The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
WHATDR.PAXTON HAST0SAY
mrs REsIGNA TROY rs FINAL AND TIE
HILL LEArE the PRkSBrTERY


Church AIuddie-pse speaks Much OF Ills
Army Career and says the Pace OF his
Ilr, Has uccn Too Fnst-'rhe Brise.
Matter Worried nim-Causue word.
About Mr.. sage Would Liho to Cut OG
Mr. Van tSiahn's Enrs-IIc Fears Pnre.is
-Per-onni Income Sufficient for His Needs.
PrTIsBUrGu Dec. Tell TuE Sun you came
and found me. seeing mo in the light OF day
with your own eyes, and TINT you found me
clothed and in my right mind. with tho de-
moniacal spirits cast out. Say also that there
never was md never will be any shame con-
nccted with Johnny Paxton's name. Why sir.
am 50 years old. When mere boy went
into tho war, serving honorahly in over
twenty battles. l have personally known all
the great Generals Of the war. l have spoken
from many a platform with them.
when Tccumseh Sherman said: Here,
Paxton. here's q glass to Grant drank IT, 1
drank 1t openly. Ineycr drank It otherwise.
Aud now this young little kid OF n clerk this
Van Claim. he stands up in the West Irosby-
torian Church and couples my name with
shame IL ever do go back to New York 1t
will be to kill one or two people. Young Van
Glahn-as for him. I'll cut his ears off,"
THE Sun reporter late this afternoon found
the Rev. DR.. John H. Paxton. who was recently
dcnce Of his wife's sister. Mrs. NJ. l.. Pressly.
near Dridgeville. this county. whore with his
wife. no has been staying since he lott New
York. He hns not been lost He has boon
seeking rest and quiet. and TO promote that he
has not been lat homo" to reporters, On
Thursday. the ladies having gone to u Thanks
giving dinner with relatives in Allegheny, he
took q walk over TO his farm. Tho servants
may not have known whore he was. or thoy may
4
knowing that he did not wish to see stran-
gers. and said they did not know where he
was and that he was not there Thus devel-
oped the story that DIR. Paxton had dlsap-
peared where. no one know.
DR.. Paxton 10 very much alive. When the
message printed above WAS spoken the Doctor
was standing. bare-heaiei and without over
coat or gloves. on q broad country piazza
wind swept, with tho thermometer half
dozen degrees below freezing. 1t was growing
dark. There was fire in his eye and color in
his checks. In the course OF the interview DR..
Paxton said:
AN this recent trouble has arisen over the
we'll meant but mistaken. efforts Of my friends
In the West Church. Defend me from my
friends.
My resignation is final. When tho commit
tee OF four came on hero n week ago they rs-
preached me with deserving my duty. They
pointed to the West Church. and said that
there was the battle and there the soldiers.
But where was their captain2 lie had de-
serted. You s9e. they said that to an old
soldier" $780, ..
But Doctor. the impression has gone out
that YOU told them you would withdraw your
resignation"
"No. did not do that. told them they could
do what they liked. No. there has been mix
enough / shall write to Robert JafIray and
DR.. John Hall to place my resignation before
the New York rresbytery. which meets there
on Dec. IL. and pay no more attention to the
West Church muddle. lam no longer a public
man. Tell THE Sun l am now u private
citizen"
Trustee Perkins and l had q talk" con-
tnued DR.. Paxton. I'VE differed about some
thinGs lie told me wasn't preaching as good
sermons as used to. l think he was right
there. One can't lead tho life have had to
live and keep on forever. 1t Is the pace that
kills. / have led the procession there in New
York-kept at the hoad of the column-for
years. but the pace is telling on me. Then
there was my army life began SO early
Most OF those army men die before
60 and my time is coming. wanted to stop.
Then that Briggs matter. Oh, that Briggs
matterl 1t split the Session. Its questions
and its doctrinal difierences WANTED to stop
aud ask myself where stood. Where was my
soul2 had been looking after other peoples
souls You. perhaps, don't understand how
weary a minister sometimes gets. ! wanted
leisure to look after my own soul.
"Icouldn't go on feeling like that and keen
constructing new sermons told my Session
i should go into Mysteries in the pulpit II they
kept me there. / got very neryouA That
operation / underwent was more terrible than
the public can know. one can't tell these
things to the public For five months after
ward had to care for myself In ways because
OF It that Slapped my nervous energy. ] was
under the surgeons knife for hours. to begin
with. Yes. Perkins was right. l could not
preach as used to, Who could under those
eonditionsl
But there was Mr.. Sage. who. notice,
says my sermons were not as good as they used
to 10. Now what does he know about it2
With his deafness he couldn't have heard
them. | doubt II he could hear Gabrieps
trumpet. know he will not want to hear IL
1T is not that am afraid to die OF that it IL
any question OF stimulants. Would that II was
only matter OF stlmulants Why haven't
taken stimulants OF any kind-not even bro
indicator six months. My doctor forbids IL
You can say this. l want YOU to do so. There
has been too much said and written
about this thing I'll tell you what
It is that is worrying me. l am afraid OF the
soitsning Of the brain-oi paresis. Ones sys-
tenn must break somewhere after the strain
which have given mine. l am afraid 1t will
be paresis with me, 1 have had friends go
that way You have known OF active, hard
working men whose lives have over
taxed their nervous and brain forces until
they had TO give way. My temperament Is
blue and morbid at times, hypoehondriac. 1t
comes from one side OF my blood That is why
l am here and trying to get quiet and rest.
walk ten miles or SO a day. l have farm out
here Of a hundred acres. They are finding
oil there. and / an going to bore Tor oil
am free and indepentent. have an income
OF $4,000 or Slu.UOn a year. l can do as
choose. This is nay income from means OUT
eide Of the West Church, am independents OF
that. Why should not stay here2 II in the
future choose to go on the lecture platform
or 10 do anything else. why well and good.
"Iremember some Of my friends there In
New York with great love. There is that dear
and good man Charles II. Benedict. l want
you TO mention him-the broker Of the
firm OF L G. Benedict Co / sup