New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-30
DR. T. c. HALL GOES TO UNION.
ACCEPTS PRoFEssORSHIP IN THE
SEMINARY.
THIs REMOVES HIM FROM THE LIST OF POSI-
BILrTIEs FOR THE EF~rH AVENUE PRES
BYTERIAN CHURCH - THE REV.
ALEXANDER CoNNEII. LIKE
LY TO RE CHOSEN.

LY TO RE CHOSEN
The Rev Dr. Thomas c. Hail. son OF the late
Rev. DR.. John Hall, who was for so many years
pastor Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church. has accepted a professorship in the
Union Theological Seminary. He will FIJI the
chair Of Christian ethics. which carries with 1t
q salary OF $1,000 year. Apart from the in
terest attaching to this important appointment,
DIT Halls acceptance Of the place points con-
clusively 10 the fact that he is no longer a can
didate for the vacant pulpit Of the Fifth Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church. Since he first
preached in the church about six weeks ago.
Or. Hall has been strongly urged by certain
members Of the congregation as a successor to
his father
But while his preaching and his attanments
appealed strongly TO every member Of the
church Il soon became apparent that his cand-
dacy was supported by n very small proportion
OF the congregation. who were mainly swayed
by sentimental reasons. 1t was recognized by
the leaders Of the church that DR.. Halls liberal
theological views seeing that he was a warm
sympathizer with the teachings of Or. Briggs.
we're greatly at variance with the unswervng-
" orthodox and conservative spirit of the
church. and that 10 extend a call 10 him would
be but TO invite further serious dissensions with
IN a very short period. Again. DR.. Halls health
is -dr from ItbuSl, anu IL NdS iVit NHdt MS
strength, even were he selected. would not per
nit him 10 continue in the pastorate for any
heightened period 1t Is understood that DR..
Hall was acquainted with the feelings held by
the congregation, to whom his father mnstered
for over thirty years, and that he led In
consequence TO accept the prOfessorshp offered
- him by the authorities Of the Union Theo-
logical Seminary.
Dr. Hall is the fourth son OF the late DR.. John
Hall He was graduated at Princeton in 1879.
and afterward continued his studies at the
Union Theological Seminary. whore he studied
theology and al the universities Of G6ttingen
and Berlin where h. took courses in philosophy.
When he came home he offered his services TO
the Home Missionary Board. and was sent to
Omaha, where he built two churches and eS-
tabiished religious publication. Ten years ago
h went 10 Chicago and built the First Presby-
1erian Church. and served as its pastor unul
1894 when h received a call to the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, in the same city Here
he remained until two years age. when severe
sickness caused him to relinquish active work
He went 70 Europe with his parents last spring,
and was with his father when he died in Ire
land. DR. Hall is about forty years DID, Is
married. but has no children.
So far the Joint committee Of the session and
the congregation Of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian Church hes made no very determined ef-
forts to find new pastor. The position is prac-
tically unchanged. Bat The Tribune Is enabled
10 state upon the highest authority that all the
= members or the Committee of the Whole. as IT
is called, IN whose charge the selection Of the
next occupant of the pulpit has been left. are
in favor. with not more than three exceptions.
Of extending the call to the Rev Alexander
C0nnen, Of London England. Nj CoDnen is
now in China. examining the stations or the
English Board of Foreign Missions. and VIII re-
turn to this country in April The majority OF
the church committee recommend that no ap-
pontment shall he made until his return and.
a. The Tribune has pointed out for long tirHe,
there is little doubt that Mr.. COnneN will fol-
low the late Dr Hall II is true that four MEM
bers OF the committee have been instructed 10
visit the church Of q well-KnOWn Southern min
tster. but : this clergyman--W hose name The
Tribune has been asked not 20 publish. in order
that the pastor in question may have no mixing
Of the, committees proposed visits regarded
as being. a "Brigesite." there is little proba-
bility Of his selection. No "Briggsite' will sue
ceed to the pulpit of'the Fifth Avenue Presby:
terian Church The congregation is almost
unit against being presided over by any man
whose theological theoriAS are Of the advanced
school