Evening star., 1899-03-17
HIS RESIGNATION ACCEPTED
First Presbyterian Church Agrees to Sever
Relations With De Talmage.
Action Taken Last Might Commits
sioners Named to, Present the
Matter to Rresbytery.

The resignation of the Rev. T. De Witt
Talmage as pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church was accepted by the congre
cation at a business8meeting held for the
purpose last night. No other action was
taken.
Only small part of the congregation,
the majority being women, attended the
meeting, which was held in the Sunday
school room of the church. Under the
charter from Congress the number present
was sufficient to legally transact the busi
ness before the meeting and the charter
requirements were scrupu!ously observed.
Acting Pastor Stuchell opened the occasion
With prayer at o'clock, in which he asked
the divine blessing upon the congregation
ABOUT to take step affecting the future of
their church, and also upon the Rev. DIR.
Iamage, now in a distant part of the coun-
try. He then called upon Mr.. F. d. Dali
rympie' one OF the elders of the church and
the clerk of the congregation, to read the
call of the session for a special meeting of
the congregation.
Resignation Accepted.
Compliance with this was followed by the
reading of DIR. Talmage's letter of resigna-
ton. DR.. Stuchell asked whether or not
the congregation would assist in the sever
ance OF the pastoral relations by the pres
bytery at its meeting next month. Mr..
Theodore F. Sergeant one of the elders,
thereupon presented resolution to the eff
feet:
That the request of the Rev T. De Witt
Talmage, DID,, in his letter of the 9th in
stant for the dissolving of his pastoral re-
'iatlons with the church, be and the same
is hereby accepted, to take effect at once,
and that our commissioners be requested to
notify the presbytery at its next meeting
in April"
Il second the resolution" said Mr. I. N
Z. Cole, another of the elders
The resolution is before you for discus
sion, announced the minister. There vas
silence for minute, and then member
of the congregation moved that the reso-
luton be adopted and the question was put
by Dr. Stuchen. A few responded aye"
but there was no sound when the mays
were called. Clerk Dalrymple nominated
Elders Sergeant and Du Bois as the two
commissioners. to appear before the pras
bytery Apri, 3. and the nominations were
unanimously confirmed DIR. Stuchell, upon
the proper motion being made, declared
the meeting adjourned. The regular Thurs
day evening prayer meeting followed.
Selection of Successor.
The leading members of the congregation
are now bending their energies toward dis
charging the small debt which hangs over
the church in addition to the bonded debt.
Subscriptions are being secured to meet the
former, but nothing Will be done with the
latter for the present. 1t is reported that
emergency fund has been contributed to
make up the expected deficit in the Sunday
contributions, which, when Dr. Talmage
was in the pulpit, amounted to as much
some months as $2(9 .rs
Selection of Successor,
The question as to the election of a new
pastor did not come4up last night, for the
reason that under the TERMS of the CALI
which did not"refer to any other, matter
than the resignation;it vt would not be proper
to do SO. DR.. Stuchell s contract as assist
ant pastor, or, TO state it accurately pulpit
supply will expireiin the summer, and it
is possible the session of the church will
take no steps toward calling or eiecting a
new pastor until that time. 1t would be
entirely legal, however for the session. as
soon as the presbytery dissolves Dr.. Tai
IMAGES pastoral relations. to can a meeting
of the cOngrega ton upon due notice from
the pulpit Of the Church and take up the
subject. Usuallsr he session, body of
elders. is permitted, to select the pastor but
it would be proper, for any member of the
congregation a the called meeting to nom
mate a minister.
There being no pressure, for DR.. Tai
IMAGES successor, as DR.. Stucheil is con-
sidered able TO conduct the church work
for the present, it is very probable the ses-
sion will defer action until the assistant
pastors contract expires. 1t was positively
stated today by several of the leading
members of the congregation and of the
session. that there is no likelihood at all
that pr. SUNDERLAND will resume the active
pastorShip. The statement made that
he wuuld have retired a number Of years
before he actually did had the church been
able to secure such a pastor as he and the
congregation could mutually select.
Confidence in As1fstant Pastor.
Since DR.. Stuchell came to the church he
has preached a number Of sermons that
have, it is said. gained for him the con-
fidence and admiration of the congregation.
The advocates of the young assistant pas
tor refer to the fact that at the Ministerial
Association meeting a month ago he read
paper which received the strongest COM
mendation from that learned body and
which caused many of them to express the
opinion that he gives brilliant promise as
minister 1t Is further stated in his behalf
that he will now have an opportunity to
originate pastoral work and church enter
prise and will demonstrate before his term
ends his entire capacity, alone and unaided
to direct the pulpit and pastoral work of
the First Presbyterian Church.
On the other hand, several of the congre-
CATION were seen who expressed the
opinion, to use their own words "that DIR
Stuchell was not big enough man in the
pulpit to succeed DIR. Sunderland and DIR
Talmage." These agreed that Dr. S;ucheIl
had been satisfactory in his present reIa-
tions. and said they hoped he would be
continued assistant pastor, regularly in
stalled under new and eminent divine to
be called after the presbytery released DR.
IalmaSe in April. No one could be found
today who was willing to name any other
minister than DR.. Stuchell for the pastor
ship, and each declared that there il no oc
casion for hasty action.
Overwhelmed With Business.
Mr. Charles