Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-17
Rev. Mr.. Allen to Be Paid His Years
Salary and Resign.
An AMICABLE ARRAEGEMENTREACHED
There Will Be But Two Pastors
for the Present.
L 81 E CO AST CLEAR

The difficulty in the First Presbyterian
Church has been met in true Alexandrian
fashion, and the Gordian knot cut in twain.
Rev. Adolos Aliens contract for services
UP to October 1. 1896. will be fully honored
by the church, his salary will be paid him
In full for that period and he will resign.
This result was reached at a meeting held
last evening at the residence of Mr. Ous
C. Wright, on Indiana avenue DIR. Sum
derland and Mr. Allen, as usual, conducted
the Thursday evening prayer meeting At
the conclusion Of the meeting the elders of
the church were asked to meet at Mr..
Wrights, and. the two co-pastors accom-
parying them, the session went thither,
and the situation was discussed thoroughly
and, 1t Is needless to say, in an amicable
and reasonable mann er
1t was the feeling not only of the elders
put OF Mr.. Allen himself, that with the
diff1culties besetting the relations of the
three pastors, Mr.. Aliens future useful
ness was not altogether assuring. 1t was
clearly seen that there would be disturbing
shadows Of the past unpleasantness con-
tlnuaIly appearing along his pathway OF
service. At the same time his presence as
co-pastor would bar DIR. Talmage from the
pulpit OF the church on Sunday mornings
notwithstanding tine wish of a large part
OF the congregation to hear him at that
time.
To BE Paid His Full Salary.
When all phases of the affair had been
fully considered end it was apparent IL at
an agreement was reached in effect paper
was signed with nares that make the ac-
ton financially responsible to the letter,
promising Mr.. Allen his full salary at the
rate of 5000 a year until October 1. 1896
on condition that he tender his resignation
at MS earliest convenience. The salary
to be paid him will be forthcoming in one
sum and at the same time that his resig-
nation is placed in the hands of the session.
Having taken this action the session au-
thorized letter to Rev. B. w. Bittinger.
chairman Of the committee appointed by
the presbytery of Washington last Monday
to INQUIRE into the situation in the First
church, asking that committee, if con-
venient to meet with the session at the
pastors office In the church next Monday
evening. When that meeting is held the
of the action taken i'm regard to Mr.. Allen
and the latter gentleman is likely to be
present and assure the committee that the
matter has been arranged satisfactorily to
him.
What action the committee will take
following this notification can only be
con5ectured.
The Question Settled.
Practically an that is in contention win
have been removed. Mr.. Allen will have
his salary in his pocket and be at liberty
to return to his old home in Philadelphia.
and there being but two pastors of the
church, DIR. Sunderland and DIR. Talmage, it
VIII be left to them to arrange between
themselves just how and when they will
occupy the pulpit The committee can
hardly do otherwise than to report these
facts to the presbytery, and there the mat
ter will drop. as all ground for action dis
appears with the agreement made last
night between Mr.. Allen and the session.
DR.. Talmage Likely to Preach.
As to what DIR. Talmage will do conjec-
ture again is the only resource. He de-
clared emphaticslly last Sunday night that
under no circumstances would he occupy
the pulpit of the church Sunday mornings.
Yet as one of the elders of the First
Church said today, DR.. Tslmage today
stands under no circumstances that pre-
vent his occupying the pulpit when he
chooses TO do so. All circumstances have
been swept away, so far as that goes 1t
is, OF course, expected that DR.. Talmage
will preach Sunday mornings Just as was de-
sired IN the origin of the trouble That he
will refuse to do SC is not expected.
Mr.. Aliens resignation leaves the church
without clergyman capable, by reason of
youth, strength and natural vigor, to per-
form all the varied past oral duties to which
Mr.. Allen has addressed himself during the
time he has been connected with the
church. Financially, the action Just taken
adds to the burdens of the church. That
DR.. Sunderland could assume the strictly
pastoral work is rot considered 1t is
rather the expectation that he win sooner
or later enter on an emeritus relation with
the church. In that event IT is to be ex-
pected That young clergyman will be en-
gagged as an assistant pastor.