Evening star., 1897-01-07
CALLED A NEW PASTOR
A Minister to Succeed Dr.. Patch at Gunton
Temple Memorial Church.
Rev. DIR. Asa S. Fiske Chosen by the
COmmittee-FOrmalit Yet
to Be Attended To.

1t seems now as If, after an interim OF
about eight months, the Gunton Tenn
pie Memorial Presbyterian Church, corner
of nth and r streets northwest, is to have
new pastor. Early last spring Rev. DR.
George B. Patch, then pastor of the
church. was stricken down with paralysis
DIR. Patch recovered from the shock and
spent number of months at various
health resorts recuperating, but ne did not
recover sufficiently to take up active work
again. Accordingly, last September he re-
signed, and his resignation was accepted
by the congregation, they at the same time
making him pastor emeritus. Since then the
congregation have had number of min
listers preaching trial sermons. This mat
ter of choosing minister has been in the
hards of a committee of fifteen, which
committee in turn appointed a subcom-
mittee. consisting of DIR. w. S. Warman,
MIR. George A. Provost and Mr.. George
Brown, VINO have been in direct control of
the matter
AT a recent meeting Of the entire commit
tee 1t was decided to recommend to the
congregation that the Rev. Asa 8. Fiske,
d. D., of Ithaca, n. Y, be called as pas
tor of the church. The rule in the Pres
byterian Church is that a committee shall
select a pastor, but that the congregation
shall have the entire control Of whether he
shall be called or not. Thursday evening
next, at $50 o'clock, the congregation will
meet in their house of worship and pro-
ceed to vote on the selection Of the COM
mittee. In most instances the choice of
the committee is usually that Of the con
sregation, and in this instance 1t is also
expected to he SO. In fact the commit
tee has decided on no second name to pre-
sent If DM Fiske is no. called. When he
is called the Washington city presbytery
VIII then be brought together to make ar
rargements for his installation. 1t Is un-
derstood that if called DIR. Fiske will ac-
mon as pastor of the Gunton Temple Me-
mortal Church on Sunday week. Next
Sunday the services both morning and
evening. are to be conducted by the Rev.
John r. Paxton of New York city.
DIR. Fiske has preached six times in the
church. conducting the services last Sun-
day. He received his theological education
at Andover Theological Seminary. and has
since received the degree of doctor of di-
vinity. He has served four charges, name
ly. First Church, San Francisco; St. Paul
Mimi Rochester. n. y. and Ithaca n Y
The First Church of San Francisco is one
of the largest churches in that city. While
Dr. FlSke was there ore of the members
of his congregation was Senator Perkins
OF California, who renewed the acquaint-
ance while DIR. F'iske was in Washington
several Gays ago. His last charge that
OF Ithaca, is about double the size of the
Gunton Temple Church, but Dr. Fiske re-
signed from it last September because so
1t Is understood, they would not begin the
erection OF a new church. He is described
as d brainy. active man, and he is well
known in other than church circles, being
member of the military order of the Loy-
al Legion and of the Knights Templar
The Gunton Temple congrega ton Is one
of the most influential PRESBYTERIAN or
ganizations in the city. and possesses a
handsome house of worship of stone on the
southeast corner of 14th and streets,
besides the chapel just across the street
1t was founded September 4, 1851. by DR..
Patch. and worshiped for some time in
Clataugh Hall, just opposite the present
location. DR.. Patch being successful in his
work. the church was formally recognized
by the presbytery in April. 1889. In 1884 a
chapel was erected on the present location
The present church. which was the gift
OF Mrs Temple at cost of $4,000. was
erected in memory of her husband and of
her father. DIR. Gunton, and was occupied
hrst in 1894 1t has seating capacity Of
about 800, and Is supported by an inf1uen-
tial congregation.