The Portland daily press., 1896-02-15

0no iucolne OF the church would be about
5000, and while he does not know
what the actual receipts for 1895 were, he
says: From what hear I should say
That the income will be about the same
as 1t was in 1894 may be little less if
anything" 1t is the general impression
that the evening collections average
about $50.
IL was understood among the friends of
Dr. Talmage when he first came here in
september that sooner or later he would
be allowed to take full charge of the
First Church; that the venerable DIR.
Sunderland, who is now rs years old,
would be retired with a pension; that
MIR. Allen would be relieved from his
pastoral duties; it was the plan to invite
the Rev. Frank De- Witt Talmage to take
charge of the passionate work, She prayer
meetings, and the Sunday school. Short
ly after his fathers installation Frank
Talmage invited Mr.. Allen to become his
assistant in the Second Presbyterian
Church at Pittsburgh, Offering him the
same salary as he received here. Mr..
Allen asked Mr.. Talmage whether the
offer came from him personally or had
been authorized by mis- church. He never
received reply, and Mr.. Aliens friends
believe that it was conspiracy to get
him out of the First Church to red uoe its
expenses so that DR.. Talmage could have
his salary. 1t is still believed that Frank
Talmage will become associate with his
father in the passionate of the First
church here.
AS the evening service had proved a
failure financially, it was arranged by
the admirers of DIR. Talmage that he
should occupy the pulpit on Sunday
mornings also. Elder Wright says ::
''The fashionable element were willing
to come out for while at night to hear
DR.. Talmage, but they wanJ to show
their fine turnouts and handsome dresses
and therefore initiated the movement to
give the pulpit to DR.. Talmage at morn
ing service as we'll as at night. They do
not want to go to church at night, and
have given notice that unless they can
hear DIR. Talmage in the morning they
will cease coming"
In order to accommodate this class of
people and increase the income of the
church SO that DR.. Talmage might re-
ceive some compensation, it became
necessary to get rid of Mr.. Allen. The
Board of Trustees therefore offered him
81, 900 if he would retire voluntarily. He
declined. Then they demanded his resig-
nation. He, refused to tender 1t and
brought the matter before the Presby-
terry, which led to the appointment of the
committee that reported today. The ac-
without consultation with the elders of
the church, excited a great deal of indig-
nation among the friends Of Mr. Allen,
and among those who felt that the most
venerable and famous house of God in
Washington was being made a theatre
for DR.. Talmage's speculations. Pend
ing the Investigation, however, Mr.. AL
len, after consulting with his friends in
the church and with the committee,
agreed to tender his resignation provided
his salary for the balance of the year was
paid.
In its report the committee commends
MIR. Allen for Christian patience,
courtesy, wisdom, and loyalty, but avoids
all reference to DR.. Tal,nage or to DIR.
Sunderland, and neither of them was
present at this mornings meeting. The
Commissioners from the First Church
begged earnestly that the grave reflections
cast upon the tru sIeeS be strick ensn.from
the report, but the Presbytery unani-
mously declined to do SO. Under the
circumstances they thought the Ian guage
was exceedingly mild.