The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-18


content, even more than content to wear out
where | am, and leave my ashes among the
people for whom [ have labored so long. But
the providence of God did not allow me to re-
main in this attitude of quiet. A call from
the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville was
made out and pressed upon me, with some CIR
cumstances attending it, that compelled me to
raise the question whether God might not be
calling me to husband my failing strength, and
use it to accomplish more for His cause in that
field than | could hope to do in this one.
called you together at that time and laid my
difficulties frankly before you, hoping that you
might be able to cast some light on the ques
ton of duty | then visited Nashville to see
whether | could hope to perform the duties OF
the position and yet have such time for open
air exercise by relief from constant preparation
for the pulpit, as might tend to restore my lost
vigor, and give me new lease OF active ser
vice in the work of the Master. My mind Ia
bored in the attempt to reach a conclusion, the
considerations seeming to be so evenly balanced;
but finally concluded, that so far as L could
Judge, | might last longer and do more work
in that field than could in this one, and that
for this reason God was calling me there.
The main consideration in the way OF this
conclusion was the wrench of heart that takes
for more than a score of years. To me this
consideration had peculiar force for | can new
err expect to form such ties again. You may
have another pastorate of twenty-one years.
| never can, in all human probability, and if
could, the heart does not take root in the au
tumn of life as it does in the spring. can
never have the te ling of home about any other
place exactly as have about Richmond, nor the
nj alotI RI
CATION that | have to this one. | have given
to it he best and brightest years of my minis
try, have seen generation growing up around
me and taking the place Of that which greeted
me when I came in my youthful vigor to take
charge of its spiritual interests; have mingled
nv smiles and my tears with these people, at
the altar, the font, the freside, the sick room,
the house of mourning, and the grave, amidst
scenes that are not commonly repeated In the
same life, and, for me, at least, he shadow on
the dial-plate cannot be expected to go back
ward, and thereto for me, the thought of
separation was one Of unspeakable anguish
But with ny view of the facts, the separation
was inevitable, after awhile, and under cir
cumstances far more painful The question
seemed to be simply, shall we part now, with
hope of meeting again In the flesh, or part
not long hence without any such hope, and
wheo helpless family may be left as a burden
to a people unable to bear more than is laid on
them now Another pastor may render you
more and better service than | could expect to
do, with my wasting strength, whilst In another
field my paling cheek may brighten and my
failing frame may strengthen and my time and
ability of labor for Christ be increased. True.
| may be mistaken in this hope, but if | am |
shall at least have the satisfaction of knowing
that | have done all in my power to prolong
my usefulness in the work OF the Lord, and
have followed what seemed to me to be the
voice of the Master whom | have vowed to
obey.
Impelled by considerations like these it only
remains for me now, with sorrow and reluc-
lance to announce to you, and through you to
the congregation, my intention to apply to the
Pr sbytery of East Hanover, at pro-re-ndtd
meeting soon to be held in this city, for dis
solution O.: my pastoral relation, and my re-
quest that such action may be taken IN the pre-
misses as may be deemed proper by the congre-
CATION duly assembled.
And now, dear brethren, cannot more suit
ably conclude this painful communication, thar
in the touching words of Paul, in his farewell
to the elders of Ephesus, and commend you
to God, and to the Word of his grace, which
is able to build up and to give you an inherit
| ance among all them which are sanctihed,
hoping that it may not be true Of us as it was
| of him, "that We all rmong whom have gone
preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my
| face no more :" but rather as he wrote to his
beloved church at Philppi, that whether |
come to see you, or else be absent, | may hear
of your affairs that We stand fast in one spirit.
with one mind, striving together for the faith
of the Gospel" FINELY, brethren, fare
we'll be perfect, be of good comfort, be of
ore mind, live in peace, al d the God OF love
and peace shall be with you.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Ghost, be with you all Amen.
Your brother in the Gospel,
I. Y. MOORE
Mr.. Fitzhugh presented the following reso
lutions, which were unanimously adopted
Resolved l. That the congregation of the
First Presbyterian Church Of Richmond have
heard with profound sorrow, the communica
ton of our beloved Paste" T. V. Moore, d.
D., informing us of his acceptance of call for
his pastoral sery ces by the First Church of
Nashville, and notifying US of his intended
resignation Of the position which he has so
long held in this church.
Re. diced 3 That we bear willing testimony
to the fidelity and yea, with which he has
preached to us the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.
We bear m witness that he las not Stunned
to declare unto US all the counsel of God
And during his long pastor tie he b gone be-
fore this people and led them in ey Ell holy ex-
ample, and in every pious and bei evolent emo
tion,-pointing out the way to those who were
willing to be co-workers with d. He has
been to us patent and gentle teacher kind
and judicous coan elor, and by his prudence,
humility and frmness has secured the conf
dence and Election of the people of his charge,
from the youngest to the oldest, with an una
nimity and to an e. 9nt seldom attained And
we mention with special gratitude, the constant
attention he has p 'dto the young Of thecongre-
CATION, and the zeal and patient assiduity with
which he has fed the lambs of the flock, For
upwards of twenty one years he has gone in
and out before us, ian example of the believ-
ers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spir
it, in faith, in purity" And we bless and
praise our God and his, that he has been spared
to us so long.
Resolved 8. That the withdrawal of such
Pastor at such juncture as this is one Of those
inscrutabe providences which bring sorrow TO
our hearts, but to which We bow with humble
and adoring submission, with the prayer at the
same time that the great Head of the Church
will vouchsafe in infinite mercy and goodness
to raise up for us speedily, another of like
mind and heart, to take the place and fulfil the
duties so long and so faithfully discharged by
him whom He has removed from us, we trust,
to sphere of great usefulness.
RESOLVED f. That though our hearts bleed at
the thought of this trying and painful separa-
ton, yet the cause which has induced our Pas
tor to leave us, forbids opposition, on our part,
to his wishes in this regard and we therefore
dissolution of che pastoral relation between the
Rev. T. V. Moore and in humble submission
to what we believe to be the manifest leadings
of Providence in the matter. And we hereby