy memorial with reference to some
matters in the Metropolitan Church sent to
presbytery by DIR. G. W. N. Gusts was read by
the stated clerk. Rev. Mr.. Bittinger, and then
referred to the judicial committee and the
committee on bills and overtures. Rev. DIR.
Hershey was unanimously elected chairman of
the committee to prepare the narrative to the
general assembly of the church.
UNEMPLOYED MINISTER'S
The report of the committee appointed to
consider the report of the assembly's committee
cant churches was read. The report of the
local committee commended much OF the plan
Of the assembly's committee looking toward a
| remedy for the growing trouble. The plan
involves a general method by which unem-
ployed ministers may be placed in touch with
| matters stand at present ministers have no
way Of getting in line with churches that
might be only too glad to obtain their services.
The committee from the local presbytery
| found two objections to the assembly's report:
First that the plan was too complicated and in
board to those already existing. They there
fore recommended that the overture Of the
| assembly be non-concurred in.
IN FAVOR OF THE LOCAL COMMITTEES PLAN.
Rev. DIR. Hamlin spoke in favor Of the adop-
ton of the report of the local committee, for he
did not think the plan of the assembly's COM
mittee was feasible one. He thought that
ministers and churches were the best
judges as to whether the minister s
he was in his proper place. There must be
freedom. The church must be allowed 10
choose its minister and the minister to choose
his work. II was not in keeping with the tenor
of the Presbyterian church to place a minister
in a church unless it was evident that the
church wanted the man.
THE AssEMBLY's PLAN DEFENDED.
Rev. Mr.. NcIlvaine of Huntsville was more
| in favor of the assembly plan, as he thoughtit
simply involved sort of ministers intelligence
Office He related some of his experience as an
unemployed minister and told of his difficulty
in getting his first charge. MY second call
ing" said he, 'came about i'm a very haphazard
way. 1t was Providence, know, but it came
| in a very happy-go- lucky manner"
".
work that the committees plan calls for is
really done by every church organization;
that unemployed ministers are on the
lookout for vacant churches and the
churches, as far as possible, for the unem-
ployed ministers, and that each in turn
must call for the assistance of outside parties.
In his opinion there was no need Of an extra
committee. The home missionary committee
with few added powers would in every way
| fill the need.
Remarks were made on the subject by Rev.
Dr. Sunderland, Rev. Mr.Wynkoop, DIR. Fuller
ton and Rev. Mr.. Little, and the report of the
assembly's committee on ministerial adjust
ment was non-concurred in. Rev. Mr.. Richards
was obliged to leave and Mr.. Rathboae of Falls
Church was appointed to officiate in his absence
DR.. Hamlin moved that the committee of the
presbytery be continued and instructed to
report at the next meeting Of presbytery in
April, but the substitute motion Of Mr.. Wynn
koop was adopted.
This added to the answer Of non-concurrence
the Recommendation that the powers of the
Presbyterian committees on home missions be
enlarged and that when necessary synodical or
Presbyteriai superintendents be employed.
The meeting today was rather brief and an
adjournment was taken before noon, the clos
ing prayer being offered by the officiating mod
orator.