The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HALL
ANNOUNCEMENT SURPRISES AND
DISTRRSSES MS CHURCH.

morning his resignation Of his pastorate, The
fact that he would do so was printed In yesterday
mornings Sun, and II was not until they had
read TFt SVN that a majority OF DIR. Halls con-
gregat NV that they wero going to lose
their pah " publication Of the story had
the effect OF : Ayery scat In the church's big
auditorium. The Ngramme Of what would
occur, published in Tsa was carried out to
the letter.
After the opening services DR.. Hall announced
that his text would be from Hebrews. kill, 7-ei
Remember them which have the rule over You. who
have spoken unto you the word Of God: whoao faith
follow. considering the end OF their conversation.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and to-day ana
forever.
Be not carried about with divers and strange
doctrines. For It IL = good thing that the heart be e.
tablished with grace not with meats. which have noe
pronted them that have been occupied therein.
Tho sermon was an exbortation to tho church
to cling to the Bible rs the infallible and inspired
word OF God. and to follow its teachinRs. NO
matter what new.fangled doctrines might b
promulgated by those who claim to have TO
ceived especial enlightenment through what
is called higher criticism or from some other
high-sounding source.
"'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and b.
day and forever" said DIR. Hall in conclusion.
"He is the only friend who will never desert
you. His teachings are unohanging and un-
changeable. Take Him for your guide and your
friend and this old Bible as the rule of your
life. This 10 tho thought that I would leave
with you. dear friends."
After prayer DR.. Hall said: @
Before giving out the closing hymn there
arc two communication that / want to read 10
you. Ono is O letter from myself to the session.
Tho other is q resolution passed by tho sesoioa
upon receipt of that letter."
DR.. Hall then read the following:
"712 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK;
"pear Brearen Of the se.ston:
Having been privileged to preach the Gospel
tniEsy years have decidsd-st;eF isasthsnsd
resign the passionate of the church. and SO 70 give
opportunity to the congregation to choose 3
in which i have felt the deepest interest and
for the spiritual good OF whose members I have
Whatever appears to the session to DO best
toral WORK and preaching at once or to 20 on
until q successor is I ound-I am ready to under
take 1am' dear brethren fratornaljy KDSIs,.
Then the pastor read the second resolution Of
those that follow. Tho full set of resolutions
was given out last night by the clerk of the ses.
sion of the church. Silas B.. Browneli. It was
that the reason they wore not read in their On.
tirety by DIR. Hall was that he was unwilling To
as the Whole matter was painful to him anyway..
he didn't want to go into more details than were
law: The preamble and resolutions readi
"WhsreGSS, Our pastor; the Rev. John Hal.
labors amongst us. feels constrained to seek 70
lief from the burdens and responsibilities OF the
apply to Paresbytery to dissolve the pastoral re.
l%ations existing between him and this churchs
"Resoiped. That this session desires to place
on record its very deep sense Of DR.. Halls untir.
Ing and unselhsh la5or r. and the greet blessings
this country and becoming our pastor in 1857.
no has gone in and out amongst. ns
iiDa e%l' siok, barylne our DEAD I'd. and mdptSa Bringing
comfort and help to souls cast down and
tho blessings which have attended his isbors.
S SSa SSv s,o sns'o 'c aaHSss e Sssn iSanh N .h e .o IT,:
homo and foreign missions, ministerial educa.
BEEN BEEN benefited sHphdHlsd by his services. Indeed. no iorma
Of religious or phil9nthropic labor can DO eaid
S Ses Ss s feis and 10 n rooor IliS ih threnSSo oSt t dSS Sh SSs
Christian world, not nSiio m,egf eIyo In his own. but in
'E "Reso4seds That a nesting Of the Church and
congregation be called TO take action on the
9 Sss . Is. I Tss,Ep at ! o'clS Sn M N tho Iaosu. sys seU%:
and that due notice OF the same DO given from
1ae PSiPit s a. S a %G as reSu fTes'f B. e tRo f is1s sr e
"oRssoired. That we will recommend to the
| Shuis - NShN. os'o NSoeAhS = -
qSs sSiis and 'f for thst purpose t that they US't sPpoi I'M
In seeking a dissolution OF the pastoral ~relation.
AN" .and, further tn ht .ha !p we will Em TsSgmm9n md them her,
And that we will also recommend that they
committee, to be appointed BY the session. to
take steps looking to the choosing Of a suitable
'o%9fRs ssoioe cd III That etSS @s Unite with our pastor in
requesting The key. pr. Howard DSfield q The
the said meeting of the church and oongreEs'
was sent to the session last Thursday. The
resolutions were INTRODUCE r. by Elder Alexander
moved their adoption. The Smotion, was osrrisS
unanimously. As soon as DR.. Hall had road the
fSs h rsnSlu. as ,S Ss's sonsiyys hs se of Which 9as The L. I pSs:
nounced tho benediction. and the morning
There was time during the singing Of the hymA
and while the benediction was being pro-
nounced for the msm b RS Of IN the m eonsrsgc a. e
they had heard. While The last stsnza Of the
hymn was being sung many oflths congregation
the question. The tears that molstened hand.
kerchiefs were not alone ths tears OF tho wo:
women In the church whom pr. Hall had baD-
tised, whom he had married. whose children he
had baptized, and whose dead he had buried,
and tho sound of sobbing could DO heard above
After the benediction. DR.. Hall stepped down
from the pulpit and took the place he has been
accustomed to take on the platform below 1T a.
the conclusion of each Sunday morning service.
to greet any OF the congregation who may wish
to shake hands with him, There were. in com.
parlson with the size OF the congregation. only Q
few who went forward yesterday morning.
didn't dare trust myself said one woman.
1T may DO easier for me TO say at another
time what l wanted to say
All the congregation were not. however. SO
wise. In various stages OF agltation, o hundred,
perhaps. had a word with Or. Hall. one o.
these, "A woman. with her head on the venerable
pastors shoulder. wept bitterly. A companies
tried to lead her away. telling her people would
think she had lost her reason.
"Whut do / care what they think!' exclaimed
the weeping woman, and would not move. She
was finally led away. DR.. Hall had a, word to
saw to each one. and, when the last OF his flock
had left him, the members Of the session gath:
cred about MIN IN a seInicircle inside the reil
that separates the first row of seats from the
space in front OF the pulpit
In the half circle were Elders William y.
Skidmore, John Sinclair. Malcolm Grahams
William Campbell. John Sloane. Even Mcl;n.
| " r. Gnnrna HNnIar RrnWn SilAA III RrnMnalL