The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-06
DEATH OF REV. DIR. STORRS.
BE WAS AMONG THE MOST FAMOUS
or CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER'S.
routemporaneoss with Bcecher. He Was the
Active Pastor OF the Church Of the Pilgrims
for Fifty-thrce Ycars-Came Of a Long
line o, CIergymen sketch Of His Career.

The Rev. DR.. Richard Salter Slorrs, pastor
.uedms Of the Church OF the Pilgrims. and
long one OF the loading Cong regational divines
IN the country, died at 0 Is O'Clock last evening
a, his home, ~ Pierrepont street. Brooklyn
The last hours of the venerable preacher wcr,
,assed in an apparently peaceful slumber and
vithont any suffering whatever. From 10
o'clock on Monday night there had only been a
few intervals OF semi-consclousness, during
which, however. the dying man seemed to
,ecorniZe the relatives who were gathered at
bs bedsid, and who included Mrs. l.. II.
Packard. Mrs. Philip Washburne and Mrs. T..
Zoe. his daughters: thu Rev. DR.. u. u. Coe.
,,s,or of the Collegiate Reformed churches,
bs son-in-law, and Miss Mary Packard. a
granddaughter DIR. F.. II. Cotton. the at
tendant physician. was also present at the end.
I'n,l about two weeks ago there were srong
homes thai DR.. Storrs's health might be suf-
acien,ly restored so that he would be able to go
10 his fayorite country home AZ Shelter Island Tor
,nc'summer. Then. however. he showed signs OF
rapid collapse. steadily W weaker, until
on saturday il became apparent that his death
WAS only n matter OF a few days.
For two or three months previous to his
resignation as pastor OF the church last fall. DR..
Storrs's health had been seriously impaired. his
illness resulting from a severe cold contracted
during a trip one stormy day In the early
autumn from Shelter Island 10 Brooklyn to
oN'cIate at a funeral. He rallied from this
attack and was able to attend q con-
ference Of the Society Of Foreign Missions
at Boston and make a powerful address.
His growing inhrmities however. con-
WINGED him that he was no longer equal to
sustain the cares of his great church, and
soon after his return from Boston he decided to
lay aside the burden and hu-band his failing
strength n, much as possible. He continued,
however, to take u deep interest in the affairs
Of the church as well as in general religious
tories, and was from time to time consulted by
the committee which was selected TO choose his
successor. A notable incident in the closing
period Of his career was the recon ciliation OF the
Church of the Pilgrims with Plymouth Church
and the oblite ration Of the fcud which had ex-
listed between them since the days OF the great
scandal in which Henry Ward Beecher was in
volved, On March / there was a union meeting
Of the long-scvered congregations at the
Church of the Pilgrims. at which the Rev. DIR.
Hills received n warm welcome, DR.. Storrs
could not be present, but sent n touching letter.
Or Storrs watched with interest the progress
Of the late revival movement in Brooklyn and
also the recent great Ecumenical Conference
in Manhattan and made occasional comments
on each
1t has been arranged that the funeral will
take place on Friday. at 3 o o'clock in the after
noon. at the Church OF the Pilgrims. The Rev.
Harry p. Dewey will preside. The Rev. +. ii
as pastor of the Pilgrims Chapel, and the Rev.
DR. A. A Lyman OF the South congregational
Church will assist. The ~ervic, will be limited
a. 49, r,a t.y nrl 80 tla a ntn ~ al aatna
of DR. S,orrs favorite ny INNS. There viii be no
sermon.
Ii was cause for ommen among. the friends
of DR.. Storrs yesterday that he had died on the
anniversary OF the birth Of his wife. who died in
Richard Salter storrs was born in Braintree.
Mass, on Aug. q, 1921. His family came from
n branch of the Storrs family in Nottingham
shire. England, and he traced his ancestry to
Morse origin. His first ancestor in this country
Mass, in 1883. Richard Salter Storrs Of Brook
lyn was the third clergyman in his family in
direct line to bear that name, and he was the
his great grandfather having been the Rev. John
Storrs. The second Richard Salter Storrs be-
lieved that a clergyman should stick to his par
ish and his parish to a clergyman, and he him
self was pastor Of n Braintree church for more
than a generation. His sons philosophy Of
life worked itself out pretty much after the same
manner, and he was for flfty-three years pastor
of the church which was his second charge.
having held his first charge only n year,
DR.. Storrs was graduated from Amherst Col
lege at the age Of y years. He studied law for
two years in the Office of Rufus Choate and then
gave himself to the study Of theology, gradual
ting from Andover Seminary in isl5, He was
church Mt Brookline, Mass, and at the end Of a
year was called to the Church Of the Pilgrims,
then Just organized, the first Congregational
church In Brooklyn, New York. From thatchurch
nineteen Congregational churches in Brooklyn
have sprung, among them Plymouth Church,
10 which Henry Ward Beecher came az a salary
of $500 and where he was welcomed by the
Rev. Dr. StorrS. DR., Storrs. later, however,
was among those CongregationalistS of Brook
lyn who stood aloof from Plymouth Church and
from its pastor during Bee cher's incumbency.
The Church of the Pilgrims has been an ex-
empIar Of New England. In the front wall Of
N" church building Is q piece Of Plymouth
m,rlr. and did not carry theological or
political controversies into his pulpit. He
was 50 dignihed that he was solemn in the
pulpit; II" raFely smiled. his manner nnpIS ,v was i'm,
light'led by illusions but delivered with
great force of rhetoric, accuracy OF diction. and
effective through cold polish,
Brooklyn had a population OF only about
80,0DJ when Dr.. StOrrs came there in 1919, and
he began at once to take an active .part'in the
HE OF the town, acquiring a place from which
he did not retire 40 long a. health and strength
enabled him To get about and speak for what
he regarded rs Brooklyn's interests. The
Public Library in Brooklyn and the Long Isl
and Historical Society we're said TO owe their
existence practically to DIR. StOrrs's efforts.
He wa, associated with DR. Leonard Bacon
and DR.. Joseph y. Thompson in ls4s in the
establishment Of the Independent and he was
one of the editors Of the paper until 1851. In
1857 he succeeded Mark Hopkins as President
OF the American Board OF Foreign Missions
and retained the place for more than n dec
ade. He leotured a great deal in Brooklyn.
In New York and elsewhere, and by his lectures
and his writings became known widely both
In this country and abroad. What has been
considered his best published work. the Die
vine Origin of Christianity" was prepared
DR., StorrS was a stanch upholder Of the Union
cause, and upon the surrender OF Lee he was
one of those sent by the Government to raise
the flag again over Fort Sumter. In 1873 an
effort was made 10 get Or, Storrs 10 take the
paStorate of the Brick Presbyterian, Church
for some time he had il under consideration.
on the thirty-hfth anniversary of his pas
torqte, in 1891. the congregation Of the Church
OF the Pilgrims preSpntod to DIR. StorrS n nurse
Of s3i,010. Upon the completion of his fftieth
year A. their pastor. in 1900. the congregation,
with other friends Of DR.. Storrs, arranged n
weeks Jubilee celebration in Brooklyn. Five
OF the original members of the church were
thcn living. Men prominent in the law. the
thurcl and in business PARTICIPATED in the
celebration. The Manhattan Ministerial As
s%oc,ation presented 10 Or. Storrs a loving cup
valued at $500. In his speech acknowledging
"" gift DR.. Storr- said that the whole story
words. II was called TO a good parish" he
SAID. in q good city, in a good church, ] have
cni9ycd good health and | have STAYED. That
l. the Who'll" story"
D" S'o-r1 wa. not IN good health whom, he
cam 70 BROOKLYN. and some peonl" said that
h" had com" there only on his wnv 10 Green.
wood. a rHmark H., rncillni whom he had lived
flpra fort q u.p t-pur-