New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-28
BTrMORS ABOUT DIR. HALL.
Talk THAT HE WILL GIVE UP HIS CHURCH.
m pr MORE INTERESTED IN THE DEvEL-
opursr OF THE CITY uNIvERsiTY-HIs

AN,
opuENr OF THE CITY UNIvERsiTY-HIs
pe,rSps DENY THE STORIES.
hoe heen an interesting rumor current
-,,S,ors and educational circles Of this city
III '. -eo ,;r,. which credits the Rev. DIR. John
IN ;,h the intention of resigning the pastor
To- 10 =, tho Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in
L. IN give all his time and work to the chan
s.,orsbip of the University of the City Of New
VII for the purpose of developing that institu-
ZION into university in the fullest sense OF
the word. 1t is possible that it was an incor-
rect version of this story that crept into PRINT
yesterday. and was generally denied. This was
that Or. Hall would soon resign the chancellor
shin of the university and would be succeeded by
Vice-Chancellor MacCracken. Some interesting
and significant facts were ELECTED yesterday, how
ever. which may throw some light on the path
that the University of the City Of New-fork and
the Union Theological Seminary, if noo Dr. Hall
himself may follow before long If certain conoi-
tons are realized DR.. Hall refused to discuss
the stories yesterday, and characterized them as
idle rumors
II is kenerally believed by those who have sup
posed that DR.. Hall contemplated this course uhat
his final decision would be determined ny one
action of the General Assembly OF the fres
byterian Church on the case OF Dr' Briggs IL
II is assumed that the Assembly will decide against
Professor Briggs a most interesting and plausloie
course is outlined for the university the seminary
and Dr. Hall This is best stated IN the lorm
in which it was presented by leading frespy-
terrain Of this city yesterday. About ten years
ago DR.. Hall was elected chancellor OF the UNI
yersity 81 of the City of New-York 10 sue.
coed Dr. Howard Crosby, and Dr. Han
still holds the chancellorship. 1t seemed
natural that Dr. Hall should be wiling 10
accept this position, because, coming from
country where the CHARACTERISTIC OF UNIVERSITY
is regarded as the highest reward for scholarship
and devotion TO church, DR.. Hall must have enter
tanned those views. The Fifth Avenue PresDy-
terian Church strongly opposed DR.. Halls taking
the office. and he made Quasi-refusal OF H. ouo
eventually took the office and holds it to-day.
Still. the cooperation of DIR. MacCracken has
secured and as he has discharged most OF the
duties OF the chancellorship. DR.. Hall has thus
been enabled to remain at the head OF the univer-
sity and continue his labors as pastor Of the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
But DR.. Hall will be sixty-two years old In
July. and il is argued in support of the theory
that he would now like to lay down the arduous
duties Of the pastorship of his church and attach
himself TO less exacting but no less enduring
work. the developing Of the University of the City
OF Newly 0rK. lie is regdTutu as one VI oilC uVo'
successful pastors in the country, as well as one
of the foremost theologians and pulpit orators OF
the Presbyterian Church, But he holds posi-
ton which only an exceptionally able and hard
working man could FILL The mission work of
the Church, for example, is field in itself, and
moreover DR.. Hall has no assistant
Now, the recent movement among the friends
Of the University of the City of New-York TO
pull up stakes" and locate the university up
town is regarded the first step by the supporters
of the institution toward developing the uni
versty into real university. 1t requires the addi-
ton of a theological seminary TO give the uni
versity all the departments of a university 1t
may be that those who believe in the theory ad-
4anced will find that their wish is the father of
the thought in the case Of DR.. Hall, but their
next link In the chain of evidence
is decidedly interesting. This is the annex
ing of the Union Theological Seminary to
the university as the theological school of that
institution. 1t is generally supposed that the
Union Theological Seminary is Presbyterian semi
nary alone. But the Union Theological Semi
nary is what it's name says it is, union seminary
1t is the union of the Reformed, Presbyterian and
Congregational elements and it has many gradu-
ates who are CongregatiOnalists, Baptists and
Epscopalians. Some time ago a Unitarian pur-
sued course of studies at this seminary, but The
Tribunes informant could not remember whether
he completed his studies 1t is true that the
seminary made compact with the Presbyterian
Church in 1871, but the Church reserved the
right Of veto. 1t is also true that many of its
professors came from the Congregational Church
Now as it is regarded as probable that the
faculty of the Union Theological Seminary will
stand by DR.. Briggs in case that the General AS
Sembly vetoes his appointment the faculty would
have TO withdraw from the guidance of the Pres
byterian Church in the event of DIR. Briggs's de-
feat. BY an arrangement made last year, the
university can grant degrees to the graduating
class of the seminary. What would be more prob
able, therefore, say some, than closer union be-
tween the two institutions if Dr., Briggs should
be ousted from his Church?
The assumption is that DR.. Hall will make his
decision after the Briggs case is disposed of, but
in the meantime incidents are recalled to show
that DR.. Hall was unwilling to take part in the
Briggs controversy Last year Dr. Hall was a
pronounced anti-revisionist and the leader of his
wing of the Church. This year he took little pub
lie action in the New-York Presbytery when DR..
Briggs was before it. He refused, moreover, to
attend the General Assembly this year, although
many thought that he would have been elected
moderator had he gone to Detroit
1t was difficult TO obtain any public expression
on this story yesterday. When 1t was related in
brief 10 DIR. Hail. he laughed and said Don't
refer to IT."
I'VE must say something about it, Doctor" the
reporter replied.
These stories are idle gossip" was the answer
"Wil YOU deny them ?"
81 don't care 10 discuss them.
A relative Of ViceChancellor MacCracken
laughed at the report, and said that it was hard
TO see how DIR. Hall could be willing TO resign
his present place with its large salary for the
CHARACTERISTIC of the university, which would not
begin 10 reward him so well as his present place
Dr. Hall at present was acting as chancellor with
out drawing pay. $780,
DR.. Hall became pastor OF the Fifth Avenue
PRESBYTERIAN Church about twenty-five years ago.
II one of the largest and wealthiest Protestant
churches in the country, and the congregation in
eludes some of the best known people in the city.
The venerable Charles Butler, who is member
Of the Council of the University of the City of
New-York and also Of the Board of Directors of