Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-24
REV. DIR. PHELPS WITHDRAWS
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church
startles His Congregation.
SAYS THE WORK is Too MUCH FOR HIM
only Reason Advanced for the Per-
emptory RcsiGnntion oTcrcd by
the Eloquent DiNine-Somc
Recent Church History.

Recent church History.
One OF the largest congregations OF the
season attended the morning services at the
First Presbyterian church yesterday, and IL
is safe to say that no other congregation in
the history of the church ever received a
more profound surprise than did the assem-
blage yesterday morning At the conclusion
of one OF his most eloquent sermons the
pastor. DIR. Stephen Phelps, read from the
pulpit his resignation of the pastorate.
While it was not intended as such, the
announcement was almost dramatic and came
like an electrical shock to the congregation.
The unusually pale face of the snowy haired
pastor was flushed with the mental effort In
volved in the delivery Of the sermon, and
when he came to announce his resignation
the color left his face and his fingers trem-
bled he picked up the written notifica-
tion to his congregation and read 1t slowly
and distinctly. Seconds passed before the
members appeared to realize the import Of
the words that formed the brief announce
ment, and then the hush that fell upon the
audience with the first few words was broken
by an audible sigh that sounded more like a
gasp.
The resignation is absolute and peremptory
and takes effect on May 1, or sooner, IL Dr..
Phelps receives a call elsewhere before that
date. When the congregation was dismissed
the people did not leave the church, but each
member seemed to feel that there were per-
sonal reasons which he should urge upon his
pastor to induce him to reconsider the resig-
nation. Men and women flocked around the
pulpit and in the most earnest manner eX-
pressed their surprise and regret at the step
taken. The outburst of strong popular feel
ing deeply affected the minister and there
were tears in his eyes as he listened to the
almost extravagant protestations that came
from all sides. However deeply he was af-
fected in his feelings, his resolution to per-
manenty withdraw was not affected by the
earnest expressions OF regret and hcpe, and
to all he had but one answer. that his work
as pastor of the church must close on the
date named.
Before the close Of the meeting the an
nouncement was made that there would be a
meeting Of the executive board. and all Of
the members at the church Monday evening,
at which time Dr. Phelps would submit set
Of resolutions he had prepared and which he
hoped would be adopted without dissent. The
resolutions are simply the forms required by
church rules, and when the presbytery is
asked to dissolve the pastoral relations, and
which must be favorably acted upon, when
beth sides sign them.
The reasons for the withdrawal of Dr.
Phelps have not been given, neither by the
pastor nor the members OF the congrega
tion who are familiar with the situation
There was slight deficiency in the church
budget for the past year, but this has been
made up, and no financial reasons operated
to produce the change. In his announcement
yesterday DR.. Phelps said that he had no
other place in view. The general public will
associate the retirement of the pastor in spite
Of all protests with the remarkable funeral
sermon which he delivered en- the occasion Of
the tragedy at the Citizens bank, when John
Huntington took his own life after an in
80, 10 L. - e. -
the bonding company that stood as his surety
to the bank. Exceptions were then taken to
some CT the structures that were apparent
and it was not long until the eloquent
speaker was in the midst of storm that his
sensitive nature shrunk from. He rendered
his resignation, but with a few exceptions
the congregation emphatically refused to en-
tertain it. The few who were willing to ac-
cept it then have been active since. and their
opposition has had disquietng effect, more
upon the pastor, however, than the members
Dr. Phelps was seen last evening at his
residence and asked his reasons for with
drawing He declared that it was largely
for the reason that the work here had grown
to be heavier than he could bear. In ad-
dition to his regular pastorate duties there
was scarcely week that he was not called
to speak at funerals and meetings outside Of
his church, and by people who had no claims
upon the church. This helped to make his
work very heavy. His work in the theological
seminary in Omaha was such that he could
not lay it down while he was 30 near, and
all together made burden beyond his
strength.
Dr. Phelps has been pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church for over nine years. He
came here from Cedar Rapids, Ia, where for
six years he was connected with the church's S
seminary there. He is one of the finest pull
pit orators in the city, and his determination
to retire is as much regretted by those out
side OF the church as 1t Is keenly deplored
by the members of his congregation, who
have learned to love as we'll as admire him.
FOR THE TWIN CITY CYCLE PATH.
Great Interest Manifest in the Grand
Hotel Meeting Tomorrow Night.
The topic Of conversation around wheel
headquarters and at the hotels last evening
was the meeting called at the Grand hotel
tomorrow evening by the committee of the
Retail Merchants association to take action
in the matter of the proposed bicycle path be-
tween Council Bluffs and Omaha The fact
that the Merchants association has taken up
the project has awakened deep interest, and
the feeling is general that the enterprise will
be pushed to a successful termination. The
committee has sent invitations to the Omaha
wheel clubs and wheel dealers to be present
and take part in the deliberations. The
meeting Is not called for the purpose OF
further discussing the project, but to take
action. Il. +. Clark has thrown his Grand
tel open for the reception of the guests, and
every wheelman and wheewoman in Omaha
and Council Bluffs is invited to be present.
The scheme has passed the stage of dis
| cussion for its desrability and feasibility
have been demonstrated, and the time for
prompt and energetic action has arrived. At
the meeting tomorrow evening no time will
be wasted in talk. Committees will be ap-
pointed to do the work that is necessary to
be done at once. 1t is purposed to have
one committee wait upon the city council
and arrange fer the passage of the necee-
sary ordinance giving the right OF way alcng
Broadway. Another committee will be dele
gated to secure plans for the construction
of the track and estimates of cost. Another
committee will visit the property owners on
First avenue and secure signatures to pc
titcn asking for the repaying Of three blocks
Of worn-out cedar paving. A finance com
| mittee will also be appointed, and another
committee will have the pleasant duty of
seeing the local railway managers and get.
ting the cooperation Of the railroads in the
arrangement Of events that will draw excur-
sion crowds to the Twin Cities. From the
work already laid out 1t will be seen that it
is the intention of the Merchants associa-
tion and the other promoters of the enter
prise TO organize for work.
There seems to be no reas,n why the path
cannot he built in time far the early snrinp