John Hall (Presbyterian pastor)
Encyclopedia
Reverend John Hall, D.D.
, L.L.D. (died 1898) was Pastor
of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
, New York City
, from 1867 until he died in Bangor, Northern Ireland in 1898. The landmark New York church, which still stands today on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street
, was built during his tenure.
Dr Hall was born in Armagh, Ireland. His ancestry was Scotch. He entered Belfast College for his secular education at an early age, and when he was 20 years old, he was licensed to preach in Armagh and St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin.
Dr. Hall was a Calvinist of the old school, who stuck fast by the old iron creed and resented all attempts to modernize the Bible or to question its infallibility. He believed heartily in the orthodox doctrines of his church and preached them roundly from his pulpit to a congregation of which the majority did not at all agree with him. He had a marvelous memory and knew every member of his flock by face and name. If he chanced to miss any member from his or her seat, he would start out the very next morning to find why the person was absent.
. Mr. Bonner gave $100,000 to the building of the present church in Fifth Avenue. For ten years the doctor conducted the "Questions and Answers" column in Mr. Bonner's weekly paper. Through this work, he acquired a fund of information on an extraordinary wide range of subjects, which is marvelous memory enabled him to retain.
About a year ago, Dr. Hall desired to retire from his work as pastor of the Fifth Avenue, but his congregation would not allow him to do so. His health had been gradually going from him for a number of years and he sturdily refused to take stimulants or to use tobacco, although advised by his physicians to do so.
Dr Hall's son, Rev. Dr. Thomas Hall, was for a time pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. He was compelled to give up his charge on account of his failing health.
Dr. Hall was very tall and built heavily in proportion. He had a smooth-shaven, kindly, intellectual face, and his figure in its Geneva gown held the attention of his hearers close kept when he spoke from his pulpit. He was an eloquent preacher, whose sermons had the spontaneity of the extemporaneous, but which were all carefully prepared. He never carried notes on manuscripts into his pulpit, and he spoke his sermons exactly as they were written. He worked with system, and his life was ordered and even and productive of great good to his fellow men. }}
, activist, author and advocate of the "back-to-the-land" movement.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
, L.L.D. (died 1898) was Pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church is a large congregation of the Presbyterian Church . The church was founded in 1808 as the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church and has been located on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street in midtown Manhattan since 1875. It has approximately 3,250 members from a variety...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, from 1867 until he died in Bangor, Northern Ireland in 1898. The landmark New York church, which still stands today on Fifth Avenue at 55th Street
55th Street (Manhattan)
55th Street is a two-mile-long, one-way street traveling east to west across Midtown Manhattan.-Sutton Place South:*The route officially begins at Sutton Place South which is on a hill overlooking FDR Drive....
, was built during his tenure.
Biography
Said of Dr. Hall in the Presbyterian Banner, on his resignation after thirty years at the pulpit of the church:Contribution to The Fifth Avenue Church
Few men in the Presbyterian church were more loved or more deserving of popularity than Dr. Hall. As pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, he did a great work for religion and charity and was never selfish in any respect. His salary when he first came to New York was $6,000 and was soon raised to $10,000 and later to $15,000 at which it remained. But his income was much larger than these figures. He is said to have earned during his pastorate at the Fifth Avenue Church, not less than $30,000 in wedding fees alone. His literary work, too, paid him well, but he was a generous giver and most of the money he earned was spent in charities and kindnesses known only to the circle of his immediate friends.Dr Hall was born in Armagh, Ireland. His ancestry was Scotch. He entered Belfast College for his secular education at an early age, and when he was 20 years old, he was licensed to preach in Armagh and St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin.
Building up of His Church
At that time, the church was situated in Nineteenth street, and when Dr. Hall took charge, it was in need of some strong guiding hand. Under his care, the congregation prospered exceedingly until the Fifth Avenue Church became the wealthiest Presbyterian church in the country. The old building in Nineteenth street would hold but 800 persons. It was abandoned and the congregation moved into the superb structure it now owns at Fifty-fifth and Fifth Avenue.Dr. Hall was a Calvinist of the old school, who stuck fast by the old iron creed and resented all attempts to modernize the Bible or to question its infallibility. He believed heartily in the orthodox doctrines of his church and preached them roundly from his pulpit to a congregation of which the majority did not at all agree with him. He had a marvelous memory and knew every member of his flock by face and name. If he chanced to miss any member from his or her seat, he would start out the very next morning to find why the person was absent.
Long in poor health
The dead cleric was a warm friend of Robert BonnerRobert Bonner
Robert Bonner may refer to:*Robert C. Bonner , American lawyer and government official*Robert Bonner , Canadian politician and corporate executive...
. Mr. Bonner gave $100,000 to the building of the present church in Fifth Avenue. For ten years the doctor conducted the "Questions and Answers" column in Mr. Bonner's weekly paper. Through this work, he acquired a fund of information on an extraordinary wide range of subjects, which is marvelous memory enabled him to retain.
About a year ago, Dr. Hall desired to retire from his work as pastor of the Fifth Avenue, but his congregation would not allow him to do so. His health had been gradually going from him for a number of years and he sturdily refused to take stimulants or to use tobacco, although advised by his physicians to do so.
Dr Hall's son, Rev. Dr. Thomas Hall, was for a time pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. He was compelled to give up his charge on account of his failing health.
Monument to his labors
The triumph of Dr. Hall's life was the gorgeous Fifth Avenue Church building, which so long as it stands will be the most appropriate monument to his labors. That edifice is probably the largest church of the Presbyterian denomination in the world, and cost not less than a million dollars. The congregation spends about $125,000 a year in charity and the mission work in which the church is directly concerned ramifies in all directions. The church is one of the sights of New York, and both spiritually and temporally, it is one of the most active centers of religious life in America.Dr. Hall was very tall and built heavily in proportion. He had a smooth-shaven, kindly, intellectual face, and his figure in its Geneva gown held the attention of his hearers close kept when he spoke from his pulpit. He was an eloquent preacher, whose sermons had the spontaneity of the extemporaneous, but which were all carefully prepared. He never carried notes on manuscripts into his pulpit, and he spoke his sermons exactly as they were written. He worked with system, and his life was ordered and even and productive of great good to his fellow men. }}
Personal life
Hall was the father of Bolton HallBolton Hall (activist)
Bolton Hall was an American lawyer, author and activist who worked on behalf of the poor and was the originator of the back-to-the-land movement in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century.-Activism:...
, activist, author and advocate of the "back-to-the-land" movement.