New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-27

HEART FAILURE KILLS HIM SUDDENLY.
THE LONG AND EMINENT CAREER OF THE WELL
KNOWN CLERGYMAN.

THE LONG AND EMINENT CAREER OF THE WELL
KNOWN CLERGYMAN.
The Rev. Dr. Henry j. Van Dyke, one Of the best
known Presbyterian clergymen In America and pro-
fessoree Of systematic theology in Union theological
Seminary, died late Monday night at his home III
the Aldine apartmenthousc No. 80 Remsenst, Brook
lyn His death was extremely sudden and was due
TO heart failure. lie died while DR.. s. Fleet 6per was
cxar~ling his pulse.
DR.. Van Dyke last week resigned the pastorate OF
the Second Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, after
thirty weight years OF service. lie filed his pulpit In
the church, at Clinton and Rensen sts., on sunday,
and appeared 10 be in his customary good health.
lie had, however, complained recently OF feeling
Of oppression about the heart and had consulted with
Dr. s. Fleet Speir several times. While preaching on
Sunday evening he felt a pain In the region
Of the heart. But 1t soon passed away and when he
went to bed he said he felt strong and well. Early
in the morning he had another severe pang, which
Mrs. Van Dyke aayed with the remedies prescribed
by DR.. Speir. After breakfast which he ate with
RELISH he started to go New-Yorh attend meeting
of minister's and the way stopped TO see DR.. speir
When lie told Of the two attacks of angina pectorls
Dr. speir told him he must stop work at once ana
take vacation, telling him that lie must not have
repetition Of the attack and to avoid 1t 1t would be
necessary to go away for prolonged rest. DR.. Van
Dyke wanted to remain with his church few days
more to attend the next communion in his church aud
some other parish matters, his pastorate was not
TO end until October 10. Before leaving DR.. Spelr's
Office he asked II II would do him any harm 10 go to
the meeting he wished to attend in New York, and
was advised against it, and said he thought he would
not But after getting into the street he felt
well that he went to NewYorz.
When he returned late in the afternoon lie felt tired,
but none the for his trip. lie spent the evening
with some friends and appeared to enjoy himself
greatly. But at 80 O'Clock the pain returned. DR..
Sper was at once sent for and attended at once lie
found his patient suffering pain and his pulse was
beating regularly. But suddenly the pulse ceased and
with convulsve movements Of the body DR.. Van Dyke
began to gasp for breath and death ensued in few
moments. His last words were when DR.. speir said
that he was suffering from angina pectorls fou may
call it whatever you please am prepared TO go'
Henry Jackson Van Dyke born in Abingdon.
PENN March ., 1922, and prepared for college at
Latin school in his native town. lie was graduated
from the University of Pennsylvania in 1e43 and en-
tered Princeton Theological Seminary. Upon his
graduation therefrom in s45 he was ordained to the
Presbyterian ministry and became pastor Of church
in BrldGeton, n. j. He remained there seven years,
when il-health led to his resignation. He was then
for year at Germantown, Penn, and in 1853 he ac-
cepted call to the First Presbyterian Church, Old
School, in Brooklyn. BY subsequent consultations
and changes this became the Second Church, but all
the time that he was in Brooklyn Dr. Van Dyke
preached in the structure at Clinton and Remsen SITS.
He did much to aid in the work Of uniting the Old
School and the New School divisions Of Presby terrain
ism lie resigned his pulpit in 1873 and accepted
a call to Nashville, Tenn but before he went to his
new field he travelled abroad and upon his return his
wife's health demanded that he remain in Brooklyn.
and he resigned from the Nashville Church and was at
called to his former pulpit Just before the war
broke ont he preached strong ntabolltion sermon
which caused great excitement. When the General
Assembly met in Brooklyn in 1876 he was moderator
of It, In the trial Of DR.. T. Dewitt Talmage by tho
Of tbp on
ponens of the Tabernacle pastor but they were subSe
quently reconciled and Dr. Van Dyke OBLIGATED at the
funeral of DR.. Spear who was counsel for Dr. Tai
mage and was invited to the recent opening of the new
Tabernacle.
Dr. Van Dyke was regarded authority upon
theology and ecclesiastical law and he was four times
chosen professor in theological seminarcs at Co
mmbia s. c.: Allegheny, PENN; Oakland, Cal, and
New-York City. lie recently accepted the last OF
these to succeed DR.. shedd and would have begun his
work In October the General Assembly had approved
the nomination. lie was member OF the Revision
COMMITTEES of the General Assembly and aided In pre-
pairing the report made public last week. lie strongly
advocated the revision Of the Westminster Confession
before the Brooklyn Presbyery and succeeded IN carry
ing il by a nearly unanimous vote.
Al the recent meeting Of Union Seminary alumni In
New York he made notable address, in the course OF
which he said II we cannot have orthodoxy ana
liberty let us have liberty and 90 without orthodoxy
This regarded as an eNtreiney Tdu'ai Hlv" to
man who had been as conservative In the past as d.
Van Dyke had always been. ~, - ,so.
In personal appearance Dr. Van DYKE was idT
medium height with black hair and beard, gizaled d
With crav He was quick and aleh in movement ana
I'm his pulpit was orator Of great power. nc
ai,rovs preached I'm the Geneva gown. Many OF ms
sermons were published, and he was the author Oh
many magazine and newspaper articles ana one OF
lie was married in 1si9 His wife. two sons ana
one daughter survive him. His sons are the rev;
DR. Henry Van DYKE pastor Of the Brick FIHsDy terrain
Church I'm New York. and Professor Paul Dana van I
DvEr Of Princeton University. Dr.. Van DYKE h ig
many warm friends both in and out OF ms chrh. Ie
was fond of nature and spent many OF his vacatohS i
The Ad'-ondacks and CatSlills. a., ,.,.,-
home last evening from Boston, where he preacheu on
sunday lie said that date would be SET Ior uIe
tnnerai until his brother Professor Van Dyke VINO l.
i'm the West on his way to the Pacific coast Is hear9
iron, INT the services VIII be held IN inc SSr3nu
church and the Rev. Drs. r. s. Storrs J0hn ID: NcIS'
! g. Murray Dean Of Princeton. and Thomas ,. mast
ings Of Union Theological Seminary will be asked 70
make addresses.