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

Rev. NJ. d. Hoge offered the following min
ute as expressive OF the feelings of Presbytery
and its action in relation to the question be-
fore it
The Rev. T. V. Moore. d. D., having ap.
piled for the dissolution of his pastoral rela
ton with the First Presbyterian church of
Richmond, and for dismission to the Presby-
terry of Nashville, with the view of accepting
call from the First church in the city of
Nashville, and the commissioners appointed
for the purpose having presented the resolu
lions adopted at congregational meeting Of
the First Presbyterian of Richmond, signify
ing its sorrowful acquiescence in the request
of its pastor, the Presbytery of East Hanover
does hereby declare the relation between DR..
Moore and that church dissolved, and also
orders that dismisslon to the Presbytery OF
Nashville be granted.
In sundering the tie which has so long
bound Dr. Moore to this body and to the
church in which he has ministered, this Pres
bytery cannot refrain from giving some ex-
preston to the sorrow which fills the heart Of
every member in anticipation of the separa-
ton about to take place. For more than twenty
years, at regularly recurring meetings, we
have had spread before US the evidences Of
the zeal, fidelity, and success with which he
has discharged his pastoral office. We have
appreciated the efficient attention to the Pres.
byterial duties, the earnest devotion to the
interests of the kingdom of our Lord, the
uniform courtesy and kindness of manner
which have characterized his connection with
this body and his intercourse with its members,
and we cannot part from brother so valued
and beloved for his personal worth, varied at
tainments, and widespread usefulness, with
out the heartfelt prayer that his transferrence
to another field may prolong his days and
make the remainder of his life even more
happy and hon5fed than the past has been. )"
In presenting this paper DR.. Hoge remarked
that he believed it expressed, feebly indeed,
but truly the feelings of the Presbytery. There
are many things happening, (he said,) which
remind us of what kind of a world we live in.
Some of them are private and too sacred, too
tender to be spoken of here. Others relate
to public interests, of which the case before
us is an example. There are three parties
affected by this step. One is the brother
whose long and intimate relations to his peo-
pie are about to be sundered, His anguish is
of necessity by far the greatest: The congre-
cation part with one mamie with hundreds
they say farewell to one-he to thousand.
The paper adopted by the congregation and
presented by their commissioners is one in
which they have tried to express their feelings
in view of this separation, but they cannot be
told upon paper. l feel deeply for this church,
and for the Presbytery, but more still for the
pastor who has presented this application.
My brother, (Dr. Moore) has alluded to the
TACT of his finding me here to-day the only
member of the Presbytery when he entered it
twenty.one years ago. 1 presided at the
meeting when he was received, and in
stalled as pastor. There has been through
all this period no unkindness between u.s.
We have walked together and travelled to.
gether have met together in chambers Of
sickness and death, in seasons of joy and sad
ness, of mirth and of grief, and in it all our
friendship has been unbroken. can never
expect to find another relation of this kind
continued so pleasantly and so long We feel
at times like these, when separations are tax
ing place that this world is vain thing-poor
if this short life be all, but blessed thing if
it be preparation for that world where sepa
rations are to be known no more.
Dr. Broom, in seconding the paper offered
by DR.. Hoge, remarked that he had always
regarded the licensure and ordination of can
didates for the work of the minstry-the
forming and dissolving pastoral relations as
among the most solemn and important acts
ever performed by a court of the Lord Jesus
Christ. In this world Of change and espe-
cially in these changing times, it was not often
we found a pastoral relation continuing so
long and so happily as this. To have it dis.
solved is one of the hardest of trials to all
concerned. He felt that he could now the
more fully put his soul in DR.. Moore's stead,
from having about eight years ago passed
through a similar experience. A pastoral re-
lation of twenty-five years standing, of the
greatest harmony, had been severed, because
the voice of his Presbytery and of other
brethren was that the path of duty led to an
other field of labor. He knew then the unut.
terable anguish of the separation, and that
no other relations of the same tenderness and
strength could ever be formed on EARTH But
he believed now it was the path of duty and
so he had found it the path of peace, and was
content He referred to this personal expe
rience with a view to direct all parties here,
filled as they were with sadness, to the more
cheerful aspect of the subject The great
Head of the Church loves it and understands
its interests far better than we can, and when
these changes are made in his fear, after
prayerful deliberation, there is every reason to
expect they will be directed for his glory and
the good of his people The Lord would not
| forsake this church if it earnestly looked to
him for another pastor after his own heart
DR.. Moore had truly said that the heart
could not strike its roots in the autumn of life
as it did in the spring. Still there was no
reason to doubt that he would, from the first
find in Nashville very kind, and, after little,
truly attached Christian friends 1t was
very large church, made up of intelligent,
pious people; he would find himself surround
ed and cheered by their cordial support, and
by confding brethren in the Presbytery and
Synod. The field was magnificent one; he
believed, in view of all the reasons given,
especially in reference to the prospect of i'm
proved health, that the voice of Gods provi-
dence clearly pointed Dr. Moore's way to it
that he had eminent fitness for it; and though
on all personal accounts it was painful for his
congregation, for the Presbytery, and most
painful to himself to make this separation,
yet that it was one approved Of God, and his
blessing would assuredly rest upon it.
Rev. John S. Watt offered few remarks;
but from his position we were unable to re-
port them. They were intended to present