The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-29
DIR. ABBoTT's RESIGNATION.
Announcement of the Divine's Pur-
pose Caused Surprise and Grief.
NJ. VII

The resignation of DIR. Lyman Abbott
pastor of Plymouth Church, Sunday, was
received with surprise and grief by the
small congregation which braVed the snow
to hear the noted Brooklyn divine's morn
ing sermon. When DR.. Abbott first stood in
Beecher's shoes, eleven years ago, there
comparison. Confirmed as pastor, he
brought to the famous pulpit a breadth of
thought and a wealth Of oratory and fervOr
which maintained Plymouth in it's old and
proud position one of the noted Christian
temples of the world. His first sentences In
reference to his resignation were scarcely
understood by the congregation. When the
full significance of DR.. Abbotts words
dawned on those present there were many
damp eyes in the church.
Dr. Abbott had been speaking of the
Church of Christ, which, he said, remained
unchanged throughout the ages, whether
it was the church of Augustine Calvin or
BeecheT. Not one OF the founders of Plym-
outh Church is with us now" he contin-
ued. "Men come and go, live and speak and
pass away, but the church is the same be-
cause God dwells in 1t. Plymouth Church
lived when Mr.. Beecher passed away,
and when the time comes, it soon must
come, when ] must step out of the office to
which you have called me. the church will
not be disturbed or changed. / have been
reluctant-God knows only how reluctant
to tell you that the time has come when I
must lay aside the leadership of the church
and take the place OF private in the
ranks"
He then read letter of resignation, re-
viewing his work and embracing the de-
rest In conclusion Dr. Abbott said: Il love
Plymouth Church. Here, forty years ago.
first learned that God is love, not merely
law; here / first received the illumination
which comes from the recognition of the
glory of God in the face OF Jesus Christ;
here received the inspiration which re-
newed my earlier desire to enter the Chris
tan ministry. When, eleven years ago, |
came back here. it was as man comes
back TO the home of his boyhood No other
church ever was or even can be to me
what Plymouth is and has been"
Sad-faced, many of them weeping. the
church members crowded about DIR. Abbott
to shake his hand. A short session of the
members was held after the services and
d committee of three, headed by Thomas @.
Sherman, was appointed TO consider the
stems to be taken by the church. This com
mittee will report at Friday nights prayer
meeting.
DR. Abbott belongs to one of the best
known of New England families. He is the
i'm Rexford, Mass. in 1885 He was gradu-
ated from the University of New York, and
became a lawyer and literary man. Turn
ing to theology, he was ordained I'm 1860 and
went to the Congregational Church i'm
Terre Haute, Ind He attended Plymouth
Church while he was at the law school
there. and became warm admirer and
friend of Henry Ward Beecher. Then it was
that he received his first impulse toward
the university He sat in the Congrega-
tionai Association with Mr.. Beecher, and
when the Plymouth Church council was
held, ana the New York and Brooklyn As
ISOLATION cleared Mr.. Beecher of the
charges made by the Tiltons he stood with
the majority and refused TO join the seced-
ing Manhattan Association he subsequent
ly became associate editor of Mr.. Beecher's
Christian Union. and its editor when Mr.
Reeeher resigned. Step by step. he became
the great preachers natural successor. and
eleven years ago was both logical and pop
ular.