Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04
THE PACE TOO HARD.
Rev. DIR. Paxton Explains Why He Re-
signed His PastOrate

The rumor that Rev. Dr. John r. Pax
ton had isappeared from his farm, nea
Bridseville Pa, turns out to be unbound
co. Dr. Paxton was found there by a re
porter OF the New York Sun on Saturday
In the course of long interview DIR. Pax
ton spoke OF the reasons for his resgna
tion or the pastorate of the West Presby
terrain Church, New York city, and sail
that his action was final He added:
when the committee of four came OF
mere week ago they reproached me witt
deserving my duty. They pointed to tn
west Church and said that there was tn
battle and there the soldiers. But wher
was their captain? He had deserted. YOU
see. they said that to an old soldier
But, doctor, the impression has gon
out that you told them you would with
draw your resignation
No. did not do that. / told them the,
could do what they liked. No, there ha
been mix enough. L shall write to Rober
Janray and DIR. John Hall to place m,
resignation before the New York presby
terry, which meets there on December IL
and pay no more attention to the Yves
Church muddle. 1 am no longer a publ,
man. Tell the Sun L am now a priyat,
citizen"
Trustee Perkins and I had a talk" con
tinued DIR. Paxton. I'VE differed abou
some things. He told me wasn't preach
as SOOu sermons as L uSeQ 10. thlnl
he was right there. One can't lead the lif,
/ have had to live and keep on forever i
Is the pace that kills. / have led the pro
cession there in New York-kept at tn,
head OF the column-for years, but thu
pace Is telling on me. Then, there was m,
army life, began so early. Most of thos,
army men die before sixty, and my time i:
coming. 1 wanted to stop. Then, tina
Briggs matter. oh. that Briggs matter
1t split the session. Its questions and it!
doctrinal differences! l wanted to stoI
and ask myself where 1 stood. Where wa.
my soul? 1 had been looking after othel
peoples souls. You, perhaps. don't under
stand how weary a minister sometime:
gets. 1 wanted leisure to look after my
own soul.
II couldn't go on feeling like that and
keep constructing new sermons. 1 told my
session / should go into Mysteries in the
pulpit If they kept me there. 1 got very
nervous. That operation L underwent wa.
more terrible than the public can know
One can't tell these things to the public
For five months afterward 1 had to car,
for myself in ways because of it that sap
ped my nervous energy. / was under the
surgeons knife for hours, to begin with
Yes, Perkins was right. 1 could not preach
as used to. Who could under those con
ditions?
Mr.. Sage Not Qualified.
But there was Mr.. Sage, who, notice
says my sermons were not as good as they
used to be. Now, what does he know
about It? With his deafness he couldn
have heard them. doubt if he could heal
Gabriel's trumpet. / know he will no
want to hear it.
ut is not that 1 am afraid to die or thai
II Is any question of stimulants. Would
that IL was only a matter of stimulants
Why. 1 haven't taken stimulants of any
kind-not even bromides-for six months
My doctor forbids it. You can say this
/ want you to do So There has been too
much said and written about this thing
I'll tell you what 1t Is that is worrying me
I am afraid of the softening of the brain
of paresis. Ones system must breai
somewhere after the strain 1 have giver
mine / am afraid it will be paresis will
me. I have had friends go that way. YOU
have known of active. hardworking mer
whose lives lave overtaxed their nervou:
and brain forces until they had to give
way. My temperament is blue and morbid
at times, hypochondriac- 1t comes from
one side of my blood. That is why / an
here and trying to get quiet and rest.
walk ten miles so day. L have a farm
out here OF 100 acres. They are finding
oil there, and am going to bore for oil.
am free and independent. i have an in
come of 5000 or $4,000 year. 1 can dc
as I choose. This is my income from means
outside of the West Church. / am indie
pendent Of that. Why shouldn't 1 stay here
II In the future choose to go on the lee
ture platform or to do anything else, why
well and good"