St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-15
DR.. CARROLuS DECLINATIoN.
de Refuses the Call rendered Him
BY the Tabernacle Church,
Washington, d. c,
He Gives His Reason for Such Action, Be-
neying it Would Be Unwise to Sever
His Connection with His Church Here.


give his decision concerning the call recently
received by him from Washington, and the
result was that many members of other
churches and citizens generally gathered
with the people Of the Presbyterian church,
all anxious 10 learn whether Saltwater was TO
loose one of her most gifted and public
spirited citizens, and whether the pulpits OF
the city was to transfer to the national capt.
tai one whose power and eloquence as
preacher and platform speaker has already
won for him a national reputation.
After the services usual before the
sermon, the clerk, Mr.. W T. Per Lee, rose
and read the following resolutions Of the
session, which voiced the sentiments of the
people Of the church and congregation:
SALTWATER, Mimi, Dec. z, 1884.
WHEREAS, Our esteemed and beloved
pastor, Rev. J. II. Carroll, has received a
call TO the Tabernacle church OF Washington,
d. c., and
WHEREAS, The session OF this church
recognizes and appreciates the value Of his
services 10 this church, during the period he
has been with US, ia his interchangeable and
successful labors in the upbuilding Of our
spiritual condition and in the erection OF
our beautiful and com odious house Of wor-
ship, and
WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the financial
depression and local prostration which has
| disturbed and distressed the city, our church
has steadily increased in membership and
maintained its temporal prosperity; there
fore,
RESOLVED, The session OF this church deem
it essential for the continuance OF this pros
perity, which is largely due 10 the personal
| lah of Dr 70 %,
the manifest attractions and advantages
offered him in the new and enlarged field OF
labor, and remain with US, that we may have
the benefit OF his wisdom and experience,
which we feel was so providentially seut 20
US and which We believe absolutely essential
as we are circumstanced, for the ultimate
completion and browning Of the work so
auspiciously inaugurated, feeling that his re-
mova at this time would imperil the future
welfare of the church.
ResOlUed, That, as a session, we unani-
mously and gladly affirm the love and respect
in which we hold and esteem him, both as a
man, and as a minister Of God, and we fully
appreciate the signal talent which he has ever
dedicated while with us, TO the furtherance OF
every good work, not only in the church,
but in every field of usefulness in this com
munity and in the state at large.
Resolved That in view of the facts recited
in these resolutions We commend them TO
our psstor's prayerful consideration, trusting
that God in his wisdom will enable him To
decide where best he can serve him and
glorify his name. W. I. PER LEE,
Clerk of Session.
These resolutions of the session are en-
dorsed by the trustees.
Besides this complimentary action of the
church and trustees, a communication
signed by bis brethren in the ministry was
received also expressing the hope that be
would remain. This was followed by petit
ton from his fellow citizens generally, unit
ing in the wish that DR.. Carroll might not
leave the city; indeed, that his departure
would be ga public loss" This petition is
signed by the mayor of the city, the superin-
tendent of the public schools, and by ali
classes, by business men, and professional
men, by Catholics and Protestants alike.
When the clerk had finished reading these
papers, Rev. DR.. Carroll rose and said in
substance:
''You have now presented 10 you in these
documents some of the facts which have been
submitted to me, and the consideration of
which has entered so largely in determining
my answer in regard TO the call from the
Tabernacle church, Washington, d. c. These
papers-the resolution of the church, the en-
dorsement of them by the trustees, the COM
munication from my brethren In the minis
try, and the petition Of my fellow citizens
all concurring in their judgment, and unan-
imous in their kind wishes TO have me abide
with them-touched me deeply, profoundly
impressed me-and after the most careful
and prayerful consideration, have been led
to decline the call TO this metropolitan city;
and to a church there which has a golden fu-
ture and exceptional facilities for great use
fulness. And yet this decision has left me
with people to whom | am deyotedly at
tached, reciprocating most heartily every ex-
preston of your esteem and affection; and
continues me citizen of mo mean city,
with whose interests have ever been most
happily identified, and for whose continued
prosperity shall ever labor and pray
i need not tell you who know me so well.
that | do not stay for any worldly recon-
pense. Money did not bring me TO you.
Money could not keep me with you. Money
could not take me away from you. But do
stay TO do what you believe and say, another
could not do for you at this time. Not merely
or mainly TO insure the present temporal
prosperity, however great or essential this
may be, but to build YOU up
spiritually in your most holy faith
to add TO this church daily such as
shall be saved. If 1 know my heart, NV
dear people, my hearts desire and PRAYER to
God is that Israel may be saved. seek not
yours, but you. For, what is our joy or crown
of reioicingl Are not even We in the pres
ence of the Lord Jesus at his coming. A
double call is made upon minister and church
this day to do more than ever for this Zion.
To stir each other up by way of remem brance.
To possess and manifest conservation to
the work eommisserate with the good inter
ests at stake. As never before TO exhibit the
grace Of activity. For our own souls sake,
for our beloved Zion's sake, for the dear
Christ's sake 10 do something, to do it soon,
with all our might:
For an angels wing would drop II long at rest
And God himself inactive we're no longer
blest.
DR.. Carroll closed with an urgent appeal
TO the officers, the members, the congrega-
ton at large, hoping that the Master would
oestow upon them as church, as never be-
fore, the grace of service. That il wss not
the field where they labored for Jesus, but
how they labored. 1t was fidelity that got the
crown. The speaker then, with most path
etic power, pictured the close of the work
for himself and them, the coming night in
which no man could work, and hoped that at
last, on the great day, they might rejoice
over garnered immortality, bringing in the
sheaves. That then the crowns of pastor and
people, may be full of soul gems, all lnstrous
with redeeming radiance, when they cast
them at their Savior's feet in heaveni
The most intense interest prevailed
throughout the entire service, and strong
men were visibly moved, and when the hymn
"Blest be the tie that binds' had been sung,
aud evidently sung from the heart, aud
tho hen e1licfinn had heen rrnr, n,,rno.t thn