The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-31
FACTIONlSTRIFE In A CHURCH.
Rev. DR.. John Halls wealthy Con-
gregation Disrupted.

New York, Jan. 31.-The foremost
Presbyterian church in this city, and
probably in the world-perhaps the
richest in Christendom-cf whose MEM
bers it has often been said that there
is millionaire, in every pew--!s torn
and racked from end 10 end.
The pastor, the Rev. DR.. John Hall,
honored, admired, beloved wherever
the religion of Christ is loved; a man
who has been a. landmark in the city,
whose house is a palace. whose salary
is princely, whose marriage fees alone
are estimated to be worth $4,000 year;
the pastor of millionaires and multi
mllllonalres, was forced at the end of
a paStorate of thirty years and a min
lstry or almost half century, by
clique of two or three members of the
church's governing body, 10 resign.
IL was his championship of the cause
OF Herman WarsZawiak, his refusal To
accept the verdict of the session that
the latter was guilty of immortality,
which stirred up the bitter wrath of
the missionaries adversaries in the ses-
sion. only this and nothing more. Was
ever there more stupendous contrast?
The fight against Mr. Warszawiak is
an old story. 1t has been many times
told. 1t has many phases. One of the
least creditable to the opponents of the
hebrew missionary and most helpful TO
himself has been the appearance of
race prejudice.
III assumed so marked form that
Or. Gotthell, who stands among Jewish
rabbis where DIR. Hall does among
presbyterian ministers. publicly criti-
cised the language used by a commit
tee of the New York presbytery in re-
porting adversely on the missionarys
caes.
Through all the conflict Dr. Hall has
stood stanchly by the latter Judge
not that We be not judged" has been
his rule of conduct. He has always
taken the merciful view Of the charg-
es of financial irregularity and un-
truthfulness, and there are signs that
his sturdy defense of the missionary
may Yet result in the latters rein
statement by the session Of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
The members of the session who have
most prominently identified themselves
in the attempt TO get DR.. Hall out are
Malcolm Graham, John Sloane, Alexan-
der Maitland and Silas b. Brownell. the
stated clerk.
Ii is the boast of these men that they
have managed the affairs of the church
as they would those of a bank or any
other business concern with which they
are connected. They are practical men,
men of affairs. and they say that any
other theory of management is a mis-
take. The Fifth Avenue Presbyt sran
Church is not a theory but a fact. 1t
cannot be made a successful one # run
on a sentimental basis.
None of these gentlemen has yet re-
signed. None will deny his intention of
doing so. They are all outspoken in de-
claTing that the congregation, when it
voiced the wish that DIR. Hall should
recall his resignation, was guilty Of
grave discourtesy toward its legally
elected and constituted board.
The vote of the congregation was
practically vote Of lack of confidence
in the session. AS the congregation
had practically taken the management
of the church out Of the hands of the
session. it was the turn of the latter TO
show that if was ready TO get out.