Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-05
HOW TO ELECT A PASTOR.
Rev. DIR. Hammond Stops an Indignation
Meeting in His Behalf-His Resigna-
tiou Is IrrevocabIe.

Rev. DIR. Hammond Stops an Indignation
Meeting in His BehaIf-His Resigna.
tion Is IrrevocnbIe.
An interesting meeting of the Shady Ave
nue. Baptist Church was held last evening.
1t was the night for the regular weekly
PRAYER meeting, but Rev. E. Il. Hammond
had called special business meeting of the
membership, to be held after the prayer
meeting. 1t reached the ears of the pastor
that a number of the members proposed to
take advantage of this meeting to protest
against his resignation and to endeavor to
secure its reconsideration. These members
are all friends of the retiring pastor and de-
sire to retain him here.
During the afternoon Rev. Mr.. Hammond
sent for a number Of the prominent men,
bers of the congregation, and had very
plain talk with them. He told them en-
phatically that no reconsideration of his
resignation was possible, that his decision
was irrevocable. and that he could not per:
NIT the possibility of any change to be dis
cussed. Any debate of the matter would
not do the church good and might cause
harm. The gentlemen agreed, with reluc-
tance, to acquiesce in the pastors request.
and, therefore, the proposed protests were
not heard at the evening meeting.
There was more than the usual attend
ance at the prayer meeting, and the services
were conducted with evident earnestness
After the meeting Rev. Mr.. Hammond
called the business meeting to order. For
about half an hour he addressed the congre-
CATION as to the manner in which he thought
they ought to select a new pastor. He ad-
vised the appointment of committee of
seven, to whom should be given full power
to choose new pastor. The committee
ought to consist of two deacons and five from
the other membership, so that it would rep
resent all classes Of the church. This CON-
mittee would undoubtedly receive advice
from many persons as to the person who
ought to be calledto the pastorate. This ad-
vice would be suggested from motives of per-
sonal friendship, and ought not to be needed
Rer. Mr.. Hammond suggested rather novel
method to procure the right man for the
place. He recommended that the committee
should prepare a letter, describing the needs
of the church and the demands of the field,
and stating the amount of the salary which
would be paid A copy of this letter should
be sent to the President of each of the five
theological seminaries of the Baptist faith,
with request that an available and suitable
man should be recommended. The Presi-
dents of these church schools watch the
careers of their graduates. know their
strength and their weaknesses and are not
likely to show partiality. Rev. Mr.. Ham,
mond believed that those men were the most
capable to suggest man for the place.
When the five recommendations are re-
ceived the committee should carefully weigh
the replies, and without hearing any of the
candidates, should select and call the minis
ter deemed the most suitable. Neither
should the congregation hear him until he
stepped into the pulpit as its accepted pas
tor. 1t should receive him prayertully and
be unto HIM loving people.
Mr.. Jacob Berry moved that the pastors
plan be accepted and that a committee of
seven be appointed. The motion was Sec
onded by Mr.. j. S. King, and was carried
unanimously The following members of
the committee were named: M. G. Nc
Culloch, L. M. Morris, 1. G. Beam, F. 7.
Lusk, W. h. Hill, T. j. Black and A. V.
Werner. Their appointment was ratified by
a unanimous vote of the congregation. The
committee will meet at the call OF the chair
man in few DAYS.
Rev. Mr.. Hammond's resignation will
not take effect until October 1.