New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-03
DIR. j. s. RAMSAY NAY RESIGN.
FRICTION IN TIE HARLEM PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
PRrsATE MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT-THE
WIFE OF THE PASTOR TALKS ABOUT HER
HUSBANDS RELATION TO THE

said that the pastor. the Rev DR.. James :. Ramsay
will shortly offer his resignation to the Presbytery
Much OF this detection in the church is said TO nave
crystazed itself in the shape Of attacks on the
minister and a studied disregard OF his wishes and
plans in the work OF the church, that could not fall
to produce its effect upon the person toward whom
the attacks were directed.
As In all such cases. studous efforts have been
made to suppress the details of the factonal diff
fcrenccs in tho church. It IS assured fact, now
ever, that Or. Ramsay has conveyed 10 the trus-
tees the intimation that he would resign Whether
he will adhere this intention or whether the rae
tional breach will be fer healed to prevail on
DR. Ramsay to reconsider his decision. remains to
be seen but 1ust at present the relations between
pastor and congregation are badly strained. and
severance of the relationship may take place at any
time.
DIR. RAMSAY HARD WORKER.
Where the differences began. and how far they
have gone. only be conjectured. Ir Ramsay
is a conscientious and exactins worker lie Is her-
vous and susceptible 10 the slightest detection IN
hts fold From recent it is evident that
the troubles OF the church weighing heavily
the pastor.
Last night the annual meeting OF the Board OF
Trustees was held. The meeting eNtended b'yohd
this ana a congregational meeting was held TO
elect TWO new trustees fill places vacated by re-
firing trustees whose term Of office has expired
The retiring trustees are Thomas McAdam ana .
\ Bush The church was crowded to the doo'S'
When "A Tribune reporter entered the door ne WAS
accosted by the sexton. who was evidently on
guard The sexton said:
"Are YOU a member Of the church,? The reporter
renlied tha. he was not. and then the sexton said;
what do YOU want Are YOU looking Tor some
one The reporter replied that he was nos look
ing for any on. In particular. and then the sexton
said: ut,
.'Then what is your business here? Upon telhhS
the nature of his business the sexton said good
naturodly:
This is no place for you. This IL n conrrega-
,,o,, meeting and nobody hut church members
are admitted VIII have to ask you 20 retire.
TRUSTEE SPEAKS GrARDEDLY.
When inquiry was made for Or. Ramsey. the sex
ton said that he was not IN the church hut was NJ
his home When asked II IL waH n"i r''h'r S't-
toca,, fact that The pastor should he absent from
49,, ,.,,,,,. be rcpllel. 81 don't know anything II.
w., yln bav. 10 ask some of tn Board Of
Trustees"
n I NrAuis,er. nrbcr Of the Board of Tru'-
tees was asked n pr. Ramsay had r"sIeneI 'f "
ne was aware u any intention on his part - re-
s,,r Mr. NcAlnster replied: He has not r"sign"H
- vyh.r asked araln n hc hal received any in
tiruaton from Dr Ramsay that he intended 10 re-
slrn Mr. McAIistcr SAID. Nv" have no news {"
give out whatever there is = be- s'" VI" u"
s,J through our own religious papers This meet
,n, is not A public one. and ! can give nothing
out"
Mr. NcAllls,cr was asked n he IA not consider 3,
s.gnincan, that the pastor should he absent from
such an important meeting as ~" ore 10 progress.
He reulicd: People mink differently about THESE
matters and you Inust decide for yours"f N"on
Mr McAIistcr was asked II he expected unit I'f.
Ramsay would resign. hc said:
II do not think he viii. We hope TO keep him
with ne"
..rhcn ' said the reporter. "you have had some
information concerning his runor"d resignation.
Nr N.AUlstcr replied: You seem 10 nav" mo
need
rate or deny g. do not care io say anything about
IN. matter but / VIII say that wc hope 10 Keep
Dr Ramsay with as. Whatever comes VII prob
ably be made public after th" meeting OF the Gen
.r,l Asscuhly or perhaps. after tn" summer vaca-
ton which begins In June" fur'h'r th'' 'h's nc
would not discuss the subject
MRS RAMSAY REPRESENTS HER HUSBAND.
p- Ramsay was AZ his home in the Montana
rats IN Mount Morris-avc. during the meeting AT
his church. When a card was sent up he begged
TO be excused. pleading Illness. but Mrs. Ramsay
talked for him. She said that her husband had
rr4ached f. Newark last sunday. having eX-
changed pulpits with Dr. Allen. and beside had
so many cares and worries that he hardly
able TO be around. when asked II his absence
from the meeting was duc 10 this illness she said:
''Iie diI not need to attend" When she was
asked II Dr. Ramsay had offered his resignation.
she replied. u can say that hc has not resigned
vet" When asked II he contemplated resignng.
she said: Il will not say that he does not think Of
reslgning TO say that he VIII resign would be
too bold an assertion. II would be premature and
might fail Of fulnlment. Whatever his plans or
determination are II would not be we'll 10 voice
them. The official place for such an assertion would
be the church. nnd until something is done Off
cially Il wound hc un"is" to say "hat pr. lSam'
sag intends to DO
When Mrs Ramsay was asked concerning the
factonal differences in the church which were
causing the present rumors, she said;
u believe every church has more or less factional
be- almost too ltopiau What these alleged quar-
rels disputes In our church are i would not be
has been friction say there Is friction In every
be an unfair and unwise movc.
Ms RamSsy in rcPy, to question as to ,a TnaI
toward the church said: ''Dr. Ramsay Is not the
KIND OF man to give up easH ~ n fa",ion
he saw that IL was his duty 10 remain In the pas
toratc II H. resigns. the question involved viii be
one OF principle"
TWENTY-TiiREE YEARS THEIR PASTOR.
other members Of the church were eeen. and all
manifested a dslnclfnatiOn TO talk about the ri
morcd resignation of their pastor. From conversa-
tion with these members. the fact IS evident that
they have been apprised Of DR. Kamsay's idea on
the matter and would not he surprised TO learn AZ
any time that he had severed his connection WIN
DR.. Ramsay aas been pastor Of the Harlem
life work. He his wife said. sincerely and
Of Washington County. Penn. His first pastorate
WAS "A Iaud"rghurg Penn. He next went To 'bal-
tlmore. and IN 1872 called TO the Harlem church.
and has been the pastor Of that congregation ever
since. He is known as able and earnest worker.
and his absence would b" severely felt by the
church with which he has been connected for such
a long time.
The Harlem church was Incorporated In lAi II
has grown steadily. and to-day is Of the strong
est Presbyterian churches In the upper part OF the
city. Tho congregation occupies handsome stone
front building in East One-hun1r 1rcd-and tweny yhfth-
St, near Fifth-ayc THIS building wa, erected IN
1872. just about the time that Jr. Ramsay was
called 10 the pastorate The church celebrated It's
hfticth anniversary last June
Fatal FAIL ~ 4 TFNEUENT-HOUSE