The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-04
PASTOR HEMPHILL
Some Talk About His
Resignation.
DID NOT GET HIS SALARY.
His Friend and Adviser, James r.
Garniss, Speaks His Mind Very
Freely About Him.

IIItI Js ~ liOtHlOH VI VIC ~ q Ouu >
Pres yterian Church did not read The
letter of withdrawal yesterday noon,
which Rev. John HemphilI wrote to the
session last Monday. Pastor Hemphill's
epistle is said to have communicated to tie
elders some caustic opinions as TO their
manner of treating him. instead of read
ing itJudge Thornton merely made brief
oral statement.
1t was just at the close Of the morning
service when this statement was gwen,
and there was very small congregation
present TO receive it. DR.. Hemphill's
sudden withdrawal is felt very keenly by
the church. and every member wears a
troubled coun tenRnce in Consequence, for
the preacher was very popular, and his
abrupt leaving cuts, if it does not sting,
the little flock.
Elder Thornton spoke in voice scarcely
audible, and had not some member called
out Louder his words would not have
been disting beyond the fourth or
fifth rows of news. His explanation was
more of an effort to smooth things over
than any calculation of the matter.
He said, substantially, that a letter had
been received by the elders from DR..
Hemphlll, stating that ''he had Withdrawn
from his call" Subsequently Messrs.
Thornton and f. a. Berlin, the only two
elders now in the city, called upon DR..
Hemphill al the Palace Holel, but without
avail. The doctor had determined upon
Withdrawing. Mr. Thornton counseled
his listeners not TO be discouraged but TO
trust in the Almighty.
When the meeting had broken up James
X. Garnlss was among the weIl-matured
fathers Of the little church to congratulate
the supply" Of the day, DR.. A. w. Colver
oil Paris, lex, upon his able and appTO-
pirate effort III the pulpit. DR.. COlyer's
topic had been The Disappointed Hope
the Glorious Realization cheering a
we'll as instructive one, and Mr.. GarnisS
felt that it had been well chosen. Then
Mr.. Garnlss went into an explanation Of
the thing which was GppermOst in his
miDd. to wit, DR.. Hemphilfs withdrawal.
Il was II love with The man" said Mr..
Garniss. and | never had anything take
the scales from my eyes like this. had
known him ever since he was a Young
man, and was his friend and adviser.
w hen L was In Philadelphia about five
years ago be and his wife told me they
were very anxious TO find a church in Call
fOrnia. His wife is a Californian. They
asked me to co whatever [ could for them,
and | said ! would. | prevailed upon our
little church here to give him a call, and he
came.
''He has been here only about four
months. He was delighted when he came
here. He said the church he had built up
in Philadelphia was in as ba1, if not
worse, condition when he took hold of It.
The congregation increased more tnan
double since his coming, though in his
statement in the paper he says it did not
increase a. all. Our memhership-that is,
actual number OF communicates about
26O, but we have seating capacity of over
700 altogether with the gallery, and on
Sunday evenings nearly every seat has
been filled. We learned to love the man
very much. Last Sunday he preached two
sermons that were indeed eloquent, and
then on Monday he sat down aud wrote
letter to the elders and one to me inform
ing us of his intention to withdraw.
in his letter lie says he could hardly
supply the necessities Of life, but that is
not So"
What salary was he to receive"
He was to get $4,000 a year, but as he
was pretty well off and was dra wing about
$500 monthly In rents from his Polk-street
property it was not supposed that he was
In very great need OF money. The treas
urer, George A. Newhall, offered him mis-
salary four times, but he refused to take
it, saying that he was not In need of
money. and Mr.. Grant took him TO the
Bank of California and told them to let
him have all the money ne wanted.
know that he was getting about $500
monthly from his Polk-streel property, be-
cause / was his agent. Once when he and
| were talking about money matters | told
him L would let him have $1,000 right then.
He said he didn't want to ask for money
like beggar. and l told him l would loan
ii to him.
''In his letter he almost curses the elders,
and then after Dlackgu arding them like "a
pickpocket he writes down at the bottom
thanking them for their courtesy and kind
ness to him. Thus you see the mans
double dealing"
DR.. Colyer had during his discourse
illustrated his theme by the lesson of
Moses, who could only view the promised
land from Nebo. but could not enter it.
Fourteen centuries later Moses was in the
promised land. combining both the spiritual
and the literal, when he and Elias were
observed with Jesus at the transtigura-
tion..
Il don't think he (Dr. HemphilD will
ever realize that better land" moraIiZed
Mr.. Garniss, 'he wants to be at the head
of great church, but | don't think he
will ever find the one he wants."
Then referring to DIR. Hemphill's ambi-
ton in particular to occupy the pulpit of
Calvary Church, Mr.. Garniss said:
1t has been case Of double dealing
with us right along. He was willing
enough. to take this church until DR..
Easton.s sickness, and then when he
thought Dr. EastOn was going to die he
began to get his eye upon Calvary
Church"
Counting two girls at the same time"
put in DR.. Colver, acQuiescently. And the
preacher for the Fday remarked further
He will probably be left out in the CO Id
altogether. 1 AIN told that there are quite
number of people ready to leave Calvary
Church if he accepts the call there. Would
he have the hardhoOd TO take the pulpit
with minority opposed to him? 1t might
divide the church. At any rate there
would always be the leaven in it of an
opposing minority"
Mr.. Garniss followed up his reference to
DR.. HemphilPs ambition by explaining
what his proposition to unite the two
churches was.
''His plan was to have US both sell our
properties" said Mr.. Garniss, 'and build
new church, calling it the Scott Memo
rial Presbyterian Church, in memory of
Dr. Scott. who had founded both churches.
Well. soma of us were not averse to that,
and we even talked the matter over with
some OF the members of the Calvary
church. You see we left that church dur
ing the war. We are nearly all Southern
ers and pretty prominen people, and we
dld not agree with the views entertained
Dy the church at that time, so we left them
and formed st. Johns church. But that
is all over now, and we are just as good as
other people. Our relations are lust as
cordial with Calvary Churnh az ran no