The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-04-13
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
DR.. Bullock and the Franklin Street Church

The dissolution of the pastoral relation between
DR.. j. ]. Bullock and the Franklin Street Presby
terrain church, Baltimore, having been officially
announced, and the fact also of his acceptance of
the call rendered him from the I'd church, Alexan
dria, Va, it is due to DR.. Bullock and the Frank
lin Street church, that publicity should be given
to some Of the facts attending the severance OF the
pleasant and long continued spiritual ties, facts
which are so justly complimentary to the retiring
pastor, and so honorable and praiseworthy on the
part of the church.
As soon as it was announced to the church that
their pastor had received call to another field
and was disposed to accept it, congregational
meeting was called and held on the evening Of
Wednesday, March I'd, when the following pream-
BILE and resolution were adopted, to wit:
Whereas, we the members of this congregation,
have been most deeply panied by the announce
ment that our beloved pastor, Dr. j. j. Bullock,
contemplates dissolution of his pastoral relation
with our church, having received call from a
sister church in Alexandria. Therefore be it
ResOlved, That in the Providence of God, DR..
Bullock has been our standard bearer during nine
years of most eventful period, and by his Chris
tan courtesy, tender sympathy, and faithfulnesS
as pastor, he has endeared himself to us, and
won our uudying love; that by NOBLE fearless
advocacy of the truth as it is in Jesus, making
no compromise with error, after the traditions
of men, after the rudiments of this world he has
shown himself to be eminently fitted as champion
for the spiritual interests OF this portion of the
Lords vineyard that by following his lead, We
may hope to accomplish all that is worth striving
for, in this world of sorrow and death, and to en-
ter with him into that rest (which remaineth for
the people of God; we would say to him
'Abide with us for it is toward evening, and the
day is far spent" still talk to us "of the way, ="
and open to us the Scriptures, expounding in them
unto us the things concerning our Lord; and in
this we most earnestly pray that he and ourselves
also may be guided by the great Head of the
Church.
The above appeal was placed in the hands of a
committee of three to present to DR.. Bullock, the
committee to report at an adjourned meeting.
At that adjourned meeting held March 9th, the
following paper was adopted viz:
Whereas the Rev. Dr. Bullock, pastor of this
church, having now signi6ed to the congregation,
in response to the appeal made to him at the last
meeting, his continued desire for dissolution OF
the pastoral relation. 1t is
ReSolred, l. That while the prospect of the sep
aration thus sought awakens no other feelings on
the part of the congregation than those of ex-
IRENE regret and anxiety it is yet due to our just
appreciation of the integrity of our pastors con
viction and purposes, and his conscientious regu
lation of his desires that we shall consent to the
fulflment of his wishes in this regard and concur
in his proposed application to the Presbytery to
this end.
2 That in yielding our reluctant consent to this
dissolution, it is due to ourselves and to our be-
loved pastor, who has been with us during period
so full of events in the history of the Church,
that we should bear our cordial testimony to the
uniform diligence, fidelity, affection and ability
with which he has fulfilled all the functions of his
sacred office among US, in public, and from house
to house, preaching the kingdom of God and
teaching those things which concern our Lord
Jesus Christ" not stunning :" to declare unto us
the whole counsel of God,
8. That we will cherish grateful and affection
tonate remembrance Of his service in the Lord
rendered to us in his ministry, and of the kindness
and courtesy of his personal intercourse with us;
that we earnestly commend him and all his house
to the care and guidance of our covenant God and
Father, and will accompany him to whatever new
field of labor the Master will assign him with our
prayers that God will make all grace abound to-
ward him, that he having all suficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work. :"
Subsequently at the meeting Of Presbytery called
to act upon the call of the I'd church, Alexandria
to Dr. Bullock and to consider the whole matter
of his removal and transfer, an account of which
has been published, the following paper was pre-
sented by the Rev. j. A. Lefevre, was read and
unanimously adopted by the Presbytery
Resolved, l. That in dssolving the pastoral re,
lation between the Rev. j. j. Bullock, d. D., and
the Franklin st. Presbyterian church of Baltimore,
Il. - Il 10 tn
press its gratitude to the great Head of the Church
for the eminent success of DR.. Bullock'S ministry
in the charge from which he now separates, the
church under his care having grown from com
paratively moderate proportions into one OF the
most powerful in our whole connection.
Resolued, 2. That we will follow DIR. Bullock
with our prayers for the same, and even larger
blessings upon his ministry in the new field OF la
Dor to which God has called him.
On last Sabbath I'D of April the last commun-
ion which their late pastor. as such, will ever ad
minister to the Franklin Street church, was cee-
brated, and on that occasion, twelve were admitted
to the church, nine oD profession of their faith and
three on certificate; fitting close of ministry,
that on the whole, has been remarkably successful,
if we consider how the tide though seemingly IA
yorable, has set with strong current against our
cause in the Monumental city.
A few of us in and adjacent to the city of Balti-
more, have been accustomed, with some regulari-
ty, once week, to meet In DR.. Bullock study to
commune with each other, and to converse about
the prospects of our cause in this border land.
We who remain will miss the courteous greetings,
the kindly sympathy, the friendly counsels of our
brother and much of the pleasure of these re-
unions will cease when he is gone