New-York tribune., 1900-01-01
DIR. PURvEs TO HIS CONGREGATION.
HE ANNOUNCES HIS DECISION TO ACCEPT
THE CALL TO THE FIFTH AVE-
UNTIL APRIL.

HE ANNOUNCES HIS DECISION TO ACCEPT
THE CALL TO THE FIFTH AVE
NUE. CHURCH
Princeton, N. j. Dee 81 (SpeciaD-The Rev
DR.. George 7. Purves, pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church and professor OF New Testa-
ment Exegesis of the Princeton Theological
Seminary, announced his acceptance of the call
10 the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church of
New-York City to his congregation here this
morning. Just before the closing hymn was sung
DR.. Purves made the following announcement:
My Dear Friends: I feel that I have been
keeping you too long in state Of doubt, and
that you expect a reply from of what you
know to be a call extended to me by the Fifth
ave. church Of New-York, and that it is due
TO you that say something about it this
ing the anectlonate resolutions which you
adopted few weeks ago have touched very
deeply, and both from them and from many
pressions made privately have been assured of
your wish to have me remain and of your per-
sonaI attachment. 1 have been through a hard
struggle IN endeavoring to determine what my
duty is. My love for Princeton, my happy re-
lations with you, my experiences with you both
in joys and in sorrow, and my work in the Theo-
illogical Seminary bonds whit bind so
strongly to my present position that nothing
but strict sense of duty would lead me TO
sever them. But L have been led to the convic-
tion that it is Gods will that 1 should accept
this call.
L have waited until now in order that might
tell you first Of the conclusions to which 1 have
come. They have been reached only after much
prayer, thought and consultation. l have come
TO the Judgment that a place of peculiar impor-
tance has been opened to me for which / seemed
10 have been prepared and which il would be
wrong for not TO enter. 1t is this indica-
tion OF Providence which has guided me.
I do not in the least fail to appreciate the vast
Importance of the work here. and IL were to
consult my own feelings alone I would make no
change; nor have in these four years in which
/ have been practically your pastor failed to be
united in heart and soul with the interests Of
this dear church and with you individually
people I cannot trust myself to say all that is
T.. hon hfff fn ma hot hoT
heard the voice of Duty telling me to go, and
believe that God has chosen work for me to do in
a new field. / only ask you to believe that
have acted conscientiously and followed the call
of God. do not propose 10 leave you for sew
eral months, but IN due time l will ask you to
unite with me in a request to the Presbytery
that be allowed to go. 1t is my dear friends.
with the most genuine sorrow that | make this
announcement TO you this morning, but believe
that ought 70 make it, and with the tenderest
love of you and of all your interests invoke
while remain the blessing OF God upon you all.
Many eyes filled with tears while DR.. Purves
was speaking and many FASTENED TO shake
hands with him at the close of the service. DR..
Prrves in speaking with a Tribune reporter this
afternoon said he would take up his regular du-
ties IN the Fifth-ave church Immediately on the
close of the Theological Seminary. DR.. James H.
Wikof president of the Board of Trustees in the
First Presbyterian Church. comments on DR..
Purves's acceptance of the call as follows:
believe Dr. Purves decided most conscen-
fiously but | say deliberately that L am very
sorry for all concerned except the Fffth-aYe.
church They are to be congratulated ] am
sorry for the university, very sorry for the sem
fnary exceedingly sorry for the First church
and sorry beyond measure for DR.. Purves, whose
health is such that believe he is undertaking