New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-05
DIR. INGERSOLL'S RESIGNATION
SURPRISE TO Ills BROOKLYN CoNGREGA-
TON.
MS LETTER READ Is CHURCH YESTERDAY THE
FIRST IxTIMATIoN OF HIS ACTION.


FIRST IyTIMATIoN OF HIS ACTION.
DR.. E. p Ingersoli paste. of the Puritan Consrega-
tiona Church In Brooklyn at the morning service yes
terday offered his resignation. Ii surprise TO
the congregation After the service, DR.. Ingerso was
surrounded BY an eager crowd TO express their heart
felt regret at the resignation. In the letter OF rcsgna
ton which the Doctor read he said that he was grateful
TO the congregation far their sympathy and coopera-
ton with him in his work. and resigned with the best
wishes for all that chains Of friendship which could
not be easily broken bound him 10 many Of his parish
toners, but wider field OF labor demanded his aten-
ton, and the demand must be answered. He
said that he had in mind a gentleman who was
well fitted to carry on and further the church
work where he would leave 1t, and the congregation
therefore need lohg be without suitable successor
to bin. lie also stated that while yet he had ac-
ceptcd no can overtures had been made to him.
The resignation win take effect ON the first day OF
November. On Friday night next meeting of the
elders viii held formal action his letter
When asked for the cpuse Of his resignation DR..
Ingersoll said that he had been thinking OF 1t foi
year He felt that change w0uld be good for him.
both mentally and physically. He had declined going
20 Yankton College In South Dakota as limited In the
letter, and also the Denver CALL but he had been so
long IL Brooklyn that change OF desirable.
He did not know where he would 60, and declined TO
say what church had been considering his name He
was In no hurry TO take new pastorate and might
wait some time before doing
The first that any one IN the church had any In,
tlmation of his resignation on Saturday night
Ehen he told his official board OF his intention. They
said nothing, and the congregation knew nothing of it
until the letter was read DR.. Ingerso emphatic
in saying that the church was entirely harmonious.
1t is understood that one Of the reasons for the
resignation Is the peculiar situation Of the Puritan
Church. II was started soon after the Civil War
on plans suitable to a cathedral. Only chapel was
built when the church had spent s150,oO0 and was
cavity in debt. BY strange architectural freak
tie auditorium up forty steps from the side
wlk, and member Of the church expresses it, the
DotOr had TO drag his congregation up the incline.
He succeeded in doing so, but 1t hard work. The
debt was paid of, and there Is money on hand to
| put INTO the main church, but the congregation
| has ,esltated to do this, as the chapel will
| seat 100 people. DIR. Jngerson has succeeded
| in filling it, and had over 900 communicates.
! Edwad Payson rngerson is native Of Lee, Mass.
| He cam, from old New En- gland stock ard was a
| descendant Of Jonathan Edwards. He was born on
May o, 1874 Ills father removed to oberlin, Ohio, In
1897 and here the boy grew up of large family.
lie PREPARED for college and took part of his course
at oberin, but obtained his degree from Williams Col
| lego In 1885. lie became teacher and 1t was not
long before he called to the prlncipasmp Of the
Rockwell Stree Grammar School OF Cleveland, and
soon after this % the Central High School Then he
studied law at tie Ohio State and Union Law College,
| at Cleveland from which he was graduated In 1850.
| He practsed law for three years In Cleveland He
went TO the And,ver Theological Seminary, from
which he was gradutted In December, 1868. His first
pastoratc .he First Congregational Church
| OF sandusky, Ohio. There he remained until 1868,
when he went 10 the plymouth Congregational Church,
| indianapolis, where he remained for two years
| In December, 1862 he declined call from the
Middle Reformed Church Of Brooklyn, but In short
| time the call renewed and he accepted it, He
| removed to Brooklyn IN 1870 and for thirteen years
| was pastor Of the Middle Reformed Church. In No
vember, 1892 the Puntsn Congregational Church,
which then reduced In numbers and In sore need,
asked Dr. Ingersol to become It's pastor and he did
! so. Under his miniStratIoL the church has grown
largely, paid its debts and has money on hand for
degree Of Doctor of Divinity from Williams College.
| He has twice made extended Ours In Europe.