Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-07
The SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. AS

lHE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCd.- Ao
stated in a notice of the approaching meeting
of the Presbytery Of Chesapeake, published IN
yesterdays Gazette, Rev. DR.. Bullock has
announced his determination of resgning the
pas,orarc of the I'd Presbyterian Church IN this
city. The differences which exist between the
pastor aud portion of his congregation, aud
which led to this determination, were OCCASION
ed by complaints made by the latter OF the long
sermons preached by the Rev. Doctor, irrespcc-
tive of the suggestions that were made to HIM
concerning the ACCESSIBILITY of shortening them;
of difficulty he had with member of his
congregation; Of his sending his step-chlldren
to ST. Johns Academy, the principal OF which,
MIR. Richard L. Carne, "a Catholic, after having
advised his congregation against seudDg their
children to Catholic schools, and of his having
had u personal difficulty with Mr.. j. h. Par
rott, one of the Elders of his Church.
Ip announcing his determination OF resign
ing, which be did last October, the Rev. DR..
said
After mature and prsyerful deliberation, and
consultation with persons every way competent
to advise have determined to resign the charge
of this church and congregation at the close OF
this present ecclesiastical year, Whcn ends the
| 10Th of April, 1874, which determination maze
known to the session of this Church Friday
| evening. | deem it unadvisabe to state TO the
CONGREGATION All that | said to the sesslon-cer-
tainly not at this time. 1t is sufficient for me to
say TO you, that so great is the dlVergence OF
views between the PASTOR some OF the oHcers
and some of the members of this church In re-
gard to the nature, functions and r, procal du-
ties of pastor and people, and also IN reference
to tn" best means OF u!lding up a Solid, perm4-
nent AMI efficient Presbyterian church IN this
city, that think it ex pedient for me to retire
from this feld-not abruptly, but at the time
specified Were this Il large church IN the midst
| of a growing city, so firm is my conviction that
my views are right and Scriptural, and IN ac-
curdunce with the genius of true Presbyterian
ism, and in conformity with the pratt or tue
ablest, most pious and useful ministers in the
| Presb Yterian Church in this and in other coun-
tries, that should feel it to be my duty to re-
main and try to build up this church, on the
sa 10 basis, on which, under God, have been
instrumental in building up three large and
,werfu churches in the cities Of Frankfort and
Louisville, KY and in the city of Baltimore
| Md. But this church is too small, and 1t sphere
of action too circumscrlbed, surrounded, as II Isl
| by other large and more Influential churches to
admit of any but united action and cooperation
on part of the Pastor, Elders Deacons and
people | en- satisfied that | cannot have IN
the future, rs l have not had in the past,
! that support and co-cpretion, which is aD-
solutely essential to the success OF this church
| For these and other reasons, which l thick 1T
| prudent not to mention, l have come To the
| determination already indicated, and IN con-
clusion, l beg, for the sake OF the Master
and his blood bought Church, that during
the very short time 1 will be with you, That
GU will cooperate with mo in promoting the
purity, peace and prosperity of this church
TO those of you who have given me your cordial
| support, and who have ever treated mo With
considerable kindness and Christian c'1rtesy, |
now tender my sincere and heartfelt thanks, and
if there be- any, who have in any way wronged
me, my prayer is that God will forgive you, as
l do this day.
The Doctors friends, and he has numerous
ones among his congregation, say that at the
meeting Of Prcsbytery, next Thursday, he will
make full statement Of all the causes which
have actuated him in resigning his charge, and
that il will contain perfectly satisfactory vim
dication of his whole course, and utterly de-
moIish the arguments oil those who are ANXIOUS
dot hi, rnsi nnatinn shnuld be arcented