New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
DIR. BUCHANAN TO RESIGN.
WILL ANNOUNCE TO-DAY HIS RETIREMENT
FROM THE THIRTEENTH STREET PRES
PyTERIAN CHURCH

The next move in the trouble and dissension in
which the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church
has recently been involved will be the resignation
of the Rev. Dr. Walter D. Buchanan pastor Of
the church He will announce to his congregation
from the pulpit this morning his intention to resign
and will at the same time give notice OF meeting
Of the congregation. to be held next Thursday
night at which the question Of his resignation VIII
be passed upon. Strictly speaking DR.. Buchanan
will hand In his resignation to the Presbytery and
not to his congregation as this is the prescribed
method Of resigning. When the Presbytery passes
on the resignation however before giving Its de-
csion Il asks commission representing the church
from which the pastor Is to resign to show cause
why he should not resign II the commission acqui-
esces in the resignation. the decision OF the Pres
bytery is generally favorable.
The meeting Of the congregation OF the Thir-
tenth Street Church to be held on Thursday Will
be for the purpose OF selecting and nstructing this
commission, and in doing this the congregation
really acts the resignation and decides whether
It shall be accepted or not 1t can be stated on
good authority that the congregation will accept H.
Dr. Buchanan informed the Session OF his inten-
ton few days ago. and the nine members OF that
body all voted in favor Of acceptance.
Dr. Buchanan told Tribune reporter last night
that the story that he was to resign was true
IL have decided upon this step after much prayer
and thought" he said. because think 1t VIII be
best for all concerned"
1t may be remembered that the plan OF uniting
the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church and the
Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church, which was
strongly favored by DR.. Buchanan. was the cause
Of the present split in the latter church. The fac
ton in favor Of union prevailed by few votes over
that opposed to union at the meeting or the con-
gregatlon, but this decision was subsequently over
ruled by the Presbytery, and committee was theh
appointed by that body to make peace between the
two factions. The feeling was so bitter. however,
that this peace making proved to be failure and
the two factions as irreconcilabe as ever: .
1.-The only open TO me Is 10 resign, sara
DR. buchanan. Il cannot consistently continue
here after what has happened In view OF my wei.
securing the best good OF this church. advocated
union and hard for II. and 1t was defeated
My sphere OF usefulness here has gone In eonse-
oience / have plans for the future, ana nave
no idea where my work will lie. am young
man still, and am not bound down to one churcn.
AS for the action on my resignation, tnnk tns
congregation will follow the Session IN that mat.
ter Those who opposed to me will naturally
vote to accept, and those who favored union VIII
also vote TO accept think, simply for my sake
because they recognize the fact that my place is
not here" $500 ~,-
There is a strong probability that DR.. Buchanan
will be called to the passionate Of the Fourth Ave
nue. Church. which 10 now vacant rms was con.
emplated in the original plan, and II Is known tnat
would be pleased with DR.. Buchanan as their pas
tor No action has been taken on the mater as
vet nv the Fourth Avenue Church. and DR.. Buch-
anan would say nothing on the subject, but those
church in the near future 1t is said that II DIT
buchanan goes to the Fourth Avenue Church
many members of the Thirteenth Street Church
who favored the union Of the two VII go with hlm
Meanwhile those members OF the Thirteenth Street
Church who opposed union are still chucklng be-
cause they won their fight. and say they have no
fears for the future. but VIII get another pastor
and get along all right by themselves In the old