New-York tribune., 1899-12-18
m ELECT DR.. PURVEo'
,,rrr,NG OF FIFTH AVENUE Phh'D
TERRAIN CHURCH CALLED
,,.r ACTION WILL BE TAAnN
WEDNESDAY NIGHT-ACCEPTANON

ACTICA1Ll ASSN''
Although II. Edwards koW,a"' tsf,h Avenue
=, 'prlnit Committee Of the ..ouao, 20
s.sn,ter,an Church. still deoliheu ,.,oh
t,,ra OF the communication ""oN
disclose '"e 80. ,ha Rev Dr. George l. furVes
he - ,aon submitted TO the oo'is
uhu' !. NO. -, left for doubt tha' I" was al
mere 80 -" nv Puryes would accept uiia"-
in'ii""''o, =. the church Any douo' VI i"o'
imous can - ~ .ar,sined through the reucence
"hi0h N""y ~ ~--,..aa on Saturday was removed
OF the oo,. Co.,, notice was read from the pull
yesterday ..,o,sl VIZ meeting TO be held next
pit OF Us a,,,,s 10 elect DR.. Purves to the
Wednesday evening
pss,crate' rr,cs II was made known
An.. committee Of the Whole, as the body
ns' wss charged with the selection or can
VIZ VIZ ,s named. resolved unanimously on De-
aoa' - reconmend the name Of Or. Purves.
e. :, the same time the session was requested
.ou a meeting of the church in order that
" " oo,grcgation in conformity with Pres
l' ,au might take formal action on that
'o,,rnAndation Since that meeting DR.. Purves
~. hean considering the invitation which the
.,,,so made 10 him. The committee only
,,.s his decision before calling the congre-
IL, together. Or. Puryes's reply was re-
s.,rad on Saturday, and yesterday the Rev.
r-oncis l. Patton, president Of Princeton
.,r.rsitv who conducted the services. read the
..,ca of the meeting The announcement,
18th WAS signed by Silas B. Brownell, the
..,ad clerk Of the session, called for meeting
| = ,Ns congregation ito be held on Wednesday,
member 20. at S p. m., for the election OF the
p.v DR.. George T. Purves to the pastorate OF
i a. church. II the way be clear"
i 4. the close Of the service the following state
r.nt was given out by the committee
A, a Joint meeting of the committee of the
4 segregation and the session. acting as COM
\ ,lree of the whole, to nominate a suitable per-
7 N for the pastorate Of the Fifth Avenue Pres
reran Church, on December 3, on motion 1t
ns unanimously resolved that the session be re-
I ~ssed 10 call a meeting of the congregation
IAN early date for the election, If the way be
j jssr OF the Rev. DR.. George T. Purves as pas
i rr II was further resolved that the chairman
I nd Mr.. Britton be appointed committee to
4 snort TO session the action OF the committee.
re action was unanimous on the part Of the
4 nnnittee
i The committee met again on December {, and
i =, this meeting Elders Rowland. Tacott and
4 Irwin from the Session. and Messrs. Brookfeld
i and Sheldon, representing the congregation,
vre appointed a committee ito present to the
angregational meeting the name Of the Rev.
+ Dr. George T. Purves, with the unanimous rec
4 mmendation Of the Session and the committee
A at the congregation that he be the choice Of the
4 zseting."
4 There is every reason to believe that the rec
\ cmmendation will be unanimously indorsed by
i he congregation. DR.. Patton In his prayer
u Yesterday morning asked for Divine assistance
hr the congregation in their choice of a pastor,
md besought that the members Of the church
4 making that choice might act with unanimity.
As all the elements in the church are favor
A able TO Dr. Purves his unanimous selection Is
practically assured. His qualifications eminent
ly ft him for the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
4 Church which requires that the successor to the
d late Dr.. Hall shall be not only preacher but
pastor in the fullest sense of the term. DR..
y YurYes is regarded by many as Princeton's most
tOquent preacher, but he has won affection In
MncetOn even more as a pastor than for his
Npt utterances. Unlike DR.. Hall. who was
ial and heavily built man. and who had a de-
Agate delivery and a deep voice. DR.. Purves
Ender the average height, speaks with great
7pidity and with a nervous energy that some
ines conveys the impression that his voice Is
+ igh pitched. though in reality 1t Is OF medium
stch, clear and powerful.
4 Dr. Purves is a son OF the late William Purves
az Philadelphia, who for many years was the
reasurer Of the Philadelphia Savings Fund. He
ns born in Philadelphia in 1882 and was
z rsduated from the University OF Pennsylvania
: 1872. He then entered the Princeton Theo-
: sglca Seminary, and was graduated from that
-sututiOn in 1876. He served as pastor OF
3 aarch In Wayne Chester County, Penn, for
tree years and was in charge Of the Boundary
y l7enue Presbyterian Church. in Baltimore, from
$50 10 1856. From Baltimore he went TO the
FIRST Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, where
X remained six years 1t was while he was in
httsburg in 1892, that he was called to Prince
j m theological Seminary TO succeed the late DR..
4 1sper Wster Hodge in the chair OF New Testa-
81 isnt literature and Greek exegesis.