New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-06

letters from members of the congregation. from
ministers in thie city. and from his friend. DIR.
Taylor. who described in detail the reasons
why II should be his duty TO take the pastorate
OF the Tabernacle. DR.. Stimsor said the condi-
tions Of the church were not new to him, and
1t vas only after careful and prayerfni de-
liberation that he felt that the Lord called him
to this city II continued follows:
When r. solved to undertake the charge /
felt there necessity for some changes IN
the administration OF the church. MY methous
in my administration were thoroughly under-
stood when I accepted the call and began my
work not unmindfu Of the difficulties before
me, but with Nc spirit OF impatience. Hely
soon became aware. however. that there was
an opposition to me In the church, distrust
Of my judgment. and incrsdulity as to my
methods | was not surprised at TINS because
I know that such personal affection as was
given TO Or. Taylor cannot be easily trans
fcrred was perfectly we'll prepared for TINS.
and. though the times wer Yer' hard, put
myself To the work -. the church Win SUCH
wisdom the Lord gave me
TIME FOR FORWARD MOVEMENT
Two years or more passed and last fall came
back To- my work feeling tha; thn time had come
for forward movement. and a much more ag-
sressive work than we had beer doing. but
soon touni that there was one d'ficulty thas
soriously thwartei that WORK and that was, that
the orpoeitior was rather Increasing tnan .imlh
,shing | went L the officers OF the church anu
asked them II they had any new financial plans
and was told they had not. then said II they
had none | would make plans myself SUI.
ce.d.d in raising 81, 500 and wiping out the year
deficit bu, instead Of causing greater activities
I'm the church the result seeried to make further
opposition | learned from friends that so much
trouble occasloned that some Of the members
were disposed to withdraw from the chnrch;
have never had controversies in my nfe
before and as knew there was nothing more
destructive 10 the growth OF Christian HE tnan
controversies in churches, thereupon said l.
would inquire II there was not some way py
which I could withdraw from the pastorate or
the broadway Tabernacle without causing any
confusion. ! Immediately rough' openings IN
other Congregational fields hut no lie were open
To- me- The experience has been eomewhtt
humiliating 10 me. because In past years was
constantly impOrtunci 20 accept other charges.
There has been feeling In the church that
7 would have some definite announcement to
make before May l. Now the time has come |
have tried 10 be an under shepherd of the Lord.
As far az have been able I nave done the work
Of the Lord
Dr. Siimson closed by saying that in order
that the members Of the Tabernacle might have
the opportunity OF placing their Interpretation
upon his work and methods he would take ad-
vantage Of the business meeting Of the church
on Wednesday evening next to put again into
the hands of the members the call they had
given to him three years ago.
To Tribune reporter who saw him after the
service Dr. Stmson said that the opposition 10
which he had referred in his statement was. In
way Of a personal character. hut touched only
matters Of polly In The administration Of the
church affairs.
THE FEELING IN THE CHURCH.
From many interviews which The Tribune
reporter had with the members 1t would seem
that the congregation Is pretty evenly divided
in its opinions Of DR.. Stmson's pastorate. Some
did not hesitate to say that IT would be ad-
visable for the interests Of the church that
the pastor should withdraw. while others forci-
blv EXPRESSED the view that Or Stimson had
not received the consideration and fairness
that he deserved. one leading member. who mas
belonged to the Tabernacle for over thirty
wears said: THE opposition to Dr. Stimson Is
unreasonable They expect him TO keep the
congr egation up to the same strength. and the
financial position OF the church as sound as IL
vas during the most successful period or Dr'
ravlor's ministration. They forget now vastly
The surroundings and conditions OF the Taber-
nacle have changed since then. Many cf the
most influential OF our people nave moved
awav uptown and cannot be expected to take
tho same interest In the church as heretofore
Again the opposition TO DR.. Stimson has been
an unworthy and trivial matters that nave
tended constantly to hamper the pastor IN MS