Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-23
FORMALLY DISSOLVED
Presbytery Accepts Dr.. Bartlett's
Resignation With Regret.
HIGH PRAISE FROM ALL
Expressions of Regret From Minis
tes' and Laymen.
MR.. FOSTER'S PAPER

The pastoral relations which have existed
| for more than dozen years between Rev.
VIM. A. Bartlett, D. D., and the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church were formally
dissolved this morning at a meeting of the
presbytery of Washington, 1t was an adj
journed meeting of the body. and the prin-
cipal matter of business that came before
| II was this request of DR.. Bartlett, which
was finally granted, though with every EVIL
dence or regret on the part Of the other
members Of the presbytery that the action
mad been made necessary on account Of his
falling health. At meeting of the con-
gregation Of the New York Avenue Church
last Friday evening DIR. Bartlett's resigna-
ton from active duties was taken up, and
| committee was then appointed to go be-
fore the presbytery at its meeting today
and join In the request for a severance Of
these relations. This committee attended
the meeting this morning, which was held
| In the Sunday school room of Dr. Bart
letts church, the room in which he has pre-
sided so many times at the regular prayer
| meetings Of the congr egation.
Not often does a man hear such words
OF praise and commentator as wera
showeied upon the retiring pastor this
morning. Usually things of this sort are
said OF man after he is dead. but 1t must
be very grateful to him to find out, while
he is still alive, something of the esteem in
winch ne Is held by his fellow men. This
was DIR. Bartlett's experience this morn
ing, and he seemed fairly overwhelmed by
the kindly and tender expressions Of re-
gard that came from every member of the
presbytery, ministers and iaymen. They
made the best of the opportunity to bear
witness or the pleasant relations which all
had sustained toward him during the years
| of his ministry in this city. Each had
ticular phase Of DR.. Bartlett's character
and methods. which. IN the speaker
opinion. had tended to making his work
| such a success.
A good deal of stress was laid on the fact
| that this church had been blessed with hav-
| Ing in ITS pulpit some of the best pulpit
| orators and ministers that this country has
ever produced. To have succeeded such
men as DIR. Gurley. DIR. Mitchell and Dr.
| John r. Paxton made his position a doubly
trying one for DR.. Bartlett when he was
caiied TO this city, but all bore testimony
! this morning to the fact that the work Of
| the church had never fallen behind i'm the
| slightest degree, but had always advanced
steadily, and in d most encouraging man
| err 1t was the general consensus of
| opinion that no higher commendation could
| be paid man than to say that for twelve
years he had filled this position in WASH
lng;on with such credit to himself and to
| community generally
Almost the entire session of the presby-
| terry was taken UP with the matter of Dr.
Bartlett'S retirement and bur little otb her
| business of Importance was taken up
| There was one matter, however of gener-
! al interest Last week ex-Secretary John
| w. Foster, who has but recently returned
to Washington from a trip around the
| world, read a paper before the congrega-
| ton of the church embodying some of the
| experiences OF his travels, and going at
some length into the matter of the progress
! and success of foreign missions in the
| orient. especially IN China and Japan. The
| paper was heard with the greatest interest
| by large audience, and Is already look ed
| upon as most important addition to the
| literature on the subject, coming, as it
| does. from a layman and a man Of such
prominence.
At the meeting this morning DIR. T. s.
/ Hamiin Of the Church of the Covenant
| spoke in the highest terms of Mr.. Fosters
paper and expressed the opinion that some
effort should be made to have IL brought
| before the world at large. Already the
paper has been brought to the attention of
| the board Of foreign missions in New York
| and steps have been taken to have Mr..
| Foster read the paper in that city. Not
| content with this DR.. Hamin introduced a
| minute. which was seconded by Rev. Mr..
| Kelly and unanimously adopted. giving 1t
as the sense OF the meeting that the board
| should be urged to disseminate this paper
in every way possible and to have the
| writer read 1t in the other large eastern
| cities.
| The meeting this morning was called to
| order at 10 o'clock with prayer by the mod
| orator, Rev. DIR. Alexander. and Rev. DR..
| B. F. Bittinger acted as stated clerk
| The business of the session was formally
| begun by DR.. Bartlett, who was given an
| opportunity to formally present his request
| for a sundering of the pastoral relations
which had held him to his church for such
| a length of time. There were tears in his
| eyes and in his voice as he assured the
| gathering that nothing in the world but
| the alarming condition of his health had
| induced him to take this action. His con-
| ne..tion with the church had always been
| of the most delightful character They had
| had their differences. of course. strong
| men have right to differ. but the bond
that had held him to his charge had but
| grown the str ongcr with the passing years.
| and now it was with feelings Of deepest
| sorrow and keen regret that he felt COM
PEELED to lay down the active work of the
| ministry and to erter upon the period of
rest which his physicians had enjoined
| upon him If he would preserve his life at
| all. In conclusion he spoke of the pleasant
| relations that had always existed between
| himself and the presbytery as a body, and
| he asked that in accepting his withdrawal
| they make 1t so as to terminate his con-
nection with the church after the second
| Sunday I'm November. His connection with
the presbytery, he hoped, would continue
| as long as he lived.
At the close of DIR. Bartlett's remarks Mr.
John Randolph, a member of the commit
ing of the church last Friday, presented the
| resolutions that were adopted on that oc-
casion, and which have already been re-
ported In The Star. The minute was read
by DIR. Bittinger. and then occasion was
| given to the members of the body to speak
| Ex-Governor Wells who was also a mem
her of the committee. spoke feelingly of the
| deep regret occasloned In the CONGREGATION
by DIR. Bartletts action. 1t was peculia rly
| fitting that he should speak in this CON.
| nection. as he was one of the two members
| of the church who were sent to Indianap-
oils nearly thirteen years ago to hear Or
| Bartlett preach and to report upOn the
matter OF calling him to this city. At thai
time the congregation was all but unani.
nous in calling him. and now there would
not be a dissenting voice in a vote asking
him not to withdr3w II such action on Their
part would only Keep him.
A minute was presented by DR.. Bittinger
which paid a. high tribute to DR.. Bartiett
as man. a citizen and as a minister. CON
Guiding with q resolution granting. though
with an expression of their profound re-
greet. the request for a sundering of ma
torai relations. Before this resolution was
adopted. addresses all In the same vein
were delivered by Justice Harlan of the
Supreme Courl. Mr. Crissey Rev DIR. Ham
lin. Rev. Dr., Easton. Judge Beaie. Rev.
DR.. Chester, lRev. Mr.. Kelly, Rev. DIR.
Patch. Rev. DIR. Little, Mr.. George p. Van
~