New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-07
HIGH PRAISE OF DIR. HILLS.
REPORT OF THE PLYMOUTH CHURCH
COMMITTEE URGING A CALL

In words fun OF feryor and strength OF p''H'o'
the members OF the sub-pasoral committees Vi
Plymouth Church after the prayer-mee"hs me.
night supplemented their typewriter report VI
their visit to the Rev DR.. n. D. Hills, OF Chicago
in which they recommended through the Advisory
Committee that he be called to succeed the Rev.
Or. Lyman Abbott.
Thomas G. Sherman made an imprisoned appear
TO the church TO accept the recommendation OF
the committee and decide to call DR. Hills
Il believe that he predestned for plymouth
and that the Lord has been training him for YOU
was a quotation from personal letter from Dr'
D. j. Mcmillan, Of Manhattan. which was resd by
5. V. White. Mr.. White reiterated the sentiment.
81 went into this mans presence with a resolution
TO remain an icicle: came away melted he said
"IIe IS the loveliest. manifest noblest man have
met in many day" the expression OF Frank
Rudd. in speaking OF his impression Of DIT Hills
The other members OF the committee VINO spoke
were Frank Brooks and Alfred Raymond, who
were quite as eulogstic In their remarks. There
were no other speeches, the report OF the com
mlttee cannot be acted upon until Monday evening
January &c. at which time. according TO resolutions
passed last night meetings of the church and the
society will be called to consider the advisabllty
Of calling Dir. Hills.
The typewriter report OF the Advisory commit
tee which was read by Thomas q. Sherman, was
an extended account OF the visit or the suD-cOih-
mittee to Chicago OF It's visit TO the morning ser
the preacher at his home. The report was extreme
~ eulogistic. but when. at the suggestion or DT.
Abbott the various members OF the committee were
called upon TO give their personal testimony they
seemed almost unable to express in words the depth
Of their feeling Mr. Sherman said that unless
wave of unanimous sentiment In favor or Dr.
Hills should be manifested for him. when he
should be in Brooklyn a. week from next Sunday.
that Plymouth would not get him FOR remen-
Der" said Mr. Shearman that he IL not coming
here as a candidate to have you see II you Ike him.
but he Is coming to II he likes You"
few OF the salient features Of the report by the
Advisory Committee follows
The general quality OF DR.. Hils's sermons was
abundanty proved by the simple fact that without
any adventurous aids they had drawn vast con-
gregaton steadily for four years In hall several
miles distant from the residence part or the city.
Some doubt was at first felt TO whether a
preacher who for years had had no Sunday school.
PRAYER meeting or other church work, could DE IN
syrnpa thy with the spirit OF Plymouth Church,
where these things considered OF almost more
Importance than the Sunday preaching services II
was found. however, that Or. HILLS had begun HE
as Sunday school missionary. and that his heart
was In precisely that kind Of work. although cir
cumstances had deprived him of such work for four
years. , , M.
DR. Hills is as distinct from both Henry Ward
Beecher and Lyman Abbott as each OF them was
from the other He is wonderfully qualified TO per-
form work among us, which neither our present
nor our former pastor had the time or s'rength 10
perform. - l.,
We have every reason TO hope that we may IN
future combine In man great preacher, Il
great eacher and an ideal pastor.