New-York tribune., 1902-01-01
DIR. JOHN HALL.
A BIOGRAPHY BY HIS SON.
JOHN HALL: PASTOR AND PREACHER. A
Biography by His Son. Thomas c. Hall Octave,
pp. 81. Fleming II. Reveu Company.

tells the story OF his honored fathers life and
career and though the volume everywhere bears
the imprint Of fliai love it is not marred by
overpraise or indiscreet eulogy. In bringing out
the integrity. simplicity, tenderness and abso-
lutte moral sinct rity OF DR.. Hall the biographer
undoubtedly strikes the true note of his life.
John Hall was the eldest son OF William Hall
and Rachel MCGOWAN and was born on July 81,
1s29 For SIX generations the family had main
tained possession OF Ballygorman. County
Armagh. Ireland. simple. sturdy God-fearing
Presbyterian folk, originally of Scottish extrac-
ton In spite Of narrow means William Hall
managed to give his children a good education.
and DR. Hall early sent to a village school
"here naturally the three RS predominated
though. as everywhere in fercey Protestant
Ulster. sort OF sturdy religious atmosphere
seemed to pervado even reading, writing and
Hiilnineuc The family life of the lad was de-
VIC O Of all luxury. The daily fare was of the
simplest character, the products of the farm
being almost wholly relied upon to supply the
table Fresh meat was not freely eaten In
the evening those who had worked in the fields
gathered about the turf fire in the kitchen and
over 1t hung a huge pot of oatmeal boiled with
the outterrnilk from the dairy. Even the cloth
ing was largely homemai lie, and constructed
win view rather TO endurance than fashion
Yet for all this. enforced simplicity was not felt
as poverty. Nowhere in the world can there
7OO.p
the self-sustaining Ulster farmers"
Even as child John Halls tempersment uas
serious and inclined to religion.
,ioWard eventide the parent would take his
5 eloest son by the hand. and with him would go
20 the little orchard behind the cottage and
there, overlooking the far land" in the glow Of
the closing day, he would commune with God:
ana ne himself prematurely bent with hard toll
anxiety and care would impress on The RS
NINA lessons he never forgot, of fidelity to duty
obedlence TO God dependence upon prayer and
W oL Ia4Ih1uiness in all undertaken tasks Even
tnen the boys mind was filled with awe and
nope nope az the prospect Of undertaking the public
ministry of Gods Word. When the minister
came, as was the wholesome custom. and cath
ered about him all the children to question and
instruct them in religious matters the eldest
boy was always foremost in the accuracy of the
answering. Each Sabbath the family made the
way across the bogs,' If fine, along the roadway
IN wet or winter weather to the meeting
house"
In his comments in after years on this old time
service, the conservative temper of Dr. Hall is
clearly disclosed. Much is said NOWADAYS
about making the churches attractive TO the
young, and the effort often leads in the direction
OF competition with popular institutions that
thrive by the number of tickets they can sell
The writer may be mistaken. but ali his recol-
lections would indicate that to make the Church
and its service solemn, tender, true to the facts
OF hIe real, sincere is the best way to
make it revered and beloved by those who have
not yet been demoralized by "spectacIes' and
palpable insincerities"
Young Halls life at college in Belfast was in
keeping with his boyhood promise He was
brought into personal contact with many Of the
revered leaders Of Presbyterianism Of that day
He also gradually came into the consciousness
that there was another side to religion than the
rspt introspection side SO strongly emphasized
In his own family. There was also the Church
militant, sturdy and unbending Presbyterian
ism that was in ceaseless conflict alike with
Romanism and High Anglicanism. Presbyte-
rianism was also troubled with internal questions
on which DR.. Hall, during the whole of his
career in Ireland. ranged himself on the pro-
gressive side 1t only when more funda-
mental questions Of Biblical interpretation came
NO in more recent years in this country that
DR.. Hall felt impeled to adopt conservative
attitude In his earlier life in Ireland social
drinking was common among Christians but
young Hall early began to oppose the ha bit and
finally became total abstainer. He also adopt
ed the 'heresy" Of anti-slavery, as the older
orthodox brethren called 1t, and some years
later when he was settled at Mary's Abbey
Dublin. he shocked many old fashioned Presby-
terians by espousing disestablishment and un-
sectarian education. For so doing as well as
for his personal kindness and courtesy, Dr. Hall
gained the friendship of many Roman Catholics
though they knew him 10 be answering op-
ponent Of their beliefs.
After ordination Mr.. Hall spent some time as
missionary in Connaught until in 1852 he was
chosen pastor of the First Church Of Armagh
After fruitful ministry of six years there he
called to be associate pastor OF Mary's
Abbey. Dublin and during his life in Dublin
he developed to the full his well balanced pow
Christian minister. He held that Irish
Presbyterianism should cut loose from the Tory
party, with the result that he attacked in
turn by the partisans of both parties and was
accused of working with the "Papists."
than which more dreadful accusation could
be made against a Presbyterian minister in the
North of Ireland. The attacks proved to be
harmless. however, and the common people
heard him gladly"
In 1867 the Conservatives feared he would be
elected moderator and. in order to prevent
that they contrived TO have him chosen fra
ternaI delegate TO the Presbyterians OF Amer
ica a purely ornamental office. But, curiously
enough, his visit to this country resulted in his
receiving unanimous call 10 the Fifth Avenue
Presbyterian Church. Of this city. and open
ing up to him a field OF honor and usefulness
ncomparaby greater than that which he occu-
pied in Dublin Under his faithful pastorate
the church became the greatest and most IA
nous congregation OF Presbyteyians in america,
and for many years he ranked easily among the
best known and influential clergymen OF the
New World. His fame. indeed. travelled back
TO Europe, and the visitor from the Old World
was pretty sure to include John Hall in his list
OF great personages to be seen and heard
Amid all the honors that 70 him he bore
himself with his odtime simplicity and mod