The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-19
His Own Friendship and that Of His Son for
Professor Briggs, the Alleged Hereto, Said
to Have Influenced His Action.
Review Of the Proceedings of the Ecu
menlcal Methodist Conference.
Marked Contrast Between the Present Gather.
ing and the First Ceuncil-The Discussion
on Women, Unity and Other Topics.
DIR. JOHN HALL RESIGNS.

Left the Directorate OF Union Theological
Seminary on Account OF DIR. Briggs-
NEW YORK, Oct 1S-Dr. John Hall has
resigned from the directorate of the Union
Theological Seminary. At the request of
several of his fellow directors DIR. Hall has
consented to remain with the board until
November, when the ANIMAL meeting of the
board is to be held. At that time the resig-
nation will be acted upon. Until then be
will remain rominally in the board.
Dr.. Hall has long been greatly troubled
on account of the Briggs matter. and his
resignation was expected BY the conserva-
tives. One of the stanchest friends of DR..
Briggs is Dr.. Halls son Thomas. preacher
in Chicago. DR.. Hall has been influenced
greatly by his sons attachment to the al
legged hereto. When the Briggs case came
up in the presbyte DR.. Hall, according to
O statement printed to-day. avoided voting
by absenting himself from the meeting.
The Briggs men elect ed HIM commission
er to the General Assembly. Had he gone he
would have been its moderator. He again
avoided committing himself by surrender
ing his commission. Later, when the case
was discussed by the directors of the Union
he withdrew, 1T is stated, just as the direct
ors were on the point of voting.
After his return from abroad DR.. Hall be-
gan an effort to quiet the prosecution Of
DR.. Briggs in the interest Of peace and har-
mony in the church. He mustered strong
peace party that would certainly have car
weeks ago. and stopped the trial of DR..
Briggs. Just az DR.. Hall arose in the
presby terry to present his plan the floor was
secured by young DR.. George Alexander,
who presented an independent peace prop.
osition that had been concocted by himself
and DR.. Charles l.. Thompson. The debate
that followed was bitter. DR.. Hall was
forced from his position. and when the roll
was called his vote was cast against the
compromise. As the Alexander motion was
lost by a vote of GA to 62, DIR. Halls retire.
ment was fatal.
Following this meeting of the presbytery
DR.. Halls purpose to leave the directorate
of Union Seminary was formed. A special
meeting of the directorate was held last
Friday, at Brown Brothers banking house,
in Wall street. 1t was attended by nearly
all the directors. and DIR. Hall there made
known the fact of his resignation. The
the conference on the Briggs trouble, with
President Pattonis. committee, appointed
by the last General Assembly for that pur-
pose. The day agreed upon by DR.. Patton
and President Butler was Oct %. That
date being near at hand, and the question Of
the seminary's relation to the church SO deli
cate, the effect of DR.. Halls resignation
was greatly dreaded by the directors. He
was persuaded to remain with the seminary
until after Its conference with DR.. Patton's
committee. and to have his resigna tion
acted upon at regular meeting of the
board.
DE. HALLS relationship to Union has been
of long standing and of great value to the
institution. He is not only pastor OF the
richest Presbyterian church in America.
but he is q preacher of the greatest intel
lectual power In the denomination. His
fame abroad is greater than that of any
other American preacher Ills name in
school great prestige. For years his pres
ence In the board OF directors has been
shield to DR.. Briggs. Had it not been for
his assurance that the Professors instruc-
tion was not dangerous action would have
been begun in the presbytery against DIR.
Briggs years ago.
preliminary catalogue is about 10 be
names of the students. The junior class
contains forty-three men, SIX less than last
year. Eight men are dropped out of the
senior class, but their places are taken by
seven new seniors. The middle class is
about the same as last year. About a dozen
of the benehciaries have been notified by
the presby teries TO leave the seminary on
account of the Briggs trouble. They have
decided to remain. The deficiency in their
supply of funds cut Oft by their action. is
being made good by one of the wealthy di-
rectors of the seminary. Dr. Hastings has
received offers of assistance from many
churches of the United States for any
student whose presbytery should desert
him at this time. These, DR.. Hastings
states, have all been declined.