The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-02
DR.. PERSONS FAREWELL.
He breaches His Last Sermon at the
Second Presbyterian Church.
A Personal Statement of His Feelings for
the Church and the Reasons Prompt
ing His Resignation.

Yesterday witnessed the close of the pastorate
OF Rev. A. 7. Pierson, d. D., at the Second
Presbyterian Church, and just one year after
his predecessor, the Rev. William Alvin Bart
let'. d. D., made a similar announcement, he
declared the pulpit vacant, The morning SER
vice included the observance of the ordinance OF
the Lords supper, and the reception of one
member by letter. DR.. PiersOn spoke for about
half an hour from the words Gin the volume of
the book tbs written of me- showing how
completely Christ fills the word At the con-
cusion of the ADMINISTRATION of the communion
DR.. Pierson held the congregation to say few
words concerning his departure from the church.
Toward the close of his remarks he almost broke
down, and was several times covercome by the
force of his emotions and his voice failed him.
Many persons in the church wers visibly affect
ed, and the episode was one of the most pathet-
ic and touching ever Witnessed within the con-
secrated walls Dr. Pierson said:
My intention WIS 10 say nothing further but
tnlnk perhaps L should not do my duty If l did
not say few words to you in a spirit of great
love, and hope you will pray for me that may
be supported IN saying what wish to say;
received letter from one of the best beloved
/ greatly respect and love-in which she said to
me: "My dear pastor, think that you would
nave learned to love us if you had been longer
with u.s." and could not but think that that let
ter betrayed misconceptiOn which may be wider
spread than have imagined. My dear people, the
truth is that have loved you far more than you
have any conception. l have been preaching
the gospel ever since 1877, and been ordained
since 1860; have served several different con-
gregations and some of them for a long term of
years. have never known a congregation for
nine months in the midst of which l had as
many tender and mighty attachments, that will
follow me to the grave as in the Second Church
at Indianapolis, and want, therefore, to leave
before You my solemn record, on this last COM
munlon week, that that is an entire misappre-
hension OF the spirit which has moved me in
this matter
The second thing l want to say is, that
the idea of the mission that 1
have undertaken to execute and perform
In my future days has been misapprehended.
dear brother, in whom have the highest conf
dence, both in his sagacity and spirituality, re-
marked to me In long conference yesterday,
that the enterprise into which had expected to
enter. and the work to which had purposed to
devote the years that might remain in my life,
was understood in this church, and in the public
mind TO be an effort TO protest against all exist
ing church organizations, and that, therefore, its
success would imply constant friction with
other denominations and with other brethren Of
our own denomination.
And this moves me to say, that here again is
an entire miseOnceptiOn. There are great many
unsaved and unreached souls in this great city,
who are outside OF the means of grace The par
ticular work to which should be glad, II IL be
Gods will, and can do it with the appreciation
of good Christian people, TO devote myself is the
reaching of these people. Now, there differ
ent means that churches may adopt; for instance,
here is a church of God, which, like the Church
of the Covenant, in New York city, is especially
devoted TO the establishment Of the covenant re-
lation and the cultivation OF the feeling that chill
dren are heirs OF the kingdom, and in that church
every child, believe, In every Chris
tian family, has been brought into
true membership That is the peculiar mission
10 which, by its beloved pastor, DIR. Prentice 1t
was originally directed. There are some churches
that give themselves TO the building up of great
benevolent schemes, like DR.. Paxton's, in New
York; small in numbers, but composed of grand
men, who make money that they may give it to
Christ. There other churches that devote them
selves mainly The n n
zeal standard of adoption. Their ministers are
theological professors, and calculated TO teach
with wonderful power and discrimination, with
wonderful clearness, the truths of the gospel.
Now, Goo forbid that, although these churches
may not be doing any great work, in an evan
gestc line, we should despise their mission.
They have a mission, and they doing it
grandly. But now, in order to do this particular
WORK OF winch have spoken, II Is needed that
a church should start ont for that purpose to
give itself specifically to activities in this rec
tion; and SO it has been my dream for seven
years that might sometime, with the approba-
ton of God, undertake by free church, into
which these unconverted shoulo come without
let or hindrance, and without an assess
ment or price upon the pews. to hear the
gospel of Christ and where the membership
should give themselves TO the aggressive work
of district visiting; but in order thai have this
increasing demand of our great cities satisfied
there should be IN each of our great cities at
least one church that should aspire to do that
work, while these very churches that have their
rented pews, aud that have their specific mis-
sion in other directions, are pouring in their
wealth into the treasures of the city mission to
help do this work. And l want it to be under
stood that whether should be continued by the
providence of God in this work, should be
called elsewhere, 1t is not protest against
existing church organizations, but simply de-
votion to peculiar sphere of life, to which 1
feel that God has called me by His providence
One other word want to say, and that is, that
dear brother said to me this past week that,
having been pastor in this church, going ont
from this church to take the hardships of anoth.
er enterprise would necessarily involve cOntin-
ual dissension and friction between that enter
1rica and rn hlAt ua hat
and other churches OF the city. All Ihave to say
49, soeninly, before God, if that is to be the ef-
feet of my accepting the proper headship in this
grand enterprise, would rather that my tongue
should oleave to the roof of my mouth than ever
to stand in such a position; and will say frank
ly to you today that that has caused me to stop,
aDd to wait upon God in this matter. seem toibe
near the contamination of the prayers and
tears of seven years, but shall not go forth in
this enterprise except have the assurance that
this statement is not founded in fact. l love
this church. would not lnfiict wound on this
body for any consideration. l have never in
tentiOnally done ii; will not do 1t; and il can
not go and take the headship in this grand en-
terprise and have your prayers and benedictions
and have the assurance that am not going to
promote perpetual discussions and frictions be-
sween this church and another, God will move
me to some other field, and am waiting before
Him in unceasing prayer for some Indications of
His will that shall guide my steps
can say no more than this, beloved. that you
would transform this saddest day OF Your PASTORS
life into the gladdest day of his life, If at this
statement you would put away all dissension.
l nave Oeen preaching since lS6O-in one
church three years. in one six, in one fourteen
and the first breach OF peace in my ministry has
occurred within two weeks; and cannot have it
So 1t is the bitterest humiliation of my life to
come to grand united church, the leading
church of Indiana, to leave it In nine months
broken and disrupted. 1 often think, beloved,
that my days may be shortened. have indica,
tions in my physical manhood that I must be
very careful Of the little energy that have. And
/ want you to do one thing more. I
want you to feel at this table of
Christ the wounds OF His body. l want you to
consent before God TO put away from your heart
every angry, bitter and dissensiOnal feeling, and
let these brethren and sisters that go out from
you to do a special work have your blessing, to
let the pastor that gOes out from you have your
blessing II God withdraws me to another field
I want TO come back here from time to time and
be received by open arms from this church. and