St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-19
The Great Preacher Resigns
From the Union Theological
Seminary Directorate.
His Resignation Precipitated
by the Trouble Over DR..
Briggs Views.
He Makes a Futile Effort to
Quiet the Prosecution Of
Dr.. Briggs.
Failing in Which, He Got Out
OF the Directorate as Soon
as Possible.

has resigned from the directorate OF
Union Theological seminary. At
the request of several OF his fellow di-
rectorS DR.. Hall has consented to remain
with the board until November, when
the annual meeting Of the board Is to be
held. At that time the resignation will
be acted upon. Until that time he will
remain nominaDly in the board. DR..
Hall has long been greatly troubled Oh
account of the Briggs matter, and his
resignation was expected by the con-
seryatives. One OF the stanchest friends
of DR.. Briggs is DR.. HALLS son Thomas,
a preacher III Chicago. DR.. Hall has
been Influenced greatly by his sons at
tachment to the alleged hereto.
When the Briggs case came
up in the presbytery last May
DR.. Hall, according to the statement
printed to-day. avoided voting by alb
senting himself from the meeting. The
Briggs men elected linn commissioner
to the general assembly. Had he gone
he would have been Its moderator. He
again avoided committing himself by
surrendering his commission. Later,
when the case was discussed by the di-
rectors of Union, and action in defiance
of the church taken,
He Withdrew.
it is stated, just as the directors were on
the point of voting. After his return
from abroad, DR.. Hall began an effort to
quiet the prosecution OF DR.. Briggs i'll
the interest of peace and harmony in
the church. He mustered strong
peace party that would certainly nave
carried the presbytery at its meeting
two weeks ago and stopped the trial
of DR.. Briggs. Just as Dr.
Hall arose in the presbytery to
present his plan the floor was secured
by young DR.. Alexander. who presented
an Independent peace proposition that
had been cOncOcted by himself and DR..
Charles l.. Thompson. The debate that
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 81 to 90,
DR.. HalPs retirement was fatal. Fol
lowing this meeting of the presbytery
Dr.. Halls purpose to leave the direct
crate OF the Union seminary was
formed. A special meeting of the
directorate was held last Friday at
Brown Bros banking house in Wall
staeet. 1t was attended by nearly all
the directors, and DR.. Hall there made
known the fact of his resignation.
The special meeting was called to pre-
pare for the conference on the Briggs
trouble with President Patton's COM
mittee appointed by the last general
assembly fol- that purpose. The day
agreed upon by DR.. Patton and Presi-
dent Butler was Oct rs. That date be-
ing so near at hand. and the question of
the Seminary'S relation to the church so
delicate, the effect of DR.. Hall's resig-
nation was
Greatly Dreaded
by the directors. He was persuaded to
remain with the seminary until after
its conference with DR.. Patton's COM
mittee and to have his resignation acted
upon at regular meeting of the board.
Dr.. 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 preacher of the
greatest intellectual power in the de-
nomination. His fame abroad is greater
than that of any other American
preacher. His name in Union seminary's
directorate gave the school great pres
tige. For years his presence in the
board of directors has been a shield to
DR.. Briggs. Had it not been for his as
surance that the professors instructions
were not dangerous, action would have
been begun III the presbytery against
DR.. Briggs years ago. A preliminary
catalogue IS about to be issued by the
faculty. This gives the 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 dozen of the benefciaries
have been notified by the presbyteries
to leave the seminary on account of the
Briggs trouble. They have decided to
remain. The deficiency in their supply
Of funds, cut off by their action, is being
made good by one of the wealthy direct
ors 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.