New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-20
LOATH TO LET DIR. HALL GO.
HIS CONGREGATION ASKS HIM TO RE-
CONSIDER.


TO ACCEPT HIS RESIGNATION. AND A
COMMITTEE WILL WAIT on HIN
AND ASK HIM TO REMAIN
AS PASTOR
! The congregation of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
teran Church refused last night to accept the
| resignation Of the Rev DR.. John Hall pastor
Of the church. Fully six hundred members
were at the meeting. which held in the
church. and resolutions were unanimously
passed. amid the enthusiastic clappng Of hands.
emphatcally declining to accept the resignation,
declining to appoint commissioners for the pur-
pose of uniting with the pastor In seeking a
dissolution OF the pastoral relations by the
Prcsbytery. and urgently requesting Dr. Hall TO
withdraw all action looking toward such resig-
nation. Considerably more than half OF the
people present were women, and how deeply
they were interested In the result of the pro-
ceedngs was apparent In the deep and even
anxious attention with which they followed the
developments Of the meeting.
! 1t was known that nearly thousand MEM
bers of the congregation. out OF a total active
membership Of about one thousand two hum
dred had signed a petition to DR. Hall to with
draw his resignation. but by many 1t was ex-
pected that he might lay a communication be-
tire. DR.. Hall did write a letter. but IT merely
stated that he agreed with the resolutions Of the
session and pleaded for harmony and con-
| tinued usefulness In the church.
/ The opinion Of several leading members Of the
church who seen after the meeting by a
! Tribune reporter was unanimous that Dr Hall
would probably defer to the wishes OF his con-
gregation and consent to continue at least two
more years in the pastorate. and complete
| thereby a haf-century's service In the Presby-
terian Church. thirty years Of which have been
spent in the Fifth-ave. church.
DIR. DUFFIELD PREsIDEs.
The Rev. DR.. Howard Dufield. pastor OF the
! First Presbyterian Church. was chosen as mod
orator, and s. b. Brownell clerk of the meet
| Ing. DR.. Duffield opened the session by briefly
| remarking that his duty would be to guide the
congregation in following the legal procedure of
! the Presbyterian Church. and in securing free
| and frank expressions from the members upon
| all matters which might come up for considera-
! tion. He followed his preliminary words with
| prayer and reading from the Scriptures. The
! business part Of the meeting was then taken
up Mr.. Brownel first read DR.. Halls letter OF
resignation, and the resolutions adopted by the
session on January upon the receipt of the
resignation Then Mr.. Brownell read the fol-
lowing resolution adopted by the session on
! Monday last:
Resolved. that the Session recommend to the con-
! gregation that in accordance with the pastors
! wish and the report OF our committee. the follow
! Resolved That this church unite with the Rev
DR. John Hall in his application, to Presbyteryy
| appoint commissioners to represent this church In
Presbytery and instruct then TO SUPPORT ,9as 9Gr
pointed pastor emeritus OF this church from and
June f. IS % bm and rns 1hhs az the OF OF
Resolved. That the commissioners atove-named
| no atfh fzp1 VIII
execute an agreement to that effect on behalf OF
this church and congregation
Before any action was taken upon the ses-
sions recommendation DR.. Duffeld explained
that he had received a letter from Dr. Hail. who
was not presen. at the meeting. which he read,
as follows:
Wednesday evening
Ny Dear brother; Let me ask you as presiding
m 6he & @ tns % tho to
Of the session that my resignation shall not take
God in his goodness viii direct to such steps as
Will maintain Christian harmony, and continued
Church. Yours fraternally. JOHN HALL.
a momentary expectant pause followed the
reading Of Or. Halls letter. Waiting for few
seconds to see If any one would move the adop-
tion OF the Sessions recommendations Howard
Payson Wilds. ex-Deputy Commissioner Of Pub
lie Works at length rose and began:
Il venture to express the belief that no event
in the history Of our church has caused so wide
spread surprise and regret as the announcement
Of the intended resignation OF Or. Hall We
cannot willingly part with him"
INTERRUPTED WITH APPLAUSE
For a full moment Mr.. Wilds was compelled
tc pause because Of the applause which. be-
ginning with a subdued murmur Of assent. broke
out in every part OF the church in response to
the assertion that DR.. Hall could not be parted
with. Continuing Mr.. Wilds said
Every sense OF duty and loyalty to DR.. Hall.
and to the great and important cause which he
! lo.. ,y1v md fai ohnu11
inspire TO every possible effort to persuade
him, If possible. to abide with us
That Mr. Wilds was speaking the sentiments
OF his hearers again made obvious by the
rtnewal Of the enthusiasm that had before in
terrupted his remarks. Mr.. Wilds closed by Of
fering the following resolutions with the hope
that they would be unani nousy carried:
Whereas The session o. the Fifth Avenue Pres
byierian Church has called this meeting OF the
Of er Castor 10 ifs pr JdRn II a rTed to in his e
ter to the session under date OF January 6. 1895
naton 10 and also d. decline to appoint commssione1s
for purpose OF uniting with the pastor In seek
ing a dissolution OF the pastoral relation by the
Resolved. That adopting as expression OF the
feeling OF the congregation the several petitions
ana resolutions OF the ladies' Auxiliary. the Young
Association. the Sunday school and OF the members |
part this resolution, and rendering to DR.; Hall
future work OF this church. the congregation |
urgently request him to reconsider SIDE ana withdraw
such resignation: ard further
Resolved That Robert Bonner. Samuel B. schef
felin William Brookned and Mrs. Theodore Weston |
be appointed committee TO communicate these |
resolutions to DR.. Hall. and that this meeting do |
stand adjourned for two weeks from this date for |
their report and for such other action may be |
deemed proper.
TRIBUTE TO DR.. HALL
Accompanying these resolutions was a petition
signed by go members OF the church. which
was read by Mr.. Wilds. as follows:
Whereas We have heard with pain OF the resig-
nation of our beloved pastor. the Rev John Hall,
D. D.. Ii. d, and