Smyrna times., 1889-11-20
A Change Of Ministerial Relation.
Rev. DR.. VIM. S. Robinson Called to
Dakota.


ceiVed thirty-six hours before a tele- |
gram from Bishop Vincent notifying |
him that he had been invited to a |
charge in South Dakota, stating the
and asking when could he |
Gomez The transfer from Bishop FOs-
ter, who presided over the last session
of the Wilmington Conference might
come by any mail and this might pos
sibly be the last Sabbath that he would
be with them. He further stated that
his relation with the people of Smyrna
had been pleasant and that he could
not sever his relation with them but
with regret. That if call had been
extended by them at the third Quar-
terly Conference to return again for
the fourth year, he would unhesitat-
ingly have accepted it, but since the
appointing powers had seen fit to give
him a new field of labor, it was his
only course to await the events as
they opened before him.
Such an announcement was like a
clap of thunder in a clear sky. 1t was
entirely unknown to the congregation,
or any, even of the official board, and
the announcement with the mingled
emotions produced, was a sensation
that rarely falls to the lot of crowded
congregation. With some it was,
"what does it mean," the announce
ment being of too serious import to be
grasped at once, while others felt, "it
can not be So" there must yet be some
way to avert such a decree. The rev.
erend gentleman who was 7isiDly af
fected in breaking The matter to his
congregation, took his text and
preached on HeaVen-the place pre-
pared for the righteous as portrayed in
the Apocalypse-but the members of
the church while following him with
their usual intent, could not get away
| from the announcement that had fallen
on them at the beginning with such
| dramatic effect. The benedictiOn and
close of the service revealed what was
going on within. Those who could
not suppress their emotions at the
first, now gave way to their pent up
| feelings, and many others who did,
| joined them; scores fingered, some ex-
pressive, others silent-all as if over
whelmed by a sudden bereavement
Thus passed the day, in which the
sympathies Of pastor and people flowed
freely together.
Monday it was the one subject of
conversation wherever friends met and
in the public places of business. The
daze of the first hour was off and the
inquiry was, Cant this thing be
upset ?'
Presiding Elder France, who re
turned home Monday evening from al
official visit to the lower part of thu
District was apprised of the facts anC
the responsibilities that likewise rested
on him. To this end he called a meet
ing of the official members of the
church the next evening. The Pre-
siding Elder stated that while he knew
that very warm friends of Mr.. Robin
son who stand very near the Bishop
had been recommending him as wei
qualified for any important position
within the gift of the church, yet hi
did not expect to be called upon s
soon to part with one Of his most &C
ceptable preachers.
John H. HOffecker presented tht
following paper:
WHEREAS, we have learned with Pre-
, found sorrow of the transfer of our pastor
|
Wilmington Annual Conference to th
Dakota Annual Conference, whereby til
church at Smyrna without any consult,
ton with the Presiding Elder is deprive
of its ministerial head and that too at
time when the demands for his services al
most pressing, therefore
} ResOtUed, that if in the opinion of OF
| Presiding Elder, Rev. John France, an,
thing can be done to reverse the action
!, the Bishops in this matter, that we at ono
: take stops to retain our pastor and ask f
his return for another year.
The Elder stated that he apprehent
ed from the course that had been take
in the removal of Mr.. Robinson that
e was beyond any efforts that they coul
make at its reversal ; that the partiC
in the transaction were at such diver,
points that it would take weeks in ge
ting at what in the end would prob
bly, be trUitless effort. He furthe
n stated that there was good ground f
t believing that at the meeting of Il
: Bishops a week or two ago at Topek
r Kansas, that it had been decided {
by the full concurrence of the Boar
a Mr.. Robinson stated in response to
:. question that since Sunday he hi
|
l. replied to Bishop Vincent in regard
the call, that Bishop Foster had asser
ed to the transfer, that by EpiscOp
y action he was thus a member of Il
Il Dakota Conference, and that in rep
to further inquiries, when would
D, come on" he had telegraphed them g
e early in December as l can make {
er arrangements"
He further stated that on receivi
er the telegram he did not entertain Il
3. thought at first with any favor, that
had peTemptOrly declined favOrat
,s offer of transfer in the summer, becau
;, of the church improvements here tn
in he was engaged in, but that circul
stances were now changed and that
reviewing the whole field, he did n
think it proper to place himself in t
way of what would appear provide
tial leadings in the field of labor a
usefulness. After further talk on t
situation it was decided to take
y action for three or four weeks, hOpi
lg yet that there might be slip |
lg tween the cup and the lip" DR.. Re
lie insOn will preach on Sunday morni
n and conduct the services in the eve
ing of Sunday next. Presiding Eld
he France will have the pulpit suppl
thereafter until permanent arranl
It. ments are made.
as In reference to the official board
the church it might be proper to sta
&c that a resolution would have be
20 offered at the fourth Quarterly Conf
- ence (the time when this is attend
- toy asking for DIR. RObinson's retu
g., for the fourth year. The friends of I
y pastor feel deeply his removal fir,
at them. His rare ability as a pulpit O
tor, his deep and wide research in Il
re Ology and general literature, his W
conceptions of the mission of Chris
rs anity, his spirit of gentleness as
moves among men in graphing W
y. the strong things that coufrOnts
ad Christian ambassador, in a word
n. that goes to make up the highest tS
of the Christian gentleman they hS
found in him, and they can but p
Gu with him with the deepest regret.
,at
IN WatertOwn, the place to which
Robinson has been transferred is in
,or Eastern part of South Dakota, a r
,st idly growing town of some 10,
inbobifonfs il the oantre of piuht r,