Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-02
SHAKING Up OF The PULPITS
Some Recent Changes in the Pastorates Of
0maha's Churches.
PREACHERS GOING AND PREACHERS COMING
City Loses Some Very Popular and
Talented Ministers, but Their
Successors Arc said to BE
Tn to the standard.
PREACHERS GOING AND PREACHERS COMING

~ hds uttu lOnB lllHe sluCt Tue pulplSS
OF Omaha have experienced such a shaking
up as the one now in progress. The situa-
tion Is not peculiar to any particular de-
nomination, but the changes are fairly dis
| tributed. The Congregatonaists are espe-
cially unfortunate, however, in that they
lose two pastors who have become endeared
to their congregations during several years
OF earnest service 1t is also noticeable that
the majority Of the churches that are COM
PEELED to change pastors at this time are
large down town 1ocks in which the ad-
vent of new shepherd is a matter OF more
general interest than in the smaller churches
OF the suburban districts.
One of the most popular of the clergymen
about to preach a farewell sermon before an
Omaha congregation is Rev. S. Wright But
Ter Of st. Mary's Avenue Congregational
church. who will speak to his Omaha flock
for the last time on the second Sunday in
July. Aside from the possession Of pulpit
talent of high order DR.. Buffers social
gifts have made him one OF the best known
pastors in the city. During the half dozen
years that he has occupied his present pulpit
he has been in constant demand at banquets,
fraternal reunions and other occasions
where his happy faculty of saying the right
thing in the right place made him an after
dinner speaker of more than ordinary
ability.
1t has been we'll known that for a long
time the church has found it difficult to
carry the financial burden that 1t has as
sumed Two years ago DR.. Butler had made
all preparations to leave, when such strong
pressure was brought to bear by his congre-
cation that he finally consented to remain
for while longer. In view of this fact,
while the desire to retain him is no less gen.
eral, 1t has been decided that it would not
be constderate to attempt to induce him to
reconsider his decision a second time DR..
Butler will leave Omaha about the middle
OF next month for the east, where he will
spend some time in visiting old friends and
enjoying a period of relaxation. He will
then accept one of several very 1atterng
proposals that have come to him.
Another Congregational minister, who
leaves under somewhat similar circum-
stances. is Rev Howard MacAyeal of Ply
mouth church, who goee to accept the pas
torate OF the First Congregational church of
St Louis. Rev. MacAyeal has stood
bravely by a society that struggled with
financial embarrassment and is very popular
with his congregation. Consequently he goes
to one OF the largest churches in st. Louis
with the best wishes of every member Of the
society of which he has been al earnest and
highly esteemed pastor.
Rev. Alexander Gilchrist pastor of the
Central United Presbyterian church is an
other well known Omaha divine who will
soon enter broader field. Rev. Gilchrst
has been offered the position of secretary OF
the National Home Mission society of the
United Presbyterian church and he has prac-
tically decided to accept. This is strongly
against the desire of his congregation but
he feels that it is his duty to enter the new
line Of work to which he has been called and
his resignation will soon be officially con-
sdered. DR.. Gilchrist will go directly to
Pittsburg, Pa. where the headquarters Of
the society are located. In none of the
above cases mentioned have arrangements
been made in regard to the selection of sue
cessors TO the departing pastors
The New Ministers.
The new pastors who have come or are about
to come to Omaha take charge OF four OF
the largest congregations of the city. Rev.
NJ. w. Chase formerly of Oswego, y. Y, has
already entered ON his duties as the sue
cessor of Rev. John McQuod, whose sudden
death brought so much genuine sorrow to the
First Methodist church, and his pastorate
promises to be equally successful.
The vacancy in the pulpit of the First
Presbyterian church has at length been filled
by the election of Rev Edwin H. jerks,
byterian church OF Los Angeles, Cal Rev.
jerks has made am enviable record as a sue
cessful pastor and he will begin his work in
Omaha about September l.
Rev. Edward Trefz. the new pastor of
Kountze Memorial Lutheran church has not
only been a successful pastor but has
achieved a distinct success as a newspaper
manager. He was at one time managing
editor Of the St. Joseph Herald. He has al |
ready given promise of great usefulness in
his church work in this city.
Rabbi Simon, who recently accepted call |
to become the spiritual head of Temple |
Israel is another new pastor VINO has sue
ceeded in giving evidence of success in his
new field.
Another distinguished addition to the
Omaha clergy will be Rev Arthur L. Will
liams, recently elected bishop coadjutor OF |
the Epis eopal diocese of Nebraska and who |
will soon arrive TO make his home in Omaha. |