The sun., 1909-06-28
BOTHPASTORSLEAVECHURCH
FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN
LOSES DIR. STEVENSON.

LOSES DIR. STEVENSON.
Ills Assistant IDr. Halienbeck. Also Re
-Dlssatisfaction with the size
OF the Congregation since john Hall
Died-Preachers for the Summer.
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
Fifth avenue and Fifty-hfth street. the
largest in the denomination. 10 now with
out either minister or associate minister.
The former. the Rev. DR.. j. Ross Steven
son, announced his resignation following
public worship yesterday morning, The
latter, the Rev. DR. E. r. Hallenbeok.
who preached yesterday afternoon. did
not announce his retirement publicly.
but did so without restraint TO many
friends who inquired about his plans.
The cause for the departure Of the pastor
is a personal one, and OF the associate
pastor because' a contract entered into
for two years will not be renewed by
the session. The Rev. DR., Stevenson
will become pastor Of Brown Memorial
Church, Baltimore. and the Rev., DR..
Hallenbeck IL without immediate plans
for the future. .t
After the service yesterday morning
the stated clerk OF the session. 8. B. Brow
nell. handed out typewriter documents.
One was made Of four resolutions OF tho
session. one relating to details OF refer
ence to a committee. Tho three others
bore upon the Rev. DIR. Stevenson. The
first one 'congratulates the pastor on
the success that has attended his work
in arousing the spiritual life, In binding
together the church for benehoence.
in influence upon children and in reach
!! ing outsiders" The second one deplores
the pastors impending departure because
Of injury to the church. to the Presbytery
and to the cause OF religion In New York.
and the third says that the session
will unite in a request to the Presbytery to
let him 60. These resolutions were
adopted at a special meeting OF the ses-
sion held on June 20 last.
A trustee OF the church, In q position
| to know the facts, although not member
Of the session. was more willing to talk
than was the clerk. He said In response
to questions Of a group Of members gath
cred in the vestibule after the service had
concluded:
J
forgotten the thirty years under the Rev.
DR.. John Hall and the crowds that at
tended and filed the church during all
Of that time. Since his day our largest
congregations have been in summer
when great men from England have oo-
cnpied the pulpit and filled the pews with
worshippers. The success Of these July
and August services with their crowds
has hurt by contrast the work OF the
church during the rest OF the year. The
Brown Memorial Church 10 the foremost
Presbyterian Church in Baltimore. Its
membership is family and conservative
I 1t is OF one mind. The Fifth Avenue
congregation is quite different. 1t ID
composed Of a good many elements. not
all Of them conservative. The Rev. DR.:
Stevenson was q compromise choice and
by no means all Of the congregation have
been satisfied with him.
That is not wholly his fault. 1t 10 a
difficult congregation to lead. and only
another strong man like John Hall can
lead it. Its members do their own think.
! ing theologically. But they would unite.
I think under a man who could AL the
pews. II Is a big auditorium. and when
Sunday after Sunday many OF the pews
are unoccupied there IL complaint. The
somewhat to the proportions OF the best
days Of DR.. Hall but It has been largely
the gifts Of the few. Tho popular ele-
meni has been lacking. While admire
DR.. Stevenson much ! am free TO say
think he is wise to enter upon another
| field.
-As for DR.. Hallenbeck, he came here
from a good pastorate In Binghamton TO
take up two year evangelistic plan.
For a time there appeared to be marked
success. Sunday night congregations
were large. the young men took hold
and there was marked enthusiasm. 1t
did not last, and am informed the ses-
sion decided not to continue II after
October l. when the two years are up
| When asked concerning his plans DR..
| Hallenbeck said he had none. He does
not know what he will do. HE said he
could not remain L DT. Stevenson were to
leave and so had resigned.
The statement read by the Rev. DIR.
Stevenson to the congregation yester-
day morning. not large one by the way.
| follows:
! To the Congregation Of the FIN Arenvs
Presbyteridn Church:
DEARLY BELOVED: As you may know I
have had under consideration a call to the
Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church Of
Baltimore. Md This unanimous and ear
nest call must have surprised you when you
| heard OF 1t as II did me. The explanation
which accompanied 1t was an exceptional
| opportunity for a great work and a need
which they deemed me fitted to meet
Such an unsolicited CALL pressed upon me
by united. prayerful and spiritually
minded people. compelled me to consider
the question as to where l could render
the greater service for the Master.
This is largely personal question which
must be decided not according TO worldly
| or commercial standards. not according
to popular views Of prominence and use
! fulness, but according to q man g own God
| given conviction as to the line OF his duty
After giving to the whole matter conscien-
tious thought and earnest prayer inti-
mated to the sessio on what my conclusion
was likely to be and my intention to an
nounce a final decision this morning.
believe II to be my duty to accept the call
to the Brown Memorial Church and In due
time l shall ask you to concur with me In
requesting Presbytery to dissolve the
pastoral relation that ! may take up the
work in Baltimore.
In announcing this decision ! am not
unmindful OF the great privilege IL has been
to be associated with you. my dear people,
and OF the inspiration the ministry Of this
church has been to me Nor am ! unmind-
| full OF the futur service this church should
give to the cause Of Christ. ! can only
assure you that my aneotionate interest
and earnest prayers will follow each one OF
| you In the sincere hope that the comm <
years may be even brighter and more fruit
full than all the blessed ones Of the past