Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-04-14
Rev. DR.. Bullock and his COngrega'
ton.

trrm the PrcSbytery OF Chcsapcahe, 10 uetel-
mine whether or not they would agree to ac-
cent the resignation Of Rev. DIR. Bullock, their
nas,or. The hour of the meeting was eight
0 clock, but persons had commenced to assem-
ble at seven-before the doors were opened
and long before the designated time the church
was filled, every scat being occupied, and num-
bers standing 10 rear Of the paws and IN the
gallery. Rev Mr. Cumpstou was MODERATOR
and Alessrs George Wise aud Phineas Demp-
sey secretaries After prayer by the Modera-
tor for heavenly guidance during the meeting
prolonged debate, participated 10 by Messrs.
G. .orge Jalo!csou, Edmund Nltmer. Andrew
Fleming aud d. i. ouoot in the affirmative,
and Messrs FL. .. Claushton, Richard Lloyd
and T. J. Mei!atfey iu the negative, II was de-
cided--but not uat!l after DIVISION, III which
the count was G3 to Sc that the vote upon
the question to be brought before the meeting
should be taken BY ballot.
Mr. George Jameson then offered the follow
ing resolution:
Resulted, That we accept the resignation OF
our uastur, Rev. j. j. Bullock, and unite with
hun in asking the Presby tery oil chesapeake 10
dissolve the pastoral Relations existing De'"een
him aud our church,
IJnop which Mr. Andrew Fleming called the
previous question, but having doue so before
the resolution was seconded, 1t was decided
| that the call was not III order, aud MI III. -.
| Clangh;ou WAS allowed To Uffcr as IL substitute
| the following:
Resolred, That We, OF the congregation ot the
Second Presbyterian Church OF Alexandria,
hereby express our profound respect for our
| Pastor. the Rev. Dr. Bullock, as refined
christian gentleman, and our love and rever
eucc for Inn as u faithful and earnest Pastor.
ResoIued That We deeply sympathlze With
| DR.. bullock 10 the trying circumstances which
surrouud hm, aud express our appreciation 81
his cour>c in rendering his resignation OF bis
| Pastoral charge as due to his set-respect as
! gentleman, aud his conscious rectltuue as a
| Christian minister
PcsoIrei, That while We thus feel We are as
sured that The representations made 10 Dr. Bull
lock as 10 the dissatisfaction existing IN the
| cougr, CATION were exaggerated, aud that ma
iority oI the people are deeply attached to hun
aud lament the condition Of things which COM
PEELED him TO tender his resignation
Rrs0lrei, That the peace aud harmony OF
this congregation viii. not BE- promoted by the
resignation of Dr. Bullock, but on the contrary
the dissolution of the Pastoral relation will re:
suit IL the disruption OF the congregation, and
| the impariug Of the usefulness OF the chulch.
| Resolred That peace and harmony which
| are founded upon the preparation OF wrong
cannot he permanent, aud that to 40 wrong tha
good may come is as uophllosophlc as 1t Is un
christian.
Resoired, That in view of what is expressed
in the foregoing resolutions, with solemn re-
aizlton Of our responsibilities, and profound
desire to discharge our duty With love and
| fidelity, We are constrained, hrmIy, TO protest
against the resignation OF DR.. Bullock, aud
earnestly appeal to the Presbytery not to dis
solve his Pastoral relations with this congrega
| ton.
Rcso7ycd That the members Of this congre-
CATION who have sustained the Pastor, aud Il
whom his miuisrrations Lave been acceptable
are entitled TO this expression Of their feelings
AMI wishes, and that tue sacredness ot these
| feelings commeod these resolutions to the taV
orabe consideration Of the Presbytery.
Resolved That -- aud -- be and
| are hereby appointed Commissioners 10 present.
| these resolutions to the PlcSbytcry.
Which being read, Mr.. Claughton sald
this was no ordinary occason-no tune form:
| dulping ia the sentiments and feelings oil
cIiques and clans The duty to be performed
| was solemn one, and Que that ought to be
discharged under the sole aud imperative con-
victon OF intrinsic right. -Four years ago be
! had been one of the commissioners appointed
! to 20 to Baltimore, where DR.. Bullock had a
much larger congregation than he had here,
and drew twice as large a salary, and luyltc
hun to come and take charge Of this cOugrega-
ton. The Doctor had consented to accept the
invitation, and 10 this church the elders and
| members had sworn to support and uphold him.
Since that lime he had done nothing 10 bring
| reproach upon the church; had not been &C
| cused of lewdness; had not been talhless to
his duties; had kept his contract with his
charge; had done nothing, and bceu charged
with nothing that would prevent any one from
voting for the substitute he had offered, aud
nothing to warrant the reproach that would be
cast upon him by the adoption of the original
| resolution. DIR. Bullock had been induced to
| tender his resignation by hearing representa-
tons that maj )rlty nf the congregation want
ed him to leave, and having made 1t under
such impressions, it was now the duty OF the
congregation to show by their votes that such
representations were not correct, and surely the
teudcr of resignation, made under such clrcum-
stances, should be no reason for its acceptance.
Some urged that in the unhappy difficulty the
elders must be supported. Support no one
WuOSC COuISe Is IleuI. Ii lilclo WIS any
just ground of complaint against the pastor; it
he had lowered the cause OF the church-tra-
ed the christiao banner iu the dust, vote for
the resolution, but il otherwise, do not cast
censure upon him. Que of the main causes Of
complaint Was the long sermons he preached,
and his refusal to accccd to the request OF the
elders to shorter them. If any member of the
congregation had gone to DR.. Bullock and sug
gcsted 10 kind manner the advIsabillty Of
shorter sernous, he had no doubt that the pas
tor would have acted upon that suggestion, but
after hearing it trumpeted abroad that such d
request Was to be made of him, aud also hear
ing the threats that were made, provided he
did not heed it, he would have lowered himself
and lesseued his christian ilhueuce if he had
submitted to any such dictation. 1t was also
said that DR.. Bullock was unapproachabe.
That, Of course, is not 81, for DIR. Bullock
is a gentleman, and being SO, could not
be uugentlemanIy, and if some of those who
found fault with him would only put them