Evening star., 1899-03-10
DR.. TALMAGE RETIRES
Dissolyes Relations With First Pres
byterian Church.
RESTORATION OF DR.. SUNDERLAND
Venerable Pastor to Again En-
gage in Active Work.
AS ISTANT TO AIN

AS SISTANT TO AIN
Rev. DIR. T. De Witt Talmage has re-
signed the pastorate Of the First Presby-
terian Church, and will be succeeded by the
Rev. DR.. Byron Sunderland who, since his
resignation as pastor last June. has been
| the pastor emeritus. Already DR.. Sunder-
land has served the church forty-flve years,
and the congregation now insist that he
shall again become pastor, to remain such
| so long as he shall live. The assistant pas
tor will be, as now, the Rev. John E.
Stuchell and he will preach the sermon
Sunday evening, while DIR. Sunderland will
resume his popular Sunday morning dis
courses. The active church and parish
work will be performed by both ministers.
DR.. Talmage left the city today, accom-
panied by his wife, for two weeks visit
to Old Point Comfort and St. Augustine,
Fla Afterward he will return to this city,
which he has made his home, and will con-
tinue his m mnister1al and literary work.
Letter of Resignation.
After conference with the officers of
the church DR.. Taimage submitted the fol-
lowing letter to them at a meeting last
night:
lT]o Massachusetts avenue,
| Washington, u. c., March 8, 1899.
10 the Session of the First PRESBYTERIAN
Church of Washington:
Dear Brethren: The increasing demands
n ade upon me by religious journalism and
the continuous calls for more general work
IN the cities have of late years caused ira
quent interruption of my pastoral work 1t
IS not right that this condition of affairs
should further continue. Besides this II is
desirable that l have more opportunity to
meet, lace TO face in religious assam5lage
those i'll this country and other countries to
whom have, through the kindness of the
printing press, been permitted to preach
week by week, and without the exception
or week, for about thirty years. There
lore, though very reluctantly, l have cor
clrded, after serving you nearly four years
of resignation.
ask you to join me in petition to the
presbytery for the dissolution of the Das-
torai relation between myself and The First
Presbyterian Church of Washington D. C.
For the uniform kindness shown me- bv
yourselves and the church you represent. /
wish to make hearty acknowl edgnent /
expect to continue residence in your city,
ana nope to have many opportunities of
m citing you.
That the blessing of God may ever abide
upon our beloved church is the PRAYER of
your friend and pastor,
T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
The resignation will be read at the serv-
ices next Sunday morning, and the follow
ing Thursday evening the officers and con-
sregation will meet to act upon it, There
IS no doubt that it will be accepted and
the Washington presbytery will be asked
! at its meeting April 3 to dissolve the pas
toral relations At the same time the nee
essary steps will be taken to restore DIR
Sunderland to the pulpit and pastorate,
with DR. Stuchell as his assistant.
DIR. Sunderland's Restoration.
DR.. Sunderland will interpose no objection
| to the effort to make him put on the har-
ness again, as he never has actually laid
down the burden of the active parish work
| but has iabored night and day since be-
coming pastor emeritus in performing the
very duties of which it was supposed be
had been relieved. DR.. Stuchell was called
to the First Presbyterian Church about a
year ago, and he has made a profound i'm
preston upon DR.. Sunderland and the lead:
ing members of the congregation as well.
He has frequently occupied the pulpit in
the absence of DR.. Talmage, and his
mon last Sunday, it was stated by members
of the church today, was remarkably
strong. He is regarded as able and ener-
getic.
At the time DIR. Talmage was installed,
October %, 1885, Dr. Sunderland was the
pastor and the Rev. Mr.. Adolos Allen was
his assistant. Dr. Talmage desired unani-
nous call from the congregation, and it
was given him with the understanding
that he was to be the co-pastor with DR..
Sunderland, and that he would take upon
pastorate. 1t was understood, also, by DR..
Talmage and the congregation that the
former was to preach the Sunday evening
sermon, and the one in the morning was
to be delivered heretofore, either by
Dr.. Sunderland or DR.. Allen. Moreover,
the expectation was that DIR. Talmage
would preside at the Thursday evening
prayer meetings, thereby relieving DIR. Sun
derland from the need TO be present. With
all this in mind the call was made unani-
| nous, otherwise DR.. Talmage. would not
have been honored in the way he desired.
When the change was consummated Dr
Sunderland and his congregation were
highly pleased. because it was his and
| their expectation that DR.. Talmase's Sun
day evening discourseS would draw great
| crowds to the church, adding TO its popu-
larity and extending its usefulness. 1t was
! thought also, that his connection as CO.
pastor would in other ways extend the
| reDutation of the First Presbyterian
| Church already noted as the church of
| the Presidents, and that the membership in
| the congregation would soon extend 10
| such proportions as would require the build
| ing of a more comm0dious and modern
| house of worship in q more central location
! In many of these respects DR.. Talmage
has met the expectation of those who were
! prime movers in having him called here.
His reputation a pulpit orator has
grown in proportion, and the sermons which
| he has delivered in the pulpit of the First
| PRESBYTERIAN Church have been regularly
| printed in the secular press the world over.
His literary productions also have tended to
bring his church before the country, and
his lectures upon his travels abroad have
| had great popularity where he has delivered
| them.
On the other hand, 1t is stated by leading
members of the congregation, Dr. Talmage
| has not relieved Dr. Sunderland Of the bur-
! den of active work, but has contented him
self with sermon making, writing, travelling
| and lecturing.
ProvOkes Opposition.
The first feeling the part of the con-
| gregation in general was aroused against
| him when he announced his intention to de-
liver the morning sermon. This, it was
considered was In violation of the under
! standing he had with the officers as to the
evening sermons at the time the call was
made, and his change of front provoked
| the strong outburst of opposition. Finding
L l. ,,.,d To, hn,r