The times., 1897-06-20
DR. TALMaGE5 VACATION
4 Rumor That He Will Not Re-
turn to- His Pastorate.
DENIED BY vls FRIENDS
The Usual Summer Holiday of the
Distinguished Divine Gives Rise
to Disquietirg Reports state
ments by Rev. DIR. Sunderland ana
Col. James l.. Norris

Rev. Dr L De Witt Talmage, pastor
OF the First Presbyterian Church has left
the city on a lecture tour of the various
Chautauqua socities OF the country. Dur
ing his absence DT. Sunderland wiilpreach
at the morning and evening services Dr..
Talmage, however, is expected TO return
to the city in time TO fill the pulpit next
Sunday.
During the mouths of July and August
DIR. Tainaage mas determined not 10 preach,
but will spend the heated term at his
summer home Oh Long Island. In the
fail he will resume his work at the church.
The main auditorium will be closed during
his absence and the services will be held
in the lecture-room Of the church.
The action OF tne trustees and elders
tn closing the church during the next two
inonths has caused the circulation OF several
sensational stories in regard to the salary
of Dr. Talinage. IL was rumored that DR..
Sunderland had aIsnopneed at the meeting
Of the trustees that DIR. Taimage had not
received a cent OF salary for the past four
months, and that there was little prospect
OF his getting any during the next three
months. as the church was to tie closed
during that time.
Dr. Sunderland was interviewed last
night by Times reporter in regard to
the rumor. He said that they are fabri-
cations. He said: In reference to the
statement concerning the affairs OF the
First Presbyterian Church, of this city,
1 wish TO say that the simple facts are
that, the usual summer vacation period
having arrived, and the months OF July
and August being set apart for such va
cation, at a recent meeting OF the Of
ficers OF the church IL was determined
to suspend the services V the main audi
ence-room, and also that the religious serv-
ices for the summer be held in the
lecture room, as they always have been"
LAS To the movement OF DR.. TalInage
and the compensate TO be paid him, there
was perfect understanding from the be.
ginning, and, SO far as | know, that un-
dersJanding is as satisfactory to all parties
today as 1t ever was
',Ihe slaaefnenJ tisgfibed to Ine 10 the
effect that Dr. TaItlIage had not received
u cent OF salary for the past -four months
is fun OF errors ara no attention should
be paid to IL by the public'
DR. Sunderland stateI that DR.. Talmage's
salary is contingent upon the receipts OF
the church, and that all agreements with
him In regard to salary and the privilege
Of vacation have been fulfilled to the letter
Mr. James L.INeffis, one of the prurni-
nent members Of tife church, when seen by
d Times reporter, stated that there was no
truth In the state ment. He said that
the dealings bet tween DR.. Taimage and
the church trustees and elders are most
amicaile. and that. though Dr. Taimaye
viii go away dufingithe heated term, he
is expected to retatii and fill hts pulpit
in September. $40
1t was also reported that the attendance
at the First Presbyterian Church has
taken a big slump since the withdrawal
from it OF exPresident and Mrs Cleve-
land. The collections and pew rents
had fallen off in properties, and, as DR..
Talmage's salary depends upon the re-
ceipts of the church. his preaching for
the past few months had been UnprofitabIe
from a financial standpoint. There was
a big boom in the church Immediately after
DR.. Talmage's advent in this city. and at
every service hundreds OF people were
turned away. The income of the church
was then averaging $500 week.