The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-29
THEIR PASTOR MUST REMAIN
So Says the Congregation of the First
Presbyterian Church,
Rev. MyrOn w. Reed Heartily Endorsed by
His PeOple-StrenuOus Efforts To Be
Made to Retain Him.

The meeting last night, at the First Presbyte-
rian Church, of the members of the organization
for an expression upon the probable removal to
Denver of their pastor, Rev Myron W. Reed
who is now considering a call from the First
Congregational Church of that city, was well at
tended. Mr.. Green, the secretary of the con
gregation, presided, and opened the meeting
with appropriate devotional services.
'The First Church, he said, in speaking upon
the Bible reference to the temple of worship
had been saved from dsrupting influences
Long ago, when separation in the congregation
occurred. resulting in the establishment from
the division of what is now of the foremost
churches in the city, the withdrawal was accom-
plished in harmony, peace and brotherly love.
Such has been the characteristic of its history"
Following the brief devotional service, Mr.
Green stated the object of assemblage, and the
following, as an expression of the congregation,
was offered for adoption by Mr.. Charles Martin
dale:
This congregation is informed that a call has been
extended to its pastor, Mr.. Reed, by the First Con
gregational Church, of Denver, COL and that he has
visited that field and is considering the question of ac
should saw that AT no fine in The history of this
church has the congregation been more thoroughly
united in their love and devotion to pastor. This is
manifested by the very large attendance upon the
services of the church; by the liberal contributions
toward the payment Of the church debt and the active
cooperation of the people in all charitable and re
ligious work The preaching of Mr.. Reed is giving
great satisfaction His sympathies broad and
humane. His intellectual gifts, of the highest order
have been improved by assiduous cultivation. He is
master of expression. His thoughts vigorous and
fresh, his style clear and original, he imparts to
commands attention and makes per-
manent impression upon all who hear
read his words. Outside the field Of strictly pasto
raj work he has exerted valuable influence upon the
public. Every effort in behalf of education every
movement to alleviate the sufferings of humanity,
every form of charitable enterprise has had not only
his sympathy, but active support.
We therefore, a church and congregation,
press the earnest wish for the continuance of the
lations existing between pastor and people
ious and willing to do anything within power to
promote the temporal and spiritual welfare of our
pastor and the growth and the unity of the church;
that committee of FIVE be appointed to present this
expression of the congregation to Mr. Reed and that
they are hereby empowered to take such action may
be required to secure his continuance as our pastor
Judge Finch, in speaking upon the resolution,
said that he had been a member of the congrega
ton for fifty years, and he felt that he would be
borne out in saying that at no time in that long
period had the church been more compact than
it now is, and at no time had it exerted as much
influence upon the society of the city as now.
Very much Of this is due to Mr.. Reed-not all.
Without him, however, it would not have reached
this state. do not say there is no one to take
his place, but know of no one. I regard his re-
moval a calamity to the church.
MIR, Thomas Sharpe said that as one Of the
oldest members of the congregation-as a mem
Der for more than fifty years-he had seen the
churches triumphs and had known all its pas
tors, and among them there had been many good
ones, but none were superior to our present pas
tor. There has been no man who could so pre-
sent the gospel truth Sabbath after Sabbath as
Mr. Reed, and such, think is the judgment of
the whole congregation The church has never
been so full in attendance and never so well
united as at this time He has accomplished
incalculable good, not only by his work in the
pulpit, teaching the gospel, but by his labors in
the community in benevolent work. To make
change on any account would be bad policy. 1
trust that he will find it his duty to remain with
To make change would be dong ourselves
harm. hope that these resolutions will meet
his approval, and that we may keep him.
Harry j. Mlligan remarked that it had been
sneeringly said that the church was kept
up by the women and old men; but anyone at,
tending the services of Mr. Reed would notice
that in the congregation there is large per cent
of young men. The reason is that Mr. Reed
keeps abreast of the best thought of the day.
Speaking for large body of the young men. he
said that Mr. Reeds removal would be very
deeply regretted, and would be regarded as loss
to the cause of morality.
Mr.. w. H. H. Miller said that everyone knew
pretty well his sentiments upon the matter un-
der consideration. Il regard it," he said, "as
grievous loss--a grievous loss to my family and a
grievous loss to the whole cOmmunity-if Mr..
Reed should go away. We are apt to underesti-
mate that which have and see every day.
When it comes to the question of Mr.. Reeds 60
ing away, and we look at the vacancy-when we
see how large it will be and how large
man it will take to fill it
somewhat appalled, at the prospect of
such loss. 1t is not only a loss to the church,
but a loss to the community. There is man
whose influence has been so beneficial to the
community Mr.. Reeds. Whatever was for
the right he has helped, and his influence has
extended beyond the reach of the church 1t
would be great calamity if he should leave. In
every chruch there is greater or smaller divi
sion of sentiment in regard to the pastor, but /
think it will he found that there is as much
unanimity of sentiment as to the retention of
Mr. Reed as there could be upon any man in the
land.
Mr.. W. P. Fishback, who, although not a
member of the congregation, was present,
was asked to speak. 1t so happened, he said,
that before Mr.. Reed was called here he had met
him socially, at the residence of Mr.. Bates. With
frankness of manner that won him at once,
Mr. Reed took him aside, after acquaintance
of less than ten minutes, and asked
him what he thought of his becoming
the pastor of the First Church, explaining that
he desired to know the views of some outside the
church II did not hear him preach until nearly
year after he had come. When began hear
ing him l lost all taste for other preaching.
Mr. Reed has often mentioned in his sermons
Frederick Robertson, of Brighton, a young
preacher who died at the age of twenty nine
years. He was unknown by Dean Stanley until
after he had died, although he had lived within
of his sermons Stanley, pronounced
Robertson in a magazine article the greatest
preacher that had ever lived. Mr.. Reed has
saturated himself with those sermons. l think
that from Mr.. Reeds sermons in this pulpit there
can be collected sermons a par with the best
Of Rnhertsans We do not realize the amount