Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-10
DR.. HALL RESIGNS
Many Years Pastor of Fifth Ave-
nue. Presbyterian Church.
One of the Best Known Clergyman in
New York-tis Salary Has Been
$4,000 Year

New York, Jan. 9.-The Rev. DR. John
Hall announced to his congregation this
morning his resignation as pastor OF
the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Many of his old parishioners heard It
with deep emotion, and, when the SER
vices were concluded, not a few mem
bers of this rich congregation forgot the
restraints of formality and clustered
around their pastor of three decades
1t was after the sermon and just be-
fore the closing hymn, that Dr. Hall
chose to read the communications that
told a breaking Of his relations as pas
tor with the congregation. Having
served the church for As years, and as
pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church for 80 years." DR.. Hall read
from his letter of resignation, after
prayerful and long consideration,
have decided to resign this pastorate,
50 as to allow the brethren of the ses-
sion to choose a successor of requisite
energy"
DR.. Hall then read a communication
from the brethren of the session, stat
ing that a meeting would be held at the
church Jan. is to take action upon the
request of the pastor for dissolution
OF the official relation between the Fifth
self.
In his sermon, Dr. Hall had uttered
parting words to his congregation by
way of prelude to his reading his letter
Of resignation.
This church." he said, lis ninety
years old. Five pastors preceded me.
For thirty years / have been privileged
to minister to the people of this church.
have labored, not for the sake of pop
,y1o ri ~ lint those
who believed in the word of God.
have labored not for exhibitions OF
scholarship or rhetoric, but for the well
fare of believers in Christ. And now
that l speak here for the last time, let
me beg and entreat that when you no
longer hear my voice, you will carry
out the exhortation contained in these
verses of Scripture:
" Remember them which had the
rule over you; who have spoken unto
YOU the word of God; whose face follow,
considering the end of their CONVERSE
ton.
Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday,
and today, and forever
DR. John Hall was born in Armagh,
Ireland, July 81, 1929. He entered Bel
fast College when 10 years old. In
June 1S49, he first began to preach as
missionary in western Ireland. he
left there in 1852, when he received a
call to the First Presbyterian Church
of Armagh. Six years later he became
pastor Of the Collegiate Church of st.
Marys Abbey, Dublin. There he built
fine Rutland Square Church. He was
appointed commissioner of education
about that time.
In 1867 Dr.. Hall came to this country
as a delegate to the Old School Presoy-
terrain Assembly of the United States.
| which met in Cincinnati. In New York
he was invited to speak in the Fifth
Avenue Church, then situated at 10Th
street. Its regular pastor Rev. Ma
than L. Rice, was absent because Of i'll
health. After the services, the pasto-
rate of the church was offered to Dr.
Hall, but it was only upon his return
to ireland that he decided to accept it,
DR.. Hall has been receiving about $780,
900 a year for his services, $1,000 OF
which was his salary as pastor of the
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