The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-06
DR.. Hall and His Church.

The explanation of the resignation of the
Rev. DIR. HALL as the pastor of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church, that 1t was
due to the declining prosperity Of the
church, is undoubtedly true, or at least the
fact of a very great falling off during re-
cent years is unquestionable. Nor is 1t i'm
probable that, when confronted with the
business balance sheet, DR.. HALL took the
exposition as a hint that his resignation
was desirable, il not desired.
Would the mere withdrawal Of DR.. HALL,
however, ave brought about a u in this
ebbing tide Of the church's prosperity 1t
is more likely that his retirement from the
pastorate would have accelerated the de-
cline, for it would have disheartened the
earnest Presbyterians still remaining in
the church, and they would have sought
elsewhere the spiritual food Of doctrine
they crave. They may not ave the ma
terial wealth which would make their loss
seem considerable to q parish treasurer, but
they have the substance Of genuine convic-
tion which Is even more necessary to keep
up the spiritual life of a church.
1t seems to be a fact that many of the
richest Presbyterians of thisc city are losing
their old interest In their Church. The
great decline in the value of pews in the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, we are
told, has not been peculiar to 1t. but
has extended to other once fashionable
churches of the denomination in this city.
This indicates that they are losing the rich
men who formerly were ready to pay prices
for pews amounting to thousands of dollars
each. Wealth has brought a desire for the
enjoyment of the pleasures of life purchase
BILE by it. and the appetite is not restrained
longer by the religious convictions Of these
luxurious Presbyterians. So long as they get
religious worship and can keep up the con-
v~entionality of church-Roing, they do not
require that 1t be to a Presbyterian church
particularly; or IL by going elsewhere
they come into associations more agreeable
to them and their desire for worldly en-
joyment is less restricted, they are pre-
vented by no religious scruples from graft
flying themselves in that way.
This tendency was shown most strikingly
in the case Of the Rev. DR.. SHIELDS of
Princeton University. He had been a Pres.
b~yterian throughout a long life, yet when
that Church undertook to interfere with
his signing an application for a liquor
license. as contrary to its formulated
discipline, he withdrew, saying that he
would seek the liberty he desired in
some other part of "the Church Catho-
lic." That is, DR.. SHIELDS left the Presby.
terrain Church simply because he was deter.
mined to govern his conduct according to
his own Judgment or preference with.
out regard to that Church's law. He had
no attachment of conviction holding him to
| the Presbyterian Church specifically.
The rich Presbyterians who nave left or
are now intending to leave DIR. HALLS Fifth
avenue church are of a kindred spirit. They
want more liberty to crafty the tastes
stimulated In them and the opportunities
Of state and luxury brought to them by
their wealth. They want to 20 to the
theatre and the opera and to give and at
tend great balls, and in all ways follow
the gorgeous procession of fashion and
frivolity. Hence. like DIR. SHIELDS, they
| give up no more for the Presbyteri-
an Church, with its stern discipline.
Presbyterianism depends on deep and
vital and special faith, and they have no
defnable faith, nothing except a sort of
aesthetic religious sentiment. Hence they
are Indifferent as to the particular branch
of "the Church Catholic" in which they
find qualification for their desires. They
want a church which is agreeable to
them socially. They are not exactly ag-
n~ostics, but they have no positive religious
belief, for which they are ready to sacri-
flee worldly ambitions.
1t seems probable, therefore. that the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church will
now cease to be the richest Presbyterian
church in existence. as it probably was ten
or fifteen years ago, M will be compelled
to reduce its current expenses accordingly,
even II prudence shall not require 1t to sell
its valuable Fifth avenue property and go
else where for q situation and . house
81 worship more conGruouS with the