Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-07
\ CRISIS REACHED
III the Affairs of the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church.
Tho Trustees of DIR. John Halls
Congregation Have Resigned, and
the announcement Was Made by
the Pastor Yesterday-A History
of the Troubles in the Church.

the Announcement Was Made by
the Pastor Yesterday-A History
of the Troubles in the Church,
New York, February 6.-The trustees
nj the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
church have resigned. Announcement
n that effect was made from the pull
nir by the Rev. DR.. John Hall this
morning, and the members of the con-
gf cation were notified to meet at
the church Monday afternoon, Febru-
arv 14th. and choose new trustees.
The church was crowded, and prior to
the giving out of the text of his SER
mon DR.. Hall made the announce
ment.
DR.. Hall read the notice in sad tone
Of voice, but he made no comment on
the matter, though it attracted atten-
ton among the pew holders, who be-
gan whispering one to another, but de-
sisted when he began his sermon.
After the morning services Dr. Hall
held short session with many of his
warm supporters in the congregation.
and afterward there were many con-
ferences in the vestry room and the
pastors private room. The cCngrega-
ton is
POJTND To STAND nv
Dr.. Hall, no matter what may be
done by the session next Thursday
evening, and to-day they were giving
him the warn est assurances of their
support and assistance. The members
of the congregation were loath to dis
cuss the significance of the trustees
action, but IL was admitted by Robert
Bonner, j. H. Work, and many others
that it was the direct outcome of the
differences of the factions in the
church.
The trustees are financial governors
Ct the church. They are also the
financial hackers of the church. They
not only represent in themselves
financial support, but also represent
the McCooks, the MacLands and
Sloanes, who are supposed to be OPP
posed to the continuance of DR.. Hall in
the pastorate. The resignation of the
trustees following closely the stand
taken by the congregation last We'd
nesday night, is expected to be fol-
lowed next Thursday night by the
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SEES
SION
OF many Influential and wealthy mem
bers.
Robert Bonner, a warm advocate of
DR.. Hall, said to-day that the resigna-
ton Of Dr. Hall had not been prompted
by the financial condition of the
church.
Mi. Bonner asserted that the dissat-
lstaction with DR.. Hall by members of
the session commenced with the Wars
zawiak incident last summer. Had
that not occurred there would never
have been, Mr.. Bonner believes. the
slightest opposition to DR.. Hall. Her.
man Warszawiak had charge of one
OF the missions of the church. Charges
OF misconduct were made against him.
and he was found guilty by the session
and dismissed from the church
DR.. Halls sympathies were with
Warszawiak, and he stood by him
A LITTLE TOO LONG"
continued Mr.. Bonner. cat the time l
said that either Warszawiak was guilty
and should be dismissed from the
church, or John E. Parsons was guilty
OF great libel on him"
This incident, Mr.. Bonner thought,
tended to make breach between those
who thought Warszawiak should be
dismissed and Dr. Hail. The dramatic
incident in the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain Church last summer when Dr..
Hall announced the decision of the ses-
sion in the case of WarZawiak, helped
to widen the breach so far as Dr.
Hall's position was concerned Tie
congregation. however, as whole, was
not affected py tie incident. the m.;ri-
testation of sympathy by DR.. Hall only
serving to erCear him the more to
them.
Mr.. Bonner said, however, that prio'
10 the Warzawiak incident, and long
before the charges were preferred
against the man. DR.. Hall announced
TO him that it was his intention to re-
sign the pastorate of the church at the
contemplation of the thirty years of
pastorate. DR.. Hall made no reference
IN his sermon to the affairs of the
church.