New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-04
SUCCESSOR TO DIR. ABBOTT
THE PROBABLE NEW PASTOR OF PLY
MOUTH CHURCH
THE REV Or NEWELL DWIGHT HILLS. OF CHI
cAGo. RECOMMENDED by TIE ADVISORY
coMMITTEE-A GREAT ADMTRER
OF BEECHER

At meeting OF Plymouth Church, 10 be held
on January Is the Advisory Committee which
was selected 10 choose a successor TO the Rev.
Dr. Lyman Abbott. will recommend the name OF
the Rev. DR. Newell Dwight Hills. who for the
last four years has been the pastor Of the large
congregation which was founded IN chicago oy
the late Professor David Swing. and which wor-
ships in Central Music Hall. in that city. This
was decided al a meeting 81 the ADVISORY COM
mlttee held last night. after report nad oeen
made by a subcommittee which spent saturday
and Sunday in Chicago
They brought on enthusiastic report OF IL
Hills from Chicago and there seems to De httie
doubt that the church will accept the ADVICE
OF their Pulpit Committee. on the other nahd'
II is known that although DR.. Hills mas peen
unusually successful and is greatly beloved ny
his Chicago congregation. IT IL his great desire
to get again into pastoral work. the congrega-
ton In Chicago having no other organization
than that IT meets once every Sunday for a ser
mon from Or. Hills.
one Of the members Of the subcommittee
says that the guiding spirit Of the life OF DIT
Hills has been Henry Ward Beecher, and that
perhaps with one exception he has the largest
"Beecher" library in America. For this reason
are sure that Or Hills. both in spirit and in
character Is the man 10 continue the WORK
Of Henry Ward Beecher and DR. Lyman Alb
bott
The Rev DR. Newell Dwight Hills was born
in Iowa on September l. 1858. His father came
from good Puritan stock and deacon in
a Congregationa church. OF which the Rev
Lyman Beecher father OF Henry Ward Beech
er was once pastor The elder Hills afterWard
moved 70 Iowa At the age Of seventeen the
son became missionary for the Sunday School
Union The superintendent OF the Union con-
ceved a great admiration for his young mis-
sionary and sent him 70 college at Lake For
est H. Afterward through the same agency
he was enabled 10 complete the theological
course at Mccormick Seminary. in Chicago
Immediately after receiving his theological de-
gree he accepted d call 70 the FIRST Presbyterian
Church In Peoria. H. From Peoria he was
called 20 the First Church IN Evanston In a
short time 1t became one Of the largest churches
in the city Four wears ago he accepted the
place of successor % the late Professor Swing.
Ar the meeting held last night, the sub-cor-
mittee made a strong report 70 the AGNlsory
Committee in favor of Or Hills The members
spoke Of him a preacher OF great power, put
far more stress was laid on the admirable quail
ties Of the himself The not only spoke
in the highest terms OF the lOvable personality
also presented mass OF written testimony from
other source, bearing out their views in that
particular.
The decision OF the Advisory Committee will
be made known 70 Plymouth Church in an IN
formal manner after the weekly prayer-meetlng
Friday evening. but according 20 the rules
OF the church the consideration OF the report or
the committee cannot be taken up until regu-
lar meeting Of the church. which VIII be held
on the night OF Monday, January 10.
strangely enough. by an engagement when
was made many months ago, before Or Aboott
had any intention ~ resigning. the Rev. Dr.
Hills will be in Brooklyn on sunday January
IL and will at that fime give an address before
the Plymouth League. As DR.. Hills VIII he IN
the East for A week. it has been arranged 10
have him preach in Plymouth Cnucn on Jahu-
arv u 90 that all the members OF the society
/ and congregation viii have an opportunity %
Judge OF him for themselves. They Will then
/ be in a position 10 act with Judgment and know
7 edge AT the meeting 70 be held on the Mondal
following II Is probable that except FOR this CO.
/ incidence the church would have voted on a
candidate whom the larger portion of the con-
/ gregaiion had neither seen nor heard