New-York tribune., 1898-01-11
DIR. HALLS RESIGNATION.
pEN1AI,s OF STATEMENTS THAT IT WAS
NOT VOLUNTARY.

NOT NOll MARI
The Rev. Dr. John Halls resignation OF 'he pas
torate Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Ohuic"
u,as a subject of, general discussion yesterday es
r.cisuy on the part Of the large nun Der OK the
conqraration upon whom the announcement came
suddenly and Unexpectedly. Among the numerous
oninious and comments that were hearu' II was
,erhars bu. natural that there should ran solue
suggestions that Dr. Halls resignation was not al
,oee,her voluntary 1t was hinted by some people
IN fact that Dr. Halls resignation was the result
Of some little pressure which had oeeh orousn' ~
bear upon him by some OF the leaoihs neiIoo'S
Of the church. This. however. seVer"! Oh t"e 'iuS
tees v,bo were seen yesterday emphaucally Denied
and asserted that their pastor, because ne was pD
.,,-i-s, ,o feel the weight of his many years was
The first 10 make any mention OF the adVlsaO'i'''
NJ MS retiring in order to give place 10 you"ec'
and more vigorous man
For five years Vast the members OF sess'oA nave
realized that Dr. Hall was taxing himself loo
e-~o1, IN endeayoring TO cope unaided with the
dp,ies of the church and the responsibilities OF
his important position
Dprina those years DR.. Hall has been frequently
urged by lis congregation to have an assistant ''
order 10 tighten his labo!s but ne cla!i"eu 'ne
i3ea and told his advisers that he preferred 10
vork alone Last year after the death OF his son.
Dr Richard Hall be induced 10 take Ions
rest and to benefit his health by trip 10 EUROPE
When he returned 10 New-York last OCTOBER "
was noticed that his spirits were not so sood as
question q an assistant was again broacheo 10
him Again the doctor would not entertain the
suggcstion but shortly afterward animated 10
some q his friends that he might better serve 'he
interests Of the church b. retiring. The session.
II is said demonstrated with hin! at that time Dut
IN November a committee was appointed TO CONFER
with Dr. Hall The committee held repeated con-
ferences with him, and the outcome was the an
nourcemeut made on Sunday morning
These are the facts learned by Tribune re-
porter from trustee yesterday as TO the history
Of Dr. Halls determination TO resign on the
other nand there were reports afoat TO the erect
that the resignation was practically forced one
DR. Halls non-committal stand In the Briggs case
is said 10 have estranged some OF the elders from
him and his action IN the Warszawiak conuo-
versy was a eliminating point IL was st.iec ~ aiSo
that DR. Han was regarded Dy many u ,Ae ~. a..
cregaton as being ultra-corserVatlVc, ana hot III
touch WIN the modern spirit OF iIesy' .o' .o's.a'rdn,.
In newspaper il was OpenI! Stdteu s09.,' 'N"'
afternoon that there hac beer an orga'hzeu 'H%1Ne ~
secure Or. Halls rcslgnatoh, @ anu ,di0 an5
the mOYclrcn, was headed by JOh' o!oalIe ai'u
John Kennedy. Two Cf the most prominent "'s''
n the church. - ,ho,, las,
But - tribune reporter who saw them LAST 1Sst
night both Indignantly denied the iInputatiOI' n
report that ia any way oPp0Seu 80 ~ - 20,
Mr. Sloan said '0r that his resiSitl on 49, ,o'
purely voluntary one. IS a slahuTiou aD -
tSu IL has been my privilege 10 nave ~
u Dr. Halls closest friends from tine pelo.e ne
became pastor Of our church. Thls aPpaiei' -, 80
temp IN some quarters 10 nave II ,2 DeI.' nd anv
there b. any il.feeling between Or. han anu any
o. ms COZ grcgaton Is wicked III thc VA -; - do
Nr Kennedy similarly eini,HalrT ~ ~ n,,ie
NAL that he was satisfied with pr nan fhii'is-
trations or that he favored his retirement