Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08
THE TR Usrshs ExPLAIN.
Their View OF the Causes of Pastor
Neeuham'a Res1g nation.

Their View OF the Causes of Pastor
Needham's Resignation.
An Official statement Of the trustees Of
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church con
corning the resignation Of Pastor George
G. Needham has been issued as follows |:
A special meeting of the members of Della
ware Avenue Baptist Church was held on
Sunday evening, January 4th, 1886, at the
close Of the public services for the purpose
OF taking action upon the financial condition
Of the church which had been the cause that
had led our pastor, the Rev. George O. Need
ham, to tender his resignation at the morning
service and to take effect that day. The
board OF trustees and deacons at q Joint
meeting had prepared detailed statement Of
the financial AFFAIRS OF the church and
presented the same at this meeting for
the consideration Of the membership.
This statement showed that there was a
funded debt Of $4,000 and floating debt
OF S2,7s9.2l, making total indebtedness OF
Sl8, 789 al, and no money in hand to meet it.
After calm and careful consideration Of the
situation the members deemed it inadvisable
to 20 on and incur more debts with no pros
pect OF raising money to mret them; go, upon
motion, they directed the trustees to close the
doors and have no more services until ouch
time as they should receive an amount suffi-
cient to pay of the floating debt and guar
antae that would insure them that the current
expenses in the future would be met, and IL
at the expiration of so days there was no
prospect OF securing this end, that they then
be empowered to dispose Of the property Of
the church to the best advantage and pay OF
all Of the indebtedness.
We the undersigned do hereby certify that
the above statement is correct and that we
regret this financial matter should have
caused Brother Needham to resign his pas
torate as for the three months he has en-
deared himself to the membership by his
social qualities and the humble manner in
which he has preached the gospel TO us, and at
no time have ever we seen himshow any impa-
thence or heard him use scurrilous or personal
remarks from the pulpit, but rather that he
has graced ii with that digpified manner that
becomes Christian minister. And We also
regret that the public will not have the privi-
lege Of listening to the exposition Of the
international lessons given by hiR wife every
PANooAsT ALLEN,
Moderator.
O. i. SIMMONS,
President Board Trustees.
ia. MoCLuRE,
Secretary Board Trustees,
J. Il. WEsToorT,
Treasurer Board Trustees.
the Rev. Isaac M. Haldeman Comes
90 the Rescue,
A gentleman Of this city received the
following dispatch on Tuesday:
SIXTH AVENUE AND FoRTrETH STREET,
New YoRK-1.02 p. m.-Say to Delaware
Avenue Church for me that will raise the
note and lift them out Of their difficulties.
Telegraph me how much money you want al
once.
[Signedl /. M. HAIDEAfAN.
The gentleman to whom the dispatch
was directed says he has not yet tele-
Rrsphed Mr.. Haldeman for the Smount,
as he does not think It wise TO turn the
money over 70 the present. management
who have SO mismsnagcd the finances fol
the past few months. he will wait Il
confer personally with Mr.. Hsldeman or
tho subject and then submit the matter Il
tho church. As regards the statement II
an other paper that Mr.. Haldeman would
return to his old charge, Il is mot TO b,
Thought Of, IS he has TOO great work h
do in his present field; the church 4
rapidly increasing In numbers and thu
members are devoted to him. But h,
does desire to see his old church 70
which so many sacrifices have been made
saved TO the denomination.