Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-02
WANTS MORE WORK
DR.. Talmage Asks to Preach Twice
on Sundays.
PRESBYfERY APPEALED 10 TO DECIDE
Rev. Mr. Allen Does Not Want to
Be Crowded Out.
A TROUBLED TRLPASTORATE

The presbytery Of Washington will be
called within a few days to meet In special
session to consider a question of right and
Of ecclesiastical law that has arisen In the
First Presbyterian Church in consequence
Of the engagement of DIR. T. Dewitt Tai
mage as co-pastor with DR.. Byron Sunder-
land and Rev. Adolos Allen.
The situation in which the church and its
officers are placed is peculiar one. 1. Is a
question Of deciding between the jealous
desire for work and usefulness on the part
CT two Of its pastors
On the one hand, DR.. Talmage wants to
work harder than he does and on the other,
Mr.. Allen has no wish to do less than he is
now doing. Probably the presbytery will
find the consideration and decision between
the two iaborers in the vineyard one Of the
most peculiar and edifying that any body
OF men ever undertook to settle
Dr Ialmage came to the First Church as
reinforcement in the face of conditions
that augured neither increase OF church
membership nor multiplied usefulness and
influence. The march of population and
development in Washington during the last
ten years had left the First Church, both
as to location and personnel far out of the
current of present progress. 1t was COM
ing to be thought of as a landmark and a
memento. DR.. Talmage, an old and lifelong
friend of DIR. Sunderland. was suggested as
an attraction and power to crystallize
the situation into new relations fun of life
growth and promise.
DIR. TnImage's Pastorate.
Accepting the call that was extended to
him, DIR. Talmage came to Washington
and entered with his characteristic earnest
ness and force upon the work assigned to
: him, and the result has justified the ex-
pectations that were cherished. Making his
choice in the partition of work, DR.. Talmage
selected the Sunday evening service as that
which he should prefer to conduct, and he
has accordingly delivered his sermons regu-
larly at what seems to be the less important
hour Of the Sabbath. The morning service
therefore, fell to DR.. Sunderland and Rev.
Mr. Allen. - .-.-- .-,-
The former having given a lifetime of
service to the church and reached a time Of
life when his mental and spiritual vigor,
quite visibly to himself and his dearest
friends, far outran his physical strength.
an emeritus relation was suggested for him
DR.. Sunderland, however, expressed desire
to remain in active service. Mr.. Allen, to
whom for several years had fallen the ardu-
Gus and exacting pastoral work of the
church, preferred TO continue in that part
OF the pastoral duty II was Arranged that
Dr. Sunderland, and Mr.. Allen should oc-
oupy the pulpit on alternate Sundays, an
arrangement which has been carried out.
Idle Sunday Mornings.
The fact that DIR. Talmage preached even
ings and was idle Sunday mornings regular
ly was the assailable point in the plan CT
work agreed to by the three pastors. Other
churches knowing his power sought to ee-
cure him for the morning service. This so
licitation increased as weeks passed. until
the feeling grew upon the eminent preacher
that he was culpably idle. and that he was
keeping his talent wastefully from the cause
in which he was pledged to labor.
Within the past few days he has an
pounced to the elders Of the church that
he desires to preach twice a day. He says
he is strong enough. and that the pressure
upon him seems to be providential call
to which he must give ear. Naturally and
rjghtfully the members of the First Church
have the first chance to say whether he
shall preach to them Sunday morning ss
well as evening The church has gained by
his presence. The Sunday evening services
are crowded, ard the rental of pews has
been greatly increased since his copastor-
ate began. Justly the First Church has the
first right to require his services IL any
church Is to have them at that hour.
From every practical view Of the matter,
the elders believe it is the part Of wisdom
to give DIR. Talmage the opportunity he
desires.
Mr.. Allen Has Appealed.
To this. however. Mr.. Allen, standing
upon his right, which is well defined, both
by contract and by church polity and &C.
clesiastical law, objects. He does not de-
sire to retain the exclusively pastoral rela-
ton and have no voice whatever in the
pulpit. The issue being thus made, the
elders of the church, who are all his
stanch friends, and desire his continuance
with the church copastor. decided in
favor of DR.. Talmages wishes. and in op-
position to Mr.. Aliens. He has appealed
to the presbytery, and the matter will
there be heard at length, openly and to q
fair finish.
Just when the presbytery will meet ID not
known today. 1t is likely that the meet
ing will be set for some day next week.
There are about twenty churches in the
rresbytery, and The attendance, consider
ing the Importance end interest of the
question to be discussed, will be large.
Whatever the result may be ii is certain
that every effort will be made by the eld-
ers and the congregation of the First
pastor.
this relation he attends to a great
variety of duties, visits the sick, the aged.
the troubled, conducts funerals, gives coun-
sci to members, has oversight of much OF
the business of the church, and is continu-
ously occupied with an almost endless range
of details, which are increasing daily, and
will multiply with the increasing labor of
DR.. Talmage in the pulpit. Thus far the
situation is one Of thorough friendliness,
and the officers and members of the church
deprecate any mention of the matter which
implies that it is of the nature of quarrel
or contention.