New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-17
DIR. EVANS SAYS HE'LL STAY
WITHDRAWS HIS RESIGNATION FROM
WEST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
YIELDS TO THE WISHES OF HIS CONGRE-
CATION. WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THE
ACTION OF THE TRUSTEES TOW

ARD THE PASTOR.
The Rev. DR.. Anthony Ii. Evans will continue
pastor Of the West Presbyterian Church. He
announced this decision from the pulpit yester-
day at the II o'clock service in few words to
his people, who came in large numbers in the
expectation that DR.. Evans would speak def
nitely in answer 20 the appeal on behalf of'the
congregation for him to stay with them, after
he had announced his intention some time ago
of resigning in Difference to the wishes of some
0: the trustees.
DR.. Evans's resignation was the outcome OF a
difference with the trustees Of the church. who
declared that the church was running down
financially under DR.. Evans's pastorate.
In spite Of the rainy weather the church was
well filled, the younger members Of the flock
especially being well represented After the
prayer and singing service was over DR.. Evans
s'gnified his intention to remain as pastor Of
the church.
MY dear people" he began, after most care
full consideration Of your will as expressed at
the congregational meeting Of April e. and hav
ing prayed much for guidance with the sole
aim Of furthering the interests OF this church
and the kingdom of Christ. ] have arrived at
the conclusion that it Is Gods will that should
remain with you. / therefore withdraw my
resignation, and continue to be your devoted
loyal and loving pastor. / put myself In the
hands OF God, confidently expecting His bless
ing and your hearty and steadfast co-opera-
tion in all the work do for the Master"
After the service over DIR. Evans came
down from the pulpit, and for hour after
ward received the personal thanks and con-
gratulatons of the people OF his church. 1T
was the will Of God and the wish of the great
majority Of my people," all DR.. Evans
would say. "and 1 obeyed His will and their
wishes
Russell Sage, who is one Of the trustees OPP
posed to Dr. Evans, left the church after the
services without speaking to the pastor. When
asked what action the trustees would take in
the matter now, he answered, 81 don't know"
and he repeated this to all questions asked him.
The trustees will meet tonight.
In his sermon on the text. Lord what wilt
thou have me to do?' DR.. Evans said, among
other things:
1t is this latter question that is now to occupy
our attention and 1t seems to me very pertinent
a new life Before us lies "a new country which
ward: forward is the cry ard it is the voice Of
the Holy Spirit that is heard along the line. From
Td w we take So our @ yc So' bs m bve Ss
out OF the darkness; not from selfish consld-
We must NO, o to headSnSrers T We ms ge to the
Supreme Commander OF the Host-to the captain
of our salvation. We must stand in the presence
OF the Lord. to learn His will, that We may learn
to do duty. And II we strive to do His will we
will have been removed and the work of the Lord
Will prosper in our hands
supreme question at this moment. AS we answer
this We deea5e cur duty az and mark out out the pam IN
at the outset to seek rst the Kingdom OF God. and
al other things will be added unto us-region oe-
fore position, righteousness before happiness the
spiritual before the material, God before every
thing.
This is the true order the order to abide through
all mutations OF men and institutions; the order
that the world is coming to In its progress toward
the millennium. And there is nothing impractcable
about IT, nor nothing ethereal, nothing to violate
the law OF order and Of common-sense Gods Judg-
ment whatsoever 1t may be- Is the best for the
world best for its happiness its prosperity and ls
general advancement along all lines OF inellectuai
God is put the front there is the better and the
stronger civilization, the wiser government the
grea ter freedom. the more humanity and the more
enjoyment 1t is n fact of history and fact or
common observation that as men have sought the
kingdom Of God so have they really p9ssesseu M .he
Kingdom OF this world. Let them go down to the
market-place and struggle until the hours are late ate
weary abors and in the midst OF the never-ending
sounds Of traffic and machinery iet them 90 ie 5Re
up their many cares and spend the day In anxious
thought until the night comes comes ,or &c or sake but
for humanitys sake Not alone for the editcat9n t
tude. Down all the lines OF the great Cnrstian ian
company throughout Chrlstendom there sounds the
voice of the Son OF GOd saying 10 every Oh"iS"
OF His "Cio seek and save the lost
What more does the Lord want us to do, DO? Mhen 1r
He stood for the first time before the world, when
there came upon Him the woes and the anguish OF
men, their temptations and passions thelr longnsss
and their deep needs what did He do for them!
What message di1 He give them. what do he con
slider the great solution Of the human problem! re
might have given them history OF the Pyramlds
and history OF the civilization In the MIDST OF
which they had grown. He might have told tnenn
OF the rise and fall of the Roman Empire he
might have led them through discourse or Plato
and shown them how the reason finds its way to
God But could he have touched mems sorrows ana
made them easier to bear? The chief business OF
the Church is not to voice the feelings OF the hour
TO the exclusion Of It's appointed message; not 10
declare events but to proclaim principles; not 10
enlighten the intelligence so much as to transform
their life.