The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-07

NEW YORK, Feb. 6-The trustees
| of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
church have resigned. Announcement
| to that effect was made from the pull
| pit by the Rev. DIR. John Hall this
| morning, and the members of the con-
gregation were notified to meet at the
church Monday afternoon, Feb. IA, and
choose new trustees.
The church was crowded, and prior
to the giving out of the text of his
sermon DR.. Hall made the announce
ment.
DIR. Hall read the notice in a sad
tone Of voice, but he made no COM
ment on the matter, though it attract
ed attention among the pew holders,
who began whispering one to another,
but desisted when he began his SER
mon.
After the morning services Dr. Hall
held short session with many of his
warm supporters in the congregation,
and afterward there were many con-
ferences in the vestry room and the
pastors private room. The congrega-
ton is bound to stand by DR..
Hall, no matter what may be
done by the session next Thurs
day evening, and today they
were giving him the warmest assur-
ances Of their support and assistance.
The members of the congregation were
10th to discuss the significance of the
trustees action, but it was admitted
by Robert Bonner, j. H. Work and
many others that 1t was the direct
outcome of the difference of the fac
lions in the church
The trustees are the financial gov
ernors of the church. They are also
the financial hackers of the church.
They not only represent In themselves
financial support, but also represent the
McCooks, the Maitlands and the
Sloanes, who are supposed to be OPP
posed to the continuance of DR.. Hall
in the pastorate. The resignation of
the trustees, following closely the
stand taken by the congregation last
Wednesday night, is expected to be
followed next Thursday night by the
withdrawal from the session of many
influential and wealthy members.
Robert Bonner, warm advocate OF
Dr. Hall, said today the resignation
of DR.. Hall had not been prompted by
the financial condition of the church.
Mr.. Bonner asserted that the dissatis-
faction with DR.. Hall by members of
the session commenced with the
WarsZawiak incident last summer.
Had that not occurred there would
never have been, Mr.. Bonner believes,
the slightest opposition to Dr. Hall.
Herman Warszawiak had charge of
one of the churches. Charges of mis-
conduct were made against him and
he was found guilty by the session
and dismissed from the church.
OR. Halls sympathies were with
Warszawiak, and he stood by him a
little too long" continued Mr. Bon
ner "At the time I said that Mr..
Warszawiak was guilty and should be
dismissed from the church, or John r.
Parsons was guilty of a great libel on
him.
This incident, Mr.. Bonner thought,
tended to make a breach between those
who thought WarszaWiak should be
dismissed and DR.. Hall. The dramatic
incident in the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian church last summer, when DIR.
Hall announced the decision of the ses-
sion, in the case of Warszawiak, help
ed to widen the breach so far as DR..
Halls position was concerned. The
congregation, however. as whole,
was not affected by the incident, the
manifestation of sympathy by DR.. Hall
only serving to endear him the more
to them.
Mr.. Bonner said. however, that prior
to the Warszawiak incident, and long
before the charges were preferred
against the man, DIR. Hall announced
to him that it was his intention to re-
sign the pastorate Of the church at the
completion of the thirty years of Ia
Dor.
DIR. Hall made no reference In his
sermon to the affairs Of the church.