New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-02
POSITION OF DIR. HALL.
HE DECIDES TO WITHDRAW HIS REsIG-
NATION WITHOUT CONDITIONS.
RESULT TO BE MADE KNOWN TO THE coNGREGA-
rIoN TO NIGHT THROUGH THE SPECIAL COM
TRANSFORMATIONS or MEM
BEERS OF THE SESSION.

MITTEE- RESGGNATIONS OF MEN
BEERS OF THE SESSION.
i was learned late last night that the Rev. Or.
John Halls communication 10 the adjourned meet"
ing Of the congregation Of the Fifth Avenue Pres
byterian Church which is TO be held tonight.
will he TO the effect that he Will Withdraw his
resignation without conditions or modification.
This determination will be conveyed to the con-
gregation through the medium OF tho report which
will be presented By the special committee ap-
pointed 20 acquant DIR. Hall with the spirit ot
the resolutions adopted unanimously a fortnight
ago by tho members Of the church. Since that
meeting several conferences have taken place be-
tween the committee and Or. Hall; but such deep
consideration and thought has the latter given 70
tho position he should take that II was not untii
last night that he finally came to the determ'na-
ton 70 remain in the pulpit without placing any
limit as some OF the officers OF the session nave
sought to have him DO upon the period OF MS
future service In reaching this decision Or. Hail.
deeply opposed as he Is to anything In the nature
OF strife or friction has had TO consider weighty
questions affecting the interests OF MS ohuIch
On the one hand there was the desire of-"ith ie"
exceptlons-cvery member OF his hock thnt nc
should continue his ministry indefinitely and on
thu other hand there had TO he faced the position
of some half-dozen members Of the session. THESE
men, as was explained in Mondays Tribune. were
intent on resgning II Dr. Hall. in Withdrawing
his resignation refused in some way 10 modiiy us
terms.
NO EFFORT TO AROUSE DIsSENsIoN'
The dissatisfied members OF tho Session will make
no 4for, 10 arouse any dssension at to-nights
gathering Either they will not attend or " '"ey
o-a nrcsen. they WILL as at the last meeting. take
n nurelv rassive stand. Tho first visible mani
festation OF their dlsnpprobation 10 Dr. HAIRS at
,Itude II was said. will be az the next meeting OF
tho Session. when their designations VIII DC reau'
II is well known TO many Of DR.. Hairs irienos
that ir order TO avoid senblance OF CONNECT IN
.ho church he would be following his personal IN
cllnaticns by retiring. He has set aside his 'eei-
ings in this direction only because OF the mani
tested wish Of the large majority OF HE conerega-
ton that he should stay In the pulpit ana ne
cause o, the earnest solicitations Of his friends
But while DR.. Hall FOR tho time being Will give
way to these entreaties IL /. generally thous' "
those nearest 70 his confidence that ne VIII reu''
from ministerial work two years hence, when no
will have completed half century IN tns Se''N'
OF tho Presbyterian Church
The Rev Dr. Dufleld. who acted as moderator
Of the last meeting. Will be unable 10 onoih'e W
night. and In his place the Rev. Dr' duncan D.
Mcmillan. secretary OF the Board or Home ME
sons will preside Printed notices were receiver
yesterday by all the members or the cohsresa''o"
asking them TO be present ut the adjourned meet
ing The special committee will meet az O'CLOCK
this afternoon to pass upon Its report in i's maj
shape -, ,r 30 onrarentIv har-
While to-nights meeting VIII Se aP ~ The Seseon
mouious Is certain that mempers OF me 1co,'
of the church have not receded from me posl1i,on
assumed by them the outset That OF lavoilhs
Tho retirement Of Dr. Hall on June - from the ac-
tive pastoral work and his appointment from .ha.
date as pastor emeritus. The Session mas lately
cor sisted OF twelve active members. but II was
postivelv learned yesterday that six Of these men
had gent in their designations week ago, lney
are still members of the Session, for that pody mas
not had an official meeting since the resisnatloms
were written; but they have virtually Wlthdta~n
from active participation In the matter OF pr
Halls retirement or retention. The elders VINO
have resigned are said TO be Malcolm Graham.
Alexander Maitland. John Sloane z. Francis Hyde.
Henry l.. Smith and either Sias B. Brownci or
Coonel John J. McCook-perhaps both. Colonel
McCooS out OF town Yesterday but ieXerHi Of
I ne Others on the list seen. They all declined
70 say anything at present a church trouble was
like n family difficulty, in Mr.. Hydes opinion ioF
INSTANCE the less said about II the better