Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-19
Resignation of Rev. VIM. e. Baker.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING OF THE FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

1
On last Sabbath, after the services in the
| morning. which were conducted by Rev. r.
Z. Walker a meeting of the congregation was
held to take action in reference to the request
of Rev. VIM. E. Baker that the congreg alton
would unite with him in his application to
Presbytery to dissolve his pastoral relations
with the First Presbyterian church.
Rev. R. c. walker opened the meeting with
prayer. and acted as presiding officer. After
he had explained the object of the meeting.
Jos. A. Waddell, ESQ.,, read letter from MIR.
| Baker rendering his resignation and asking the
congregation to unite with him in his applica-
ton to Presbytery for dissolution Of his pas
| toral relations.
! The letter is as follows:
ROSWELL, COBB COUNTY, GA, Feb LIST. 1854.
Mr.. J. a. Waddel, Clerk of Session:
| hereby tender my resignation of the pasto-
rate of the First Presbyterian church of Staun-
| ton. end request the congregation to unite with
me In asking Presbytery to dissolve the rela-
| ton subsisting between us. .
This action of mine is due to the countenance
given In the congregation to the scheme OF p
| co-pastor-a scheme known to be disapproved
| by myself.
| Respectfully. W. E. BAKER.
The following Communication from MIR.
| Baker was also read.
ROSWELL. COBB COUNTY, GA, Feb. 9Th 1884.
To the members of the First Presbyterian church
| and congregation Of S0anton, Va:
Dear Brethren,-I write you this letter, that
| may not seem TO have gone off without bid
upon the reasons for this viii hdrawal, except to
| say that 1t is not owing to distrust either of
o or my with nave no epuos
to draw In the newcomers into the church,
| and to secure its growth and prosperity; but
| various circumstances lead me to believe that
| the LORD intends to favor this time with
a season of rest from labor and responsibility.
Having done more for the church. however.
| than any one among you. 1t is ma ural that I
| should feel deeper Interest in Its spiritual
| prosperity. and you may, therefore, always rely
upon my good wishes and my prayers.
| Remember then the word which spake unto
| you while was yet with you. Your best safe
guard in the present. crisis is humility, and a
profound sense of your need of direction from
| above.
Let those who differ from their brethren in
the church see that they hold the welfare of
souls to be above all personal considerations
| That Jesus be glorihed and sinners saved is the
| main thing.
And consider that the success of Gods cause
| does not necessarily depend upon the carrying
out of your plans Even divisions and conten-
lions are often SO ordered as to purify the faith
| and zeal of the disci lies.
Finally, let me exhOrt such as have deferred
| entering upon the service of God to delay no
longer. l desire to use the solemniLy of the
| parting word as means of urging theic duty
| upon them
| Yours. affectionately,
| VIM. E. BAKER.
On motion OF Mr.. Waddell. a committee of
five was appointed to report resolutions for the
action of the meeting. The chair appointed
the folio ring to constitute that committee -
| VIM. Frazier, Charles Grattan, VIM. A. Burke
| VIM. j. Nelson. and Fl. d. Peck.
| After a brief retirement, the committee
| through its chairman, reported the foilowi. G !:
The congregation of the First Presbyterian
church of StauutOn, Va, convened 10 receive
and take action on The letter of resignation by
| Rev. w. h Baker of his pastorate of thl.
church desire to express to him aud to put on
| record their sense o The present situation. as
well as some faint testimony to his past ser.
vices 10 this church.
| In the first place, we are assured by Mr.
Baker that this tender Of Ills resignation is no
tentative proposition, n r meant by him In
any sense rs a test; but that it Is absolute So
far AS he can maxi it such.
We believe it has been brought abort by an
honest difference Of opinion in the congrega-
tion upon y he expediency of calling and asso.
Chatting with him an assistant CO p stor
Some there were who thought in view of the
growing labors of this past crate, and the out
lying mission WORK of this church, that the
time had come to initiate snch plan. But
upon bringing Ii to the test of a congregational
vote it was negatived nearly two to one
| Whilst, however, there was this difference of
| vi-ws in the congregation upon that question
we believe there is absolutely no diversity of
opinion in what herein follows and that every
member OF the church and cong egatiou
and will heartily unite in this testimony, viz /:
| For more than twenty six years our pastor
has discharged the onelous duties of bis office
with zeal. fidelity. and success. He found the
under his care it has greatly grown and
| laTged; the zeal and diligence of members in
church wore have been stimulated; Oliver
mission has been successfully established the
Sunday school has grown. To his energy per-
sistance. and zeal, more than to any other one
for ce. do owe 1t that no longer confined
to a small and wholly inadequate church build
ing, but in stead have been enabled to
large. handsome. and altogether cOmmOdiou-
Ad1 q @ q ho fi.,t,
and to the city.
1t only just to add that whilst he has faith.
fully cultivated his own field, he lived in great
harmony with sister churches of other denomi-
nations in our city. and has contributed his
full share to spirit nf Christian co operation
aud fellowship amongst the churches.
| But this paper would be incomplete If we
| failed to give some expression to our love for
bis life-c0mpanion, and to say. in the fewes1
possible words, that we suppose no cougrega-
ton was ever blessed with a better pastors
| wife. with all thatt rm implies. We know ii
would be painful to her If we were to signaliZe
her abundant labors of love and charity. and
we shall not attempt It,
In uniting with Mr. Baker in his application
TO Preshy cry or a dissolution of the pastoral
tie that has for SO long time united us, we d
fervently pray that the Lord will abundaniiy
bless i'm and h s-each aud every member of
his family, in all their Interests, SPIRIT al and
temporal; and that speedily great and effrc
tuAl door may be opened to him to prosecute
the Masters work in which we know his heart
ia enlisted.
. !Resolred, AS the sense of this congregation,
that it is expedient to accept our pastors
s!gna,iOn and to unite nth him In his appli-
cation TO Lexington Presbytery.
Alter the report had been read by the chair
man of the committee at the request of Prof
Leonidas Poyntz 1t was read a second time by
Mr.. Waddell.
On finishing the reading. Mr. Waddell said
he felt constrained to say few words. When
he received Mr. Bakers letter announcing his
purpose TO resign his pastorate, he was as
| deeply panied as any one in the CONGREGATION
could be- but he thought that, under all the
circumstances it would be better to accede to
| Mr.. Bakers wishes and that he would vote for
the adoption of the report of the committee.
Mr.. D. A. Kayser said that MIR. Waddel had
expressed his views and feelings and he moved
that the report be adopted.
The report on being put to the vote of the
members, was adopted. there being but very
few negative votes.
Prof. Leonidas Poyntz with the view of hav
ing the report div ded and the parts acted upon
separately. moved reconsideration of the
vote. When tits motion was submitted, it as
defeated by an almost unanimous vote.
DIR. N. Wsyt nominated VIM. ]. Nelson, Esq
as Commissioner to present the action of the
congregation to Lexington Presbytery, which
will meet in the session room of the First
Presbyterian church tomorrow wednesday,
to act upon Mr.. Bakers resignation. No Other
nominations were made. and Mr.. Nelson was
unanimously elected.
Rev. r. Z. Walker stated that acting for Mr..
Baker, he would have urged the dissolution OF
his pastoral relations, even though the vote OF
the congregation had opposed it. With prayer
and benediction py Rev. R. G. Walker, the
meeting adjourned.
/ -A-c-
DIV ic
our sad duty this morning to chronicle the
death of Miss Rosaiie F. Pey ton, youngest
daughter Of Geo. L. Peyton, Esq. aged about 20
years, which occurred at Hollins Institute,
where she was pupil on last Saturday night
The cause of her death was congestion OF
the lungs Thus, in the bloom Of early wo
manhood has death cnt off the pride OF loving
parents and devoted sisters, TO whom. in thei
sad affection, we extend our heartfelt sym
pathies.
The remains were brought here yesterday
evening" and buried in Thornrose Cemeter,
The funeral sermon will be preached at Ii