New-York tribune., 1899-11-09
DIR. NJ. ID. BABCOCK CALLED.
ASKED TO SUCCEED THE REV. DR.
HENRY VAN DYKE.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONGREGATION OF
THE BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

THE BRICK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
The congregation of the Brick Presbyterian
Church last night unanimously decided to
tend a call to the Rev. DR.. Maltbie d. Babcock.
OF Baltimore. to take charge of the pastorate
which the Rev. Dr. Henry van Dyke will soon
vacate. 1t understood at the time DIR. Van
Dyke accepted the chair Of English literature
at Princeton University that he would continue
his ministry only until suitable successor
could be decided on. And to n great extent the
selection of new pastor was left to the judg-
ment Of Dir. Van Dyke.
AS the result of meeting he held with the ses-
sion of the church little while ago. the congre-
cation was called together last night. Not only
DIR. Van Dyke but the session. the deacons and
the Board OF Trustees recommended that DIR.
Babcock should he called. Those recommended
tons were unanimously adopted, and COM
mittee appointed to wait upon Dr. Babcock
and invite him the ministry Of the Brick
Church 1t decided to offer Dr. Babcock
a salary of $4,000 year, with the Of
manse.
Although DR.. Van Dyke placed his resignation
in the hands of the congregation. it was not
acted upon, nor will it be until II is known that
DR.. Babcock will accept the call. 1t is believed.
however. that Dr. Babcock will be induced to
respond to the invitation. but until he is able
to leave Baltimore Or. Van Dyke will continue
to conduct the services at the Brick Church
The Rev. DR. Charles a. Stoddard acted as
Moderator Of the meeting. which was largely at
tended and hell behind closed doors Although
D.. Babcock was present yesterday at the Pres
byteran Conference at Riverdale. y. y, he was
not at last nights meeting. He returned earlier
in the evening TO Baltimore.
DIR. VAN DYKES LETTER.
The business of the meeting began with the
reading of the following letter from Dr. Van
Dyke:
My Dear Friends
For seventeen years you have permitted me
to serve you in the pastorate OF the BrlcK
Church. They have been years Of hard work.
and. therefore. full Of happiness. Your fellow
ship has been loyal and sympathetic. Not
single shadow has come between us. Whatever
success the church has had, whatever good II
has done in this great city is due to your faith
full labors and to the blessing of Almighty God
upon them. / have been simply the servant
Of the church in the name of Jesus CHRIST For
the privilege Of holding this place so long. for
the health and strength needed TO meet its Sc
we're demands and for the kindness which mas
guided me through its perils and perplexitles
without making worse mistakes. l shall always
be grateful.
Last year the call came to enter another field
OF service in connection with university life. II
In call to leave the ministry or
Christ, but rather to go into II stlll deeper
There is no place in which the preaching or
plain and practical Christianity is more neces-
sary than in colleges. There Is no way IN
which a man who wants to speak in behalf or
| faith and hope and charity and clean living
can find wider audience than through the
printed page. After careful thought was sure
that the call represented duty. and that though
Il would involve personal sacrifice and deep
pain in giving up well beloved task here,
must undertake the new work while there were
still vgor and energy enough TO give hope OF
doing II decenty. A college Is no place for
man who Is worn out in body or In mind. Lit
erature Is not elegant amusement IL IS
hard work, and IT demands patient and arduous
labor 10 keep II In touch with life.
| But you told me last winter that there were
certain circumstances which made you reluctant
to have me go away at present. This was good
and sufficient reason for me to postpone taking
| up the new labors. and gladly promise you to
stay here until such time as the interests OF the
| church thoroughly safeguarded and sue
cessor could be found to carry on the work.
| That time, believe, has now arrived.
You kind enough to grant me. as your
pastor and your loyal friend a voice IN your
counsels / earnestly and heartily recommend
YOU to call to the pastorate Of the Brick Church
the Rev. Maltbic -. Babcock, of Baltimore, a
man approved of God in the ministry ana ad-
mirably fitted to preach the gospel Of Christ III
| this great city. place in your hands my resig-
| nation to take effect whenever you are READY 10
| call him, and. If the way he open. whenever ne
| Is willing to come. | am convinced that the in
terests Of the Masters Kingdom will be pro-
NOTED by taking this step without delay. There-
fore | beg you to unite with me in petitionins
the Presbytery of New-YOrk and the Prcsbytery
of Baltimore respectively to approve my trans
fer from the WOrk mere 10 the Work ~ RIM
| ton University and the installation or )r Ban.
cock as pastor Of the Brick Church, If ne VIII
accept this urgent and clear call OF new duty.
You do not need to be told that 1t Is great
grief 10 lay down charge that has grown
so dear to me But | want 10 tell you tnit
there is a sincere JOY in the good nope that
shall see the increasing prosperity OF the WORK
under brave leadership Nothing can divide
nv heart from you. My interest ana my love
| will always belong to this church. where nave
| spent SO many years with you in the service or
A
HENRY VAN DYKE.
THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
| Hamilton Oden. upon behalf Of the Session.
| thereupon laid before the congregation 'ne ioi-
| lowing resolutions:
We recognize the important and ar'suous
| duties which are pressing upon DR. Van Dyke
in connection with the new field of Christian
labor among college men 10 when he mas peeh
| called and we admit. with sorrow, the neces-
sitv arising also from reasons connected win
the health Of his family, Of relieving him from
his pastoral and ecclesiastical cares as soon
| as the interests Of the church will permit.
We thoroughly approve the plan which he mas
submitted for carrying forward the work ana
| worship Of this church without break in It's
energy and without vacancy in its pastorate.
| We believe that the Christian wisdom and prac-
| tical simplicity Of this plan Will commend 1t to
every member Of congregation absolutely
| united as ours u.s. in spirit and purpose
We unanimously and heartily propose and
recommend to the congregation or the brick
Church to call the Rev. DR.. Maltbie d. Bahcock,
| of Baltimore to be their pastor. After nuch
| thought and care have fully satisfied our
selves of his qualifications to MI TINS position
,yi,b unnuostionab Bile adequacy to all its weighty
| demands and 10 carry on n potent ministry for
GOOD in this city. and we advise the congr"ga-
ton to prosecute his call with eafhestness ana
| vgOr .
| We anectionately recommend that the resig-
| nation Of our pastor. DR.. van Dyke. be left
| where he has put it. in the hands OF the
| hurcb and that appropriate action upon IL
| me deferred until Divine Providence makes it
| effective in the coming Of his successor. for
| which result we devoutly pray in the name OF
| our Master the Lord Jesus Christ.
TO TAKE THE CALL TO BALTIMORE.
William f. Dunning. for the deacons, and
Eugene Smith. speaking for the trustees, IN