Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-24
The Congregation Of the First Pres
byterian Church Act Unanimously.
NOT ONE DISSENTING VOICE
Conditions Imposed by the Brook
!yn Preacher Accepted.
HE MAY BEGIN NEXT SUNDAY

last night when a meeting was held to pass
on the question Of calling the Rev. DR.. T.
Dewitt Talmage of Brooklyn to act as CO.
pastor with DR.. Sunderland. There We're
upward of 200 members of the congregation
present in the lecture room of the church at
Z 30 o'clock, the hour named in the call for
the meeting. 1t was q hot, sitting night,
but those present remained throughout the
proceedings, which were concluded in three
quarters of an hour, and were extremely
simple and informal in character.
The Call Sent to Brooklyn.
AS result of the meeting a call was unan-
imously adopted and afterward signed by
select committee of the members of the
church. and it is by this time on it's way to
DR.. Talmage, who is fully expected to ac-
cept, and may settle all preliminaries in
season to occupy the pulpit of the First
Church next Sunday for his inaugural SER
mon. That, however, will not be the first
time he has preached here, for he has occu-
pied the pulpit of his old friend on other oc-
caslons, ard these visits have really been
important factors in the present arrange
ment
The Church to Have Three Pastors.
AS to the relations of the church with the
other pastors, DR.. Sunderland and Mr.. AL
len, action was taken last night settling
them beyond all doubt. By decisive voice
the congregation voted that the venerable
pastor, who has served them for so many
years, should stay by them as long as his
strength would permit. Indeed, 1t was early
made plain that this was one of the condi-
tons insisted upon by DR.. Talmage before
he would consider the question of coming
TO washington at all. 1t was also voted
that Mr.. Allen, the co-pastor, should remain
IN MS present relations to the church for at
least one year.
The whole spirit of the meeting was one of
confidence that DR.. Talmage would accept a
call coming unanimously from the conpre-
cation. He had imposed conditions to he
sure, but they We're such as could be com
Piled with, and they were cheerfulIy accent
e e1 py the members of the church present.
Ihese condluons were seven in number, and
were stated by DR.. Sunderland after the
opening of the meeting as follows:
DR.. TalmnEe's Conditions
First. That the present current expenses
OF the church, exclusive of any obligation
Oh account of his coming, shall be prompt
ly met.
Second. That DR.. Sunderland is not to
Withdraw from the pastorate so long as
his strength permits him to remain
Ihird That Mr. Allen Is not to be dis
tLrbed in his pastoral relations except at
his own option and with the consent Of the
church.
Fourth In dividing the preaching SER
vices, DR.. Talmage, If he prefers it, is to
have exclusive charge of the Sabbath even
ing service, and the present pastor to have
charge Of the other services.
Fifth. No definite sum or charges to be
specified in the call, but the pledge of the
church that they shall do their utmost In
that direction.
Sixth. The call to be unanimous and If
acc epted, the installation to be effected at
the earliest possible moment
Seventh. These conditions to be modified
II found necessary by the consent of the
parties
1r of
the meeting. with the venerable Mr. L. c.
Wight, the senior elder. on his right. The
assembly was mainly composed of women,
but the strength of the church was there
in the presence of most of the elders, dea-
cons and trustees and the Oldest pew-hold-
erS.
The Various Steps Taken.
DR.. Sunderland began the proceedings. af-
ter Mr.. Allen had. at his request, offered
prayer. by giving a brief account of the
preliminary moves in the scheme to OBJ
tain the services of DR.. Talmage. The first
thought of such a thing came at a meet
ing of the trustees on the 9Th of this
month, and two days later joint
meeting of the trustees and elders
was held. On the 10th DR.. Sunder-
land received from them permission to
write to DIR. Talmage, and he did this. and
followed up his letter with personal inter-
views. A letter which he sent here to be
signed was promptly filled with the names
turned to DR.. Talmage, thus making the
first actual step toward fulfillment of the
object in hand. The eminent preacher had
then imposed the conditions, and these
were laid before meeting of the trustees
and others last week and accepted so far
as they could then be- The call for the
meeting had then been promulgated.
Mr.. Wight took the first step toward
clearing the way for the issuance of the
call to DR.. Talmage by moving a series of
resolutions expressing the wishes of the
congregation with regard to Mr. Allen, to
the effect that he should remain as co-paS-
tor in the event of DR.. Talmages accep-
lance, until at least one year from October
l next. This resolution was unanimously
adopted.
Adopting the Call.
DR.. Sunderland then hurried the meeting
along, without any further preliminaries,
to the chief business of the evening, which
was the adoption of the following call to
DR.. Talmage, which, he said, he had pre-
pared to save time:
THE congregation of the First Presby-
terrain Church of Washington. D. c., being
on sufficient grounds well satisfied Of the
ministerial qualifications of you, the Rev.
DR.. r. Dewitt Talmage, and having good
hopes from knowledge of your past
eminent labors that your ministrations in
the Gospel will be profitable to our spiritual
interests, do earnestly, unanimously, har-
moniousiy and heartily, not one voice dis
senting, call and desire you to undertake
the office of co-pastor in said congregation,
promising you in the discharge of your
duty all proper support, encouragement and
obedience to the Lord.
And that you may be freed from world
ly cares and avocations, considering your
well and wide known ability and generos-
ity. We do not assume to specify any def
mite sum of money for your recompense
but we do hereby promise, pledge and
oblige ourselves to pay to you such sums
of money and at such times as shall be
lief ntn inCy he ffrr,a oF
your being and remaining in the relation
to said church to which we do hereby call
you"
No Dissenting Voice.
On the vote being taken every member of
the congregation present rose in silence.
On the call for nays there was no response,
and tie most important of the conditions
imposed by DR.. Talmage-unanimity on the
part Of the congregation-was fulfilled.
There was some discussion as to the prop
er and best method of signing the call,
there being some difficulty on account of
49,.