New-York tribune., 1919-07-14
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church Expected to Have
Man of Worldwide Fame
for Its Next P stor
Renowned Pulpit Orator
Congregation for the Third
Time Goes to United King
dom to Secure Minister

Although the congregation has not
taken the formal action necessary, it
seems certain that DR.. Jowett's sue
cessor in the pastorate of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church will be
the Rev. DR.. John Kelman, pastor of
st. Georges Free Church, Edinburgh,
Scotland.
Thus this church, for the tl'rd time
in the memory of many of its pres
ent membership, will have gone to the
United Kingdom for its minister.
Because of the unusually brilliant
pastorate of Dr.. Jowett his recall to
England, which was at the urgent
Premier Lloyd George, has focused the
attention of thousands upon the
church's vacant pulpit. The fact that
the pulpit supply committee has de-
cided upon a foreigner will occasion
some disappointment for many who
held the view that this most impor-
tant of Presbyterian churches should
be presided over by an American.
Others take the view that any suca
attitude as this is provincial and that
no lines of nationalism should be
drawn.
Noted as Preacher
ADr. Kelman is DR.. Jowett's own
choice. He is heralded as one of the
foremost preachers in Chrstendom.
In the United Kingdom his name is a
household word, and he is in great de-
mand in all parts of England as we'll
as in Scotland
He is known as conservative in
theology, which means that he will not
give utterance to any startling inter-
pretatl0ns of the Scriptures. But it is
almost inconceivable that a radical
would even be considered for this pas
torate.
A meeting of the congregation has
been called for Wednesday evening, at
which formal motion will be offered
to invite DR.. kelman to the Fifth Ave
nue. Church. If this motion is ap-
accept according to assurances re-
ceved by officials of the church. DR.
George Alexander, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church, will preside at
the meeting.
Call Decided On
Nearly two weeks ago a meeting Of
the committee on pastor was held in
the office of George B. Agnew, at %
William Street. Thirty of the forty
four members of the committee at
tended. They voted unanimously to
call DR.. Kelman, and directed that a
notice of the congregational meeting
be read from the pulpit.
Dr. helman was in America last
spring, having been invited to deliver
the Lyman Beecher lectures at Yale.
Afterward he toured the country and
was one of the speakers at the Pres
byterian General Assembly in St Louis.
On reaching Scotland Dr. Kelman
cabled to the committee that if the
pulpit were still vacant and the con-
gregatlon called him unanimously he
would accept the call He had pre-
viously declined several invitations to
take charge, saying he felt it his duty
to remain in Scotland.
Dr. kelman served at the front with
| the British Y. NJ. C. A. For his services
he was made member of the Orde E
of the British Empire.
Author of Many Books
He is tifty-tive years old. is married
and has one daughter, who is the wife
OF the Rev John Hay. missionary IN
China. he was educated at the Royal
High School. Edinburgh University and
travelled in Australia. Then, upon re-
ceiving his degree of New College, he
was made assistant to the Rev. DR..
George Adam Smith, later rector of
Aberdeen University
DR.. Kelman was ordained as minis
ter in Aberdcenshire, in 1890 For ten
years he was minister OF New North
Church Omitted Free Presbyterian
Edinburgh.
He is the author of many books and
is a frequent contributor to the re-
ligious periodical press. Among his
books are "The Holy Land" "The
Faith of Robert Louis Stevenson -
Honor Toward God" "The Light That
Saves" From Damascus to Palmyra -
"The Courts of the Temple" "Ephe-
mera Eternitates," "The Road, a Study
of John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress,
Among Famous Books" "Salted With
Fire" and a volume of war sermons.
He is not given to flights Of oratory,
but his sermons are models of con-
| struction and clothed in beautiful die
tion,. His preaching follows the
method of the logician, but there is
nothing of the cold Journalism of
| Harry Fosdick, for instance Like