Evening journal., 1904-12-12
REV. KEIGWIN'S s
NEW PAST0RATE
New York Congregation
Quickly Gave Its Approval
by Raising Over $1,000
SON OF FORMER MINISTER HERE

New York. Dec. 12.-Quickly taking
advantage Of the cheers and applause
that greeted the announcement Of the
acceptance Of the pastorate by the Rev
A. Edwin Keigwin. the Rev. Dr Henry
stebbins yesterday morning persuaded
the congregation of the West End
Presbyterian Church to pay OF a $4,000
church mortgage and raise several
thousand dollars for the churchs needs
besides. All the money was raised i'm
about ten minutes. The Rev. Mr.. Keig-
win. who IS now the minister at the
Fourth Presbyterian Church in Newark,
n. j., is the son OF the Rev. DR.. A. ~.
Keigwin. who recently retired as pastor
of the West Presbyterian Church in
Wilmington. Del DR.. and Mrs. Kelg-
win are now making their home with
their son.
Since the resignation Of the Rev. Dr.
Shaw, several years ago, DR.. Stebbins
has been acting as pastor of the church
on condition that his successor be ap-
pointed as soon as possible. AS the
congregation is largo and has many
members OF wealth Of the upper west
side, 4 was slow I'm making its choice.
land DR.. Stebbins continued to oficiate.
Rev. Mr.. keigwin Accepts.
Recently some members Of the church
went to Newark and heard at the
Fourth Presbyterian Church Mr.. Keig-
win. Mr.. Keigwin is very well known
as a pulpit orator as well as a leader in
other lines of church work, and the
pastorate Of churches I'm larger cities
80 IfaN he
would not leave Newark. The men,
bers reported to the congregation a
month ago that Mr.. Keigwin was the
man for them, and two Sundays ago a
sermon preached by the minister in the
West End Church found great favor
with the entire congregation. A unan-
imous call was extended to him, but
again he showed disinclination to leave
Newark. but at last took the matter
under advisement. saying that he woult
; answer in a letter to the congregation
to be read at the service yesterda!
morning.
Immediately before the sermon yes
terday DR.. Stebbins took from hi
pocket a sealed letter. and then. whil
the congregation waited almost breath
4 lessly, opened It and read. A momen
e later there was not only applause wit
- hands, but ordinations Of joy. tn
- pounding Of canes ana umbrellas on tn
! floor and excitement that arose Il
cheers. Mr. Kelgwin had written tina
NE would come.
Applause in the Church.
. For more than five minutes the ap
+. plause continued. Dr. Stebhins stand
b ing motionless meanwhile. Then I'm {
! lull of a moment he stepped forward
and said how pleased he was to see thi
general manifestation Of joy at the ac
b ceptance There was more applause a
this, but the minister checked it.
'Now I want You to utilize this emo
$ tion in another way" he said. Il wan
you TO utilize it in a three-fold way b,
2 your Offering today-hrst, as a test o
e your devotion TO the church second al
b as test of your thanks for the Christ
mas that is upon us, and. third, b.
} paying off this ehurch's mortgage o
D $1,000, which win leave us clear. VIII
0 you prove your thauksgiving?"
S Officials Of the church at once start
{ ed going from member to member ant
for the next ten minutes there wa
s nothing heard but the rustic Of greer
e and yellow bills or the scratching O
e pcH anu leNti on cnecks ana orders
b All was taken forward and counte
- while the congregation sang the Doxol
g ogy over and over again. While still
\ much remained uncounted, DR.. Steb
bins stepped forward.
n This pays the mortgagei" he ex
4 claimed, and tn re was more applause
= and again "Old Hundred" was sung.
There was at least $4,000 I'm cash re
f.T
addition.
Mr.. Keigwin will begin the active dut
/, les Of his new pastorate in February.