New-York tribune., 1898-11-28
DIR. LYMAN ABBOTT RESIGNS.
HIS PASTORAL, RELATIONS TO PLfM-
OITTH CHURCH TO BE SEVERED.
opnrPrn ny HIS PHYSICIAN TO GIVE UP THE
PULPIT OR THE EDTORsHIP OF THE
OUTLOOK - THE SUCCESSOR OF
HENRY WARD REECHER WILL
CONTINUE THE LATTER.

After a pastorate oi nearly eleven years 'he
Rev. Or. LYMAN Abbott. the successor OF he"iS /
Ward Beccher in the pulpit Of Plymouth Chu'c".
announced Yesterday morning his inteh''o" Vi
retiring. II came like a thunder crap o"'
clear sky 10 the members of his cohE'es"
and Will be learned to-day with the si''
surprise and regret by all the chur'n poF
Of Rrooklvn The step Is taken by Dr A""o''
on the orders of his physician. VINO mas p''''''''
told him that 1t will be impossible for MN
continue to carry on his duties as paS'''
Plymouth Church in addition To MS I'sp0m
bnities as Edltor-in-chlef Of THE outlook Inc
Doctor will relinquish all his pastoral u"''''
once but viii continue to occupy the pulpit
until q committee is able to make other arrange
nents. provided that it is done previous 70 heN'
Nav. when the Doctor says that he must apso-
mtely close his pastoratc.
Or. Abbott took uD the work laid do"h ~
Henry Ward Beecher In May lSsS as pastor -
Plymouth Church Since that time ne mas cum.
10 be known as one Of the strongest anu "'O
vigorous thinkers in the American pup''' "'
has gained a hold on the affections OF MS cn"'''
which is probably unsurpassed IN brooN'S '
In addition to his duties as pastor "e ."
carried on the management OF "Ihe ou'oo"'
formerly "The Christian Union, ana mas ue'"
IN rraa, demand as lecturer and college
preacher.
poor health. and recently has had several severe
attacks Of Illness Or. Abbott knew that ne was
not strong. but even he was unprepared Tor 'hc
statement when his physician. Dr Henry ConK-
ling. Of No 10 Sidney Place. informed hiTA last
week that 1t would be impossible for him 10
continue the burden Of his many duties oh
SATURDAY. night Or. Abbott. having conflded the
doctors decision to a few friends, summoned 'he
deacons to his house, in Columbia Heights ana
placed the situation before them. lie tod 'hei"
that he had fully determined upon the necessity
for his leaving Plymouth Church.
Yesterday. on account Of the tying up Of the
trolley limos bv the storm the congregation was
unusually small The text Of the doctors ser
mon aroused a suspicion Of what was about 10
come lie spoke on the duty Of the Christian
TO carry out the work which had been begun
He emphasized the duty OF each and every
member TO his church. and said that the en-
thusiasm Of the Christian should not be de-
pendent on priests or ministers. and that II
churca should lose It's pastor the work should
go on with unhagging zeal.
DR. ABBoTTs LETTER
4, the close Of the sermon Or. Abbott read his
letter Of resignation. Before he had ended the
reading many Of the women in the audience
were weeping. He said:
When eleven years ago I was asked to supEPll!y
ceh ~ one reason for the selection that my
! dudes as Editor Of The Christian Union would
giiafc fdr the % storate; and whom. four months
.s;e, asked 70 accept rae ti,e hmu one , -,
Ie properly represented in Church councils and
similar ecclesiastical gatherings.
II was not untn ,he close Of the season. May
1Sss nat it was deemed possible by either the
,ha nrafn % vhle continuing to fulh those Of
] !
the proposition had been submit TED TO my eIt
/ cordial APPROPRIATION. during the ten years which
have elapsed since the hnal can was tNten9eo 10
me and eni,re1 upon IN" phstoi''r ., I '','o 10
| church It would have been Impossible ior me 10
fuln the duties yhlch ne TWO or. nv NV po co
workers in both the church ana newspaper. You
provided efficient and untrng assistants IN
! the administrative work OF the Ghuron @ +,
| n"rtlng II generously by your contribution and by
| your service, you have gv'n -iniili'd ma Icon con
| ure from former methods yon have accorded me
long periods Of summer r@st. yol naIs oyaly o su.
asreYu WIZ c,o % cnnsdcrabe distances ut no little
| sacriic Of convcni"n 20 In order To support the
E,n'.n n ,is in The outlook have shown equal
consiIerafion by relieving me OF all office detail
WORK ~ BOTH FIELDS INCREASED
>v.rtbe,oss r. not tho work. certainly the rc-
| enonsbiliiv i'm both fields has sens0ly increased.
The activities in Plymouth church have grown
"
Thar af,. more advantages I'm preaching IN pulpit
| t1 which past history has given IA National char
escape the obligations involved in the fact that his
utteTancos aro always likely 10 be reported far and
D Dhlt,ni .i' ,i, hurch has always been associateI
Win lr "IJt m mi, ' ans inyolv@d i'm The editorial Office
have increased even NOR. the sr9"ins dihiruity
drsrial 10 itioa ethical and spiritualthe changed
character of the paper, changed To- adapt It's MIN
istry TO tho larger lfo and It's ncrtas.ns con
siitucucy. have a combined To add TO the rsspon-
sibilitics involved in the duty of directing the ut
terances and controlling the policy OF such jour
nal in such tim as ours s,,,,.-,si, ,,, ,,,rr,.
branchc- is scarcely less than three churches and
spirltua. dount ana brc @yery SabHoib Iay
c9nsfo91ion an s saorgresaon Which listens to he
l rcnoe' %. ,nI Irel1ci'ftly forccd-moro than my
strength IS any longer equal 70.
Il is not tnat your demands or those Of my cdi,
les than you had right 70 AK The one Of iiS
senior pastor nc otner o. 49, as l,if 1' II
rc.kon have cndoavored TO avoid the inevitable
other work ana by laying my associates I'm these
TWO fields OF Christian activity all responsibilities
chosen leader. have Withdrawn from tho lecture
field. refused all Invitations 10 81 on board, ana
and have discontinued literary work 20 which had
gca my ara tT9 my ofSas2pa & p 'nrs d ,oo SgT, con
ilnuous work tnan an addition to H.
WARMING THAT MUST BE IIEEDED.
Perhaps. go reluctant am 10 sever my pastora
relation TO Plymouth Church. | should stil have
hcsitateI and delayed had not warning been giN"i
me this fall which -c1rc'lt needed thc doctors IN
icrpretation lie tells me- frankly that am qsin1
40 vital energies faster than nature supplies thti
hc imI,fnti,eiy declares that must prepare T.,
+ Jis.ontlru,. he attempt. though made with al
possible reserve and every aid. 70 tul tn" dutie'
Of two such Offices. either on" of which would h'
quitc sufficient to tax my fullest and best energies
. and ne leaves ne no option bui To- withdra" ron
the pastoral work and devote myscli to the equally
, Z responsible bat Guirter work II the pen
have therefore. no chOlc" but 70 resign INC
your hands the ono" with which for these t'I
years YOU have honored me IL Is net ne'rssA
that my work with the church should Immediately
Cease though IL will not be possible for M e
- H..