New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-21
DIR. G.. T. PURVES CALLED.
FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
UNANIMOUS FOR HIM.

IT OFFERS $1,000 A YEAR. A PARSONAGE
AND AN ASSISTANT TO THE PRINCETON
PRoFEssoR-CHOsEN FROM AMONG
MANY-HE DECLINES TO SAY
WHAT HE WILL DO.
A unanimous call to become their pastor was
extended to the Rev. Or. George I. Purves, OIL
Princeton Theological Seminary. by the congre-
cation OF the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
at a meeting largely attended last night In the
lecture room Of the church. a great deal OF
quiet enthusiasm was shown after the meet
ing adjourned. and the conviction is general
that Dr. Purves will soon send to II. Edwards
Rowland the chairman Of the Pulpit Commit-
tee. letter OF acceptance.
DR. Purves Is to be in New-York Tomorrow
and it was unanimously decided last night to
invite him to attend the Christmas festival to
be held at the church tomorrow night He has
been invited to preach In the church on Sunday
December 81 and Dr. Booth. the Moderator OF
the Session. said last night that IL he consented
TO preach II would be a signal that he had de-
cided TO accept the call. He added however,
that before December 81 the committee hoped.
to have a favorable reply from Or. Purves.
The latter pastor Of DR.. Halls former
church. will receive. II he accepts salary OF
$4,000 a year and parsonage free, ana the
aid Of assistant pastor.
Dr. Booth who has been pastor pro tenn. OF
the church. said to the congregation that DR..
Purves had assured him that his health was
good and this was taken as an indication that
the labor connected with a large city pastorate
is not at all dreaded by DR.. Purves, who went
TO Princeton several years ago In a somewhat
weakened physical condition. DR.. Purves's mall
will be heavier than usual for the next few days
as the word passed around last night for all
the members OF the congregation who have met
Dr. Purves to write him personal letter urging
him to come to NewYork
THE CALL TO DIR. PURVEs.
The following is the call:
The opsrgaon Of The Finh Ayen1G ynIt Pre'Sy n tSe
isrian Church IN Ine cly heinz on 9'N sufcient
grounds well satisfied with the ministerial guan-
III. D. and having good hopes that your ministra-
tions of the Gospel will be profitable 70 our spirit
ual interests. do earnestly call and desire yn1 70
undertake the pastoral office in said congregalon
at such time as may be convenient 10 YOU promis-
support announcement and obedience in the Lord.
And that you may feel free from worldly cares
@ sevcs po p@y You thu sum Of $1,000 per annum in
regular quarterly payments. and 70 give you the use
your being and continuing the regular pastor OF
this church. and to furnish you with an assistant
In testimony whereof We have respectively sub
scribed our names this Goth day OF December l9s
This was signed last night by william Brook
field James O. Sheldon. Samuel Thorne and
Charles l.. Britton. the Committee OF the
Congregation. Francis Forbes. Joel W. Thorne.
Alfred Vondermuhll and Samuel s Auchn-
Gloss the Board OF Deacons; John Sinclair. Will
lam Campbell. Even Mcintyre. George Hunter
Brown. silas II. Brownell. Robert Beggs, II. Ed
Ito.
Irwin. Samuel B scheffelln and James Talcott.
as elders: A. q. Asnew. JHrnes Taicott, General
Samuel Thomas. Francis Forbes Horace S. Ely.
Alfred Vondermuhll. James o. Sheldon and w.
G. McGibbon as the Board OF Trustees.
The Rev DR.. Il. r. Booth presided as moder
ator. The meeting opened with prayer and
singing and after DR.. Booth stated the business
I'm hand II. Edwards Rowland the chairman OF
the Pulpit Committee, read the report OF the
committee whose work is well known to readers
OF The Tribune. Mr. Rowland said the commit
tee had met every Sunday morning for the last
thirteen months. vacation time excepted; 1t he'd
had some OF its members visiting different parts
of the world in the mean time listening 10 vari-
GUS preachers. They had visited London. Bir-
kenhead. Brighton. Belfast and other places In
the British Isles. Canada Washington, Mime
apos. Princeton. Spring Lake. Seabrght. Long
Branch and many other places in this country to
hear ministers Seventy-hve different cergymen
had preached in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church since the appointment Of the committee.
The committee had kept on hunting for n man
who would subscribe to the Confession or Faith
as interpreted by the General Assembly of lS93,
known to be conservative In his theological
views and not afraid to express them. on De
cember 3 II unanimously decided TO request
the session to call Dr. Purves. Mr.. Rowland
then gave n detailed biographical sketch OF Or.
Purves. highly eulogistic in its character point
ing out how signay successful he had been In
his pastorates He also spoke Of the efforts OF
the Princeton Seminary and University people to
keep the doctor with them. much OF which was
related at length some time ago IN The Trioune'
NO USE FOR TELLERs.
The room was exceedingly quiet when Or.
Booth put the motion on the acceptance or re-
lection Of the report OF the committee. When
he requested those to rise who wanted to adopt
the report every ore In the congregation. with
the exception of the newspaper men and an
empIoye Of the church society. quickly stood up.
There was no negative vote. and Or. Booth
caused a smile all around when he said: we
won't have any use for the teners
In his prayer and address Or. Booth spoke
feengly and eloquently. The motion to adopt
the report was made by James o. Sheldon and
seconded by James Talcott. Mr. Rowland was
heartily congratulated on his report and its
unanimous acceptance, and the congregation
dispersed with the conviction that they would
soon have a worthy and acceptable successor to
DIR. John Hall in the Rev. DR.. George L. PurVes
Princeton, ". j., Dec. 20 (SpeciaD.-The Rev.
DR. Purves was seen at his home tonight by
Tribune reporter and told that he had been
unanimously called to the pastorate Of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church. New-York. When
asked whether he would accept the call. he said
no had no reply at all to make tonight. He
was asked whether not he would preach at
the Fifth Avenue Church on Sunday, December
81. and he declined also to answer this ques-