The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-24
DIR. JOHN HALL TO REMAIN.
uE <NsWERs IT'S PEOPLE WITHOUT
CONSULTING THE SESSION.

THKnNIV " ~ hANNH oNAA
tr,,ou AmsuE the ConrreGatien-The Po-
,,t,on the Session Is Lert In ut Present.
pr. John Hall announced yesterday morning
N the congregation OF the Fifth Avenue Presby-
tartan Church that he had decided to Withdraw
tbe resignation which he had read to them two
weeks before. Aftor reading several of the rou-
,lr, notices regarding church matters he took
mn n bit Of note paper. paused for a moment and
looked 1t over. The great congregation was
quite still.
81 have here q communication which has not
yet been laid before tho session, but will be pre-
sentcd to them at the next meeting, - said DIR.
Hall. He then read from tho slip in his hand
"Ihavo to announce that In view Of the unan-
imous action Of the congregation, I have decided
10 continue, God willing. the work Of tho pas
tornte, while strength Is given from above, and
that I am prepared to welcome any form of az
distance regarded as desirable by the conerega-
tion or its officers"
There was not O ripple, not oven q stir among
the people.
"This announcement" DIR. Hall continued
after a pause. twill. as I have already said, DO
made to the session ut the proper time"
DR.. Hall then announced the text Of his scr
mon and preached with all his usual force and
fervor for f~fty-lve minutes. His discourse was
On the need of a moro intimate relation between
man and God. In the course of 1t he announced
that he was about to initiate o series of meet
ings for aggressive evangelization of New York.
After tho service was over many of the con-
eregation pushed to the front OF the church to
shake Or. Halls hand. There were. however, no
displays of emotion. DR.. Hall himself seemed
very much moved. As the congregation went
cut into Fifth avenue and Fifty.ffth street
there was a great babble of congratulations and
general rcioicings. The women of the congrega.
ton fairly ran to each other to exchange felioita-
lions. One woman came up to a group of re-
portcrs at the door of the Sunday school room
and, with o triumphant ring in her voice. said:
young men. tell the people of New. York to-
morrow that DIR. John Hall will be the pastor Of
the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church as long
as he lives, He will be here long enough to bury
most of us-including the session."
With a little toss of her head she Joined sew
eral other women and walked away. declaring.
In answer TO their whispered remonstrances.
that : she didn't care, she was going to say her
ray for once" Her mood was apparently typi.
cal Of that nj a great part of the congregation.
1t is customary for the session OF the church
the morning service. they gathered yesterday
s sns b. 3, Brow msi s tSe clerk 70 ieo of { TIP ps Session. 10 .n Said
a~fterward that there had been no meeting OF
II. session and accordingly no business trans
The SUN is enabled now to tell what happened
S Tr Saas s ! anS n the mm at sne Of SN the consre essMesn
Robert Bonner, the Chairman Of the committee,
read to DR.. Hall 2 certified COPY Of the resolp:
who was at the meeting could doubt for o mo-
Mr., Bonner said something like this:
church building. Had I not been n member of
the Building Committee of the church and 80
have BEEN afraid they would take the root OH
Everybody laughed and the conference went
suggestion OF displeasure from one Of the com.
mittee thatthe session had permitted itself to
% %bis1eP # Ssssp sss f 6sa TEa,f e res;s SonfiPns"!TISSs e
suggestion was passed over hurriedly. with the
remark that the committee was on = mission Of
the Communication which he made to the CON.
gregation yesterday morning It was agreed
and after all present had individually pledged
thepselves, at the suggestion Of william BROCK
Halls decision. the meeting was ended.
What will tho session do about Dr. Halls
tSs sassicn Il Fl the his eh rssIsn wis asked. & p mel ssid e
a,isEhhs Ii pl ss Hss, or 1.-the the sc SESSION stop .S Ter s,s not T con
church officers. than does any one else who was
"Will the session have to pass upon DIR. Halls
withdrawal OF his resignation 7 Could they by
any possibility refuse to permit him to with
1--WE do not know what we might or might
not do. The situation Is entirely e5eeptional.
AUS u mntleT TtQulTllR uellCdl0 lduulluR, quito
free from public discussion" -
Robert bonner. who Il not a member Of the
body are OF Tie friendiiest, was approached with
the same questions; ., ,a.,,..
session received the resignation and accepted
y. and it is now in process Of transmission to
prosbytery. The session notified the congrega-
congregation, II il proposed to abide by the ac-
ton. would appoint commissioners to go before
in sskine i,PresbytSry to dissolve bis relations
with the church. The congregation ignored the
asked asked Dr.. Hal S to Fem ,,Hi and and I adiou nssed' for
Two weeks pending, his answer, Nov, that we
have that answer the congregation will send I no
not act upon the resignation unless the commits
sioners appear, and the resignation will become
know. be as much pleased with this disposition
Of the matter as the rest of us are. There is no
Mss nlsse nsr9sn between them and US. Tho church is
Notwithstanding Mr.. Bonner's statement. the
situation. As the discussion in the church
E aST lie less and les reserved. II appears that pr:
the events OF the last few weeks. He has prac-
ttcaily been instructed by the congregation. over
me heads Of the session. that he may run the
pendent of the wishes Of the men who have con
ssssinS me most to the a. support OF the church; The
perityy. Of the church. They offered him an as
ton. They refused to consider his resignation.
hut, continued to offer an assistant. DR..
Hah became" moro and more firmly con-
vinced that he could meet the situa-
ference OF feeling over the warszawiaE matter
nxed the determination on the part Of the
Weather men that the time was ripe for tho
no,lnccment now that he will welcome the ap.
polntment Of an assistant disposes of the last
possible ground npon which he and the session
can so far differ that he will feel that his resiR-
nation is necessary to heal the breach. for the
session Is the creature of tho congregation.
DE Hall said last night that he had heard no
tthRecstion as To- who will be asked, to become
MS assistant. The principal members Of the
session and congregation ugreed In saying that
no meme has'been mentioned even Informally.
IL IS a matter DIR. Hall said, for the con-
gregntion to settle. Theirs Is the power"
DEEPEN TALKS TO CHURCH FOLK.