Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-05
'DR. EARLE WHITLEY
RESIGNS AS PASTOR
Health Impaired in Campaign
for National Shrine of
Christian Church.

The resignation of Rev. DR.. Earle Will
fey as minister of the National City
Christian Church, the $1,500,0o0 shrine
erected year ago at Thomas Circle
through the Nationwide contributions
of Disciples of Christ, was made known
after the regular morning service yes
terday through a personal letter from
the minister to the congregation.
DR.. Whitley, who has been minister Of
the congregation for the last 81 years,
attributed his resignation to the condi-
ton Of his health. He Is expected to
return to Washington later today from
his Summer place in Delaware.
DR.. Whitley stated in his letter
that he had hoped to return to his
work earlier, but the condition Of his
health was still such that he was afraid
it might be some time before he could
have the physical endurance to under
take with assurance and satisfaction
the strenuous work that was needed In
a church of such outstanding position.
He rendered his resignation, he said,
with profound regret, but realizing the
congregation needed and deserved the
best leadership 1t could secure, he
therefore felt 1t should be left free to
call a mores vigorous man. He ex-
pressed his gratitude to the congrega-
ton for its kindness during the months
of his illness.
Action Scheduled Thursday.
DR.. Wilfley's resignation was read by
Green H. Hackworth, chairman OF the
Official Board of the church, who said:
Il am sure that the congregat1on
shares my personal regrets that DR..
Wiley has thought 1t necessary TO
take this action. Official action on
DR.. Wilhey's letter will be taken at
the annual meeting of the congregation
on Thursday evening Of this week. .
DR.. Wilfeys health was impaired
very largely through his energetic
activities in the campaign TO erect
the beautiful nationally representative
church of the Disciples OF Christ, which
was dedicated during the international
and World Conventions of the Disci-
pies of Christ held here last october.
The strain of the effort. together with
the hard work incidental to a great
convention. broke his health. He
preached only one sermon in the new
building.
For a time few special ministers
conducted the services there and, when
it appeared that DR.. Whitley would not
be able to resume the work at an
early date. Dr. H. H. Harmon Of the
Board of Education Of the Disciples
of Christ was given leave of absence
from that work to become acting
pastor.
Came Here FL Years Ago.
DR.. Whitley came to Washington 81
years ago as acting pastor OF the YER
mont Avenue Christian Church, where
DR.. Frederick Power had for so many
years ministered. DR.. Power had been
the pastor of President Garfield. When
DR.. Power died DR.. Wiley was chosen
to succeed him.
DR.. Whitley was born at Kansas City,
Mo, in 1867 Choosing the ministry as
his life calling, DR.. Whitley went TO
Bethany College. West Virginia, follow
ing this with studies at Chicago and
Columbia Universities.
His first pastorate was at Minerva,
Ohio. Subsequent ministries were at
st. Louis, Charlottesville. Ind, and
Newcastle. Pa. 1t was while he was at
Minerva that he met Miss Bertha Elder,
whom he married. They have two
daughters, Miss Catherine Wiley, an
active aid of her father in his church
work, and Mrs. Ralph H. Hem Of Ge-
neva, Ohio.
Student of Shakespeare.
Dr. Whitley has long been a student
of Shakespeare and it was his annual
custom throughout his ministry to give
sermon on the moral and spiritual