Evening star., 1899-04-04
Washington Presbytery Aoquiesces
in DR.. Talmage's Resignation.
CONSENT OF his LATE CHARGE GIVEN
Second Session of Church Judica-
tory Held Today.
DIR. DUNCAN MODERATOR

Inc second session OF the regular soHh-
annual meeting of the presbytery of Wash
ington city at Gunton-Temple Memorial
Church began this morning shortly after .
o'clock. The first meeting was held last
evening.
The most important business transacted
today was the acquiescence of the presby-
terry in the request of DIR. T. De Witt Tai
mage for O severance of the pastoral reia-
tions between himself and the First Presby-
terian Church of this city, with which he
has been identified for several years. DR..
Talmage's resignation was handed In to
his congregation some time ago.
The presbytery was called to order and
presided over by Rev. George S. Duncan,
Phi. D., who was last night elected moder-
ator for the ensuing year. Others OF the
officers present were DIR. B. F. Bittinger,
the stated clerk, and Rev. c. Alvin Smth,
permanent clerk. DR.. Talmage led in pray
er. The roll of delegates was completed,
after which Rev. Dr. Fiske of the commit
tee on arrangements announced the oFaeF
of exercises for the day.
Regular committees were announced by
the chair as follows: On bills and oVertufes,
Rev Drs. Bittinger, Hamlin and Flske, ana
Elders McFarlan and Merriwether judi
cial, Rev. Drs. Radcliffe, Luccock ana Eas-
ton, and Elders Linton and QualHei on i'it,- ~
uteS to the general assembly, rev IL
Little; on minutes to synod Kew. Dr; ines
ter; on leaves of absence, Rev. Mr. fouhs,
Mr.. Stuchell and Elder Harvey; committees
on seasonal records, Rev. DIR. Hamlln, gen
eral chairman and numper OF othels'
Report on Education.
report from the committee on educa-
ton. presented and read by Rev. Edward
Warren, the chairman, was received ana
the recommendations adopted. Kew. LIZ
Radcliffe of the committee on home mis-
sions made a report of the condition OIL
the church at Riverdale, highly commend
ing the enterprise of the people there ana
especially the work of Mr. Middleton or
the Fourth Church. Rev DR.. Easton read
the report of the committee on temperance
which showed there has been an improve
ment in this regard in the District of Co.
lumba. The condition in this city the re-
port declared to be particularly good. Ihe
efforts of the Christian Endeavor socie-
ties and of the local pastors In this line
of work were duly commended. Rev. MIR.
Van Ness reported from the committee on
Sunday school work. The report was ac-
cepted. Rev. Mr.. Marshall of the commit
tee ministerial relief recommended GER
tain persons for aid. On ballot 1t was de-
cided to provide for them. The committee
on foreign missions, through DR.. Luccock,
presented a report. The church was urged
to place the foreign mission board beyond
the reach of Mysteries and herOics in the
matter of appeals for help.
Rev. w. II. Stone was called to the pas
torate of the church at Jamestown Md.
He accepted the call and arrangements have
been made for his installation in May.
Mr.. John Med. A Lacey after the Gus
tomary examination. was admitted to the
care of the presbytery during the prosecu-
tion of his studies for the ministry.
DR.. TaImage's Resignation.
The delegates We're all attention when
DR. T. De Witt Talmage arose and ten
dered to the presbytery his resignation
from the First Church OF this city, which
had already been acted upon b. the con-
gregation. In addressing his fellow minis
tiers DIR. Talmage said:
after a delightful pastorate in the First
Presbyterian Church of this city, | now ask
for the dissolution of the pastoral relation.
For long while ] have felt called to a
more general work than a fixed pastorate
allows. but | have not before now seen the
way clear to undertake it. The demands of
religious journalism upon me have greatly
increased, and my opportunities for re-
hgious service in other directions have been
greatly multiplied. l do not propose to
stop preaching, but if the Lord permits 1
will preach more than l ever have preach
ed. After few more weeks of comparative
rest from absorbing work l hope to be very
busy
I'm closing my service in the First Pres
hyterian Church I wish to express the de-
light / have had in Gospel work and in
ilIei1tSLips lndt VIII last Tor time and
eternity. l have had full and unhindered
way of declaring the whole council of God
and what a JOY 1T has been to me to offer
the mercy and comfort of the Gospel Sab
bath by Sabbath to the people 1t has been
to me great satisfaction that I have been
upheld by the unanimous SUPPORT of the
official boards of the church, and they have
reinforced me in everything I have pro-
posed My relation to that church was
somewhat peculiar, in the fact that | was
called to pr, ach with the distinct under
standing by both boards that pastoral Wis
itation and other kinds Of pastoral work
would not be required of me. but would be
done by others. With that understanding I
accepted the call, and the years have pass
ed happily.
Meanwhile the acquaintanceships I have
formed with the members of churches of
all denominations is something for which I
thank God and thank them. 1t will be a
matter of rejoicing to me forever that
pitched my tent in this glorious capital.
Il desire to retain membership in this
preshytery, and | will not allow this occa-
sion to pass without saying that though ]
nave belonged to various ccclesiastic bod
les. in none of them have | found a more
consecrated and genial brotherhood than in
this presbytery. and l pray the blessing of
God upon these brethren and the people of
their charge, and hope we may often meet
in fields or Christian usefulness, and when
our work is done meet in the great harvest
home when the sheaves come in and the
reepers are the angels When we see the
King in His Beauty we will realize how
very poor was our best earthly service
Presbytery's Acquiescence.
Mr.. T. F. Sargent and Mr.. Dubois, COM
nissioners from the First Church. spoke
in laudation of DIR. Talmages work for
their church, and expressed the reluctant
consent of the congregation. Many of the
delegates spoke feelingly of their great re-
spect and esteem for Dr. Talmage Among
the more prominent speakers were Drs,
Easton and Stuchell. The presbytery then
acquiesced in DR.. Talmage's request and
designated Mr. Stuchell to declare the pul-
pit of the First Presbyterian Church va
cant next Sunday.
The presbytery was addressed by Mr.. ].
AspinWall Hodge, secretary of the board of
education, his words of advice and the ex-
PLANTATION of the boards work being listened
to with marked attention.
The morning session was brought to a
close at 12:3O o'clock with devotional ser
vices, led by Rev. s. Ward RICHTER of Hy-
attsville.
The afternoon session was given over to
routine affairs.
Rev. DIR. Chas. Wood of PHILADELPHIA will
speak before the presbytery this evening at
Gunton Temple Memorial Church, 18th and
X streets northwest. The meeting will he
under the auspices of the Presbyterian
Christian E,Ddaa