Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-05-08
|. NJ. HALDEMAN RESIGNS.
an IN3BR- RAC CE ROW NEAR THE
UETzEs fsABK.
Tie Rev. 4. M, Hatdsman after the
Service Yesterday Announces his
Intention OF Accepting the New
York Gala

|
| Last Sunday morning at Delaware
| Avenue Bspiist Church large audience
gathered prompted, po doubt in some
meseuTs BY the desire 20 learn the nature
of Mr. Haldemsn's decision as to the
New York call. The psster took for his
text Isiah XVI, 8. "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee, because he trusteth in
thee"
He said +: II we could only put our
ears close to the inmost throbbings of the
human heart there would be heard
plaiptive cry OF the unsatisfactoriness Of
earthly things. How very few have
peace The average man does not hear
that despsiring cry OF his own soul, nor
does he understand it. His surround
ings deaden him to the true significance
OF those dark moments in his life when
in weary and hopeless queet he
looks around and finds no
r4st, He has missed his
peace in life. Most men pass the greater
part of their life in anticipating, and so
they die. Suddenly, gray hairs appear,
and wrinkles are discovered at the corners
OF the eyes. They teach him he ia no
longer pretty, and eyes" he says, II
sm still following in my fathers foot
steps''-bright dreams and anticipations
unsohieved, and now old age is at the
door. on the verge OF eternity the cry
is, "Im tired, don't trouble me-" The
truth is, we are larger than anything the
world can give us, we are larger than our
feelings.
At the conclusion of the sermon,
the psrtor requested the members
to remain. The church then resolved
itself into business meeting with
Panc0ast Allen as moderator. The Rev.
|. NJ. Haldeman then read the following
letter:
To TIE DeLdDdre Avenue baptist Church.
DEAR BRETHREN For nine years l have
gone in and come out before you as your
pastor. In that time it has been my lot to
kpeel by the bedside OF your sick, to close the
eyes OF your dying and speak the word Of
comfort to your sorrow-laden. With you
have wept and with you / have rejoiced,
together we have borne the burthens and the
heat of the day. There are some memories
that / will carry to eternity-memories Of
tenderness of love and Of prayer. l can
never forget the multitude that have
met me here, nor the new light
that has flashed upon them in the
revelations of Code love as l have been
permitted to tell them the matchless story Of
the cross. You have been as a church a de-
voted people. No pastor ever had more
loyal following, You have borne with my
mistakes and upheld me in your confidence.
Through evil and through good report, as a
church, you have been my friends and l can
never forget you. / know wherever my lot
may be cast l shall never again find people,
who as a people, can love me more. So far
as my own wish is concerned, if consult
that alone, have no desire to leave you. If
it were possible would be content to dwell
with you till my days were done and to
hpya hands fold nina "a
blessed sleep. But such things can
not be. l have decided after careful
and honest thought to sunder our relations as
pastor and people. do 30 with but one inn
pulse that may meet the opportunities for
wider and fuller field of work. 1t is impos-
sible that any other consideration could move
me. To go l must not only break ties in
wrought with my inmost life but must set
aside personal plans and cherished hopes
but go with clear and unfatering convic.
lions. Without further preliminaries, there
fore, offer you my resignation as pastor to
take effect three months from date.
Fraternally, /. M. HALDEMAN.
May 4th, 1884.
MIR. Haldemsn then handed the letter to
the clerk and withdrew. In inviting
comment upon the PASTORS resignation,
in few feeling remarks, the moderator
suggested that the letter need not be
looked upon as document Of final
character. After short discussion, the
following motion was decided on. That the
church refuse to accept the PASTORS
resignation, as presented, that COM
mittee of five be appointed to correspond
with the First Baptist Church of New
York city, and with the pastor in
reference to his letter of resignation.
The meeting then adjourned.
At the breaking of bread at $50 p. M,
there were $50 communicates, and six
new members were given the right hand
of fellowship.
AT the morning service Sunday at
the First Baptist Church of New York
City, a letter was read from the Rev. l.
NJ. Haldeman, accepting the call from
that church to occupy the pulpit as
pastor.