The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-18
EAST HANOVER PREsBYTERY.
RESIGNATION OF REV. DIR. MOORE.

held in the Lecture room of the Second Prespy' |
terrain Church, Richmond, on the 18th instant,
at which the Rev. John Miller was appointed
Moderator, and VIM. +. Taylor, ESQ.,, Clerk,
pro tenn.
The object of the meeting was to consider
an application of the Rev. L. V. Moore, ID. d.,
to have his pastoral relation with the First Pres
byterian Church, Richmond, dissolved, with
a view to his accepting a call to become the
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in
Nashville, Tennessee.
In presenting his application DR.. Moore re-
marked with deep and tender emotion that 1t
was the most painful duty of his life.
DIR. MooRE's REMARKS.
1t is just twenty-one years since the East
Hanover Presbytery met to install me Pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church of this city.
Of the ministers then present, but one re-
mains, Or. HOge,) and his pastorate is the
only one then existing that remains unbroken.
With him my relations have been peculiarly
close and tender, such as rarely occur in the
intercourse of ministers, and are not likely to
be repeated We have lived and labored side
by side, as brothers, and the thought Of ter
mination of this long fraternal intercourse of
more than score of years is one of peculiar
sadness. And as | recall the names of the
other members of this Presbytery at that time,
l find that more than one-third of the whole
number on the roll have ceased from their la
bors and fallen asleep, whilst most OF the
others are scattered far and wide, some Of
them broken down with exhausting labors, and
bending towards the grave The memory Of
these mournful changes gives shadow OF
deeper sadness to the prospect Of another
change, that shall sunder another tie so long
existing. And it is hardly an alienation Of
that sadness however comforting it is in itself,
to remember that my intercourse with this
Presbytery has always been so kindly that not
rufle of unquiet feeling, or single scene Of
unbrotherly action has ever interrupted the
even flow of its tranquil current The thought
of terminating Presbyterial relations so full of
pleasant elements is one that cannot contem-
plate without peculiar pain.
OF my relations to my Church, during these
long, eventful years, so full of precious memo
ries and ties, l cannot venture to speak.
They are too sacred and l. cannot touch on
them. Nothing could have induced me to
think of severing relations so tender, but the
conviction that the Master was calling me to
make this sacrifice for an extension and in.
crease of usefulness. That conviction rests
mainly on single fact. For some years past.
my health has been threatened, and although
have no organic disease, still the indications
of waning vigor have been too serious to be
overlooked, and such as to suggest that unless
| obtain some. relief from the pressure that
has been upon me for these many years, | must
ere long succumb to its weight. 1t is true
that this state of facts would not have impelled
me to seek change of relation, for | was will
ing to labor on and wear out where am, if
such had been the will of the Master But
such did not seem to be his will, for without
any agency of mine call was pressed upon
my consideration from most important field
of labor, connected with circumstances that
gave this call peculiar force as a providential
summons to prolong my life and to increase
my usefulness. The position itself had some
very peculiar features OF promise as one Of
usefulness, and by judicious employment OF
the accumulated studies of nearly thirty years,
an amount of leisure might be secured for &C
tive, out door exercise, which could never be
secured here, and which might be expected to
restore my wasted physical energies, and give
/ ~ ~
the case that forced itself on my mind as l
long and prayerfully pondered the question,
and it grew in strength as | looked at it,
Every consideration of personal affection and
relationship drew in the other direction, leav-
ing these aspects of sheer duty to work unaid-
ed. The only real difficulty, the pain of part
ing, seemed to be merely a question of time,
to be net hereafter in worse form than now.
Many of our contemporaries in Princeton,
brother Moderator, twenty FIVE years ago,
whose promise of long life was greater than
ours, have fallen, admonishing me at least,
that disregard of these indications of fail
ing strength on the one hand. and a pointing
providence on the other must bring me to
this question of parting with my people on the
sick bed, or at the grave, when its pain to them
at least must be much greater. Hence in look.
ing at the important field to which was call
ed, and the relief it seemed to promise from
some of the difficulties that were wearing me
out here, it seemed to me that my Master was
calling me to occupy this new place in his vine
yard, AMI thus work longer time and with
larger results than | could hope for where |
am. For these general reasons, | have take
the requisite steps to bring this matter efore
sorrow ask it to dissolve my pastoral rela-
ton to the First Presbyterian Church of this
city, and dismiss me to the Presbytery OF
Nashville, with view of accepting call from
the First Presbyterian Church of that city.
In conclusion he stated that he had duly
informed the congregation of his purpose, and
that they were here, by their commissioners,
to respond before the Presbytery:
Col. William 2. Munford appeared on the
part of these commissioners, and laid before
the Presbytery the following papers:
ACTION OF THE CONGREGATION.
A meeting of the congregation of the First
Presbyterian church of Richmond, was held,
according to previous notice, on Monday after
noon, at 4 O'Clock.
On motion of William F. Taylor, the Rev.
Charles III. Read, d. D., was appointed Mod
orator, and VIM. p Muntord, Secretary.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the
Moderator.
Mr.. Beverly r. Wexford presented to the
meeting, with appropriate remarks the fol
lowing communication from DR.. Moore to the
session of his church.
LETTER OF DR.. MOORE.
RICHMOND, Oct. 30th, 1868