The evening times., 1898-12-12
REV. DIR. PAXTON FORCED
TO GIVE UP PREACHING
CANNOT UNDERTAKE THE TASK
Impressions That the Pastor W ill
Never Be Able to Appear I'm the
Pulpit Again.


New York. Dec. 12.-The Rev. Dr. John
r. Paxton has been forced once more TO
resign his pastorate This time 1t is the
congregation of the New York Presbyte-
rian Church that he leaves. He assigns
the same reason that he gave five years
ago when he resigned from the West
Presbyterian Churchill health. AT pres
ent DR.. Paxton is in seclus:on in a re-
treat at Flushing, l.. ].
'"There is no truth" said Mr.. Kiliaen
Van Rensselaer,, of No. 6S West Seventy
first Street. yesterday. "in the talk that
DR.. Paxton is a complete mental wreck"
The New York Presbyterian Church
has a fine building at Seventh Avenue
and Twenty-eighth Street, but unit. last
year ii was not very prosperous, socially
or financially. Then DR. Robinson re-
signed and the trustees cast about for a
new pastor Trustee Van Rensselaer,
who fought in the same brigade with DR.
Paxton, in the Civil War, suggested the
name of his old friend, then believed to
be thoroughly restored to health after a
long rest.
In the few months of last winter Dr.
Paxton brought the congregation up from
an average attendance of eighty to 1000
at every service. The trustees were de-
| lighted, chiefly because such splendid
pastor cost them practically moth hing
! DR. Paxton, being a wealthy man, re-
fused TO accept anything but nominal
salary and that was fixed at $50 year
With the coming of summer DIR. Paxton
said 'good-by' to his congregation. and
giving up his rooms at the Windsor Hotel,
bo ha
son. He engaged them for another year
however. saying that he would preach
again in New York the coming winter
On October the trustees got a note from
him asking for a few weeks; longer rest.
He had become oVerheated and had VEN
tured in bathing, much to his regret The
trustees were very glad 10 give their pas
tor a little more rest They tilled his
| place temporarily, but imagine their sur
prise when two weeks ago they received
this letter:
To the Session of the New York Presbyterian
Church.
| Dear Brethren am positively forbidden TO
! do any work for six months by my doctor. IL
I is too bad for YOU good people to be troubled hy
my sickness am old and my constitution is
/ too easily exhausted by continuous work 10
/ think Of doing any longer the hard service of 4
/ full church | shall return your call to the
J Prcshytcry n The December meeting, unable by
J by sickness 10 accept it. Let assure You, one
and all of my deep affection and warm gratitude
! for your kindness to me; your loyalty and Ell
couragoment You have my love and best wishes
/ Cor the future. | am well, but not strong. Yours
| truly, JOHN r. PAXTON.
Today the resignation will be accepted
and on Wednesday the church Will meet
! TO name DR.. PaXton's successor. DR.. Pax
I ton will spend the winter travelling with
! his son and daughter after he leaves the
retreat at Flushing.
NO wonder. said Mr.. Van Rensselaer,
/ the poor man is unstrung-his wife died
! so shortly ago and he saw with his very
! eyes his daughter strangled in a health
! lift she was using"
VIII he ever be able to preach regularly
! again?" was asked.
No. l don't think he will. He was sun
struck in the civil war and it has affected
! him ever since"
! Dr.. Paxton resigned from the West
{ Presbyterian Church n the autumn Of 1893
| and suddenly disappeared. He was found
a month later in hospital near Pittsburg,
| Pa, completely prostrated.