Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-19
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING OF THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
PROCEEDINGS IN REGARD TO THE PROPOSED
RESIGNATION OF REV. D. K. MCFARLAND
ID.
Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather
and persons had to carry umbrellas, the large
church was filled with persons az 2ious to
hear the sermon by DR.. McFarlsnd' and 10
witness the proceedings of the Congregational
meeting to be held as soon as t)ne usual rellg-
ious services of the morning y ere conciuoeo.
DR.. Mcfarland preached an aple ana earnest
and impressive sermon on. the Importance and
necessity OF prayer a-d the duty OF all chris
tians to pray for each other, for these in their
homes. in their chuE ehes. in their pulpits, and
for those in all pauts OF the world, based upon
the text. LIST verse of the 3rd chapter of Pauls
second epistle TO the Tbessalonians FINALLY,
brethren, puay for us, that the word OF the
Lord may have free course, and be glorihed,
evenas IN is with you"
After the benedietion was pronounced, the
CONGREGATIONAL meeting to consider the Pc
tff1on of DIR. Mcfarland. that the congregation
would unite with him in pet1tionlng the
: Presbytery to dissolve bis pastoral relation to
them, was organized by the election of Mr.
y
Prof John II. Baden as Secretary. Elder ]. A,
Waddell said that as this was an important
occasion in the history of the church he
thought the proceedings should be opened
with prayer. and. on his motion, Prof. John
Murray performed that service. Mr.. Waddell
then read the following letter sent to him by
DR.. Mcfarland
REV. DIR. MCFARLAND'S LETTER.
tn Tho .,eoobe,.c oftbo F-st Pre- giu Church
iStdatnto2,, "a.
Ime herewith to communicate to you the notice
of my purpose, at as early a date as practica
bIe to tender to Lexington Presbytery my
resignation as Pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church in Staunton, and to request that you
will unite with me in petition TO said Pres-
bytery TO dissolve the pastoral relation now
existing between us. You are already adj
Yised In part at least, of the reason which
prompts me to make this request For more
than a year / have felt the condition of my
physical health and strength to be such as to
rsnfit me for doing the work which the true
interests of the church and congregation de-
manded. have continued to hope. however.
that might be spared the necessity of seek Ing
as a remedy absolute release from the
pastorate. But this necessity I now deem to
be upon me. The experience OF the past lew
months has forced me more ana more 10 me
do, and yet the interests of all parties con-
cerned be subserved. I need not undertake to
convey to you any conception of the pain IL
has cost me to propose such an action to you
The relation which I now ask to have dis
solved has existed for a little less than hve
years, and has been one of such unbroken and
Uninterrupted harmony that the thought OF It's
disturbance can only bring the most pungent
more keenly, if possible, do feel the violence
that is done to those personal ties OF interest
and affection which bind me to every member
of the church and congregation. You will be
assured, therefore. that nothing short OF the
strongest convictions of what is right and
wisest to be done has led me TO propose that
the present connection between us shall be
severed. Believing, however, that the true
Interests of the church and of Christ's cause
win thereby be best subserved, at the same
time that it Will insure to myself the relleI
need and desire, do now most earnestly ask
that you will unite with me in the petition to
Presbytery for dissolution of the present pas
torai relation. make this request of you, at
God our Father and Of our common Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, who is able to do ex'
ceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think.
Sincerely and affectionately.
D. K. MCFARLAND,
Pastor LIST Presbyterian Church,
Staunton, Va.
Nov. Is, 1890.
Deacon VIM. A. Burke then offered for
adoption the following resolutions -
RESOLUTIONS OF THE CONGREGATION.
The Rev. DIR. Mcfarland having signifed his |
intention TO apply TO Lexington Presbytery to |
dissolve his PASTORAL relation with this |
health, and asked the church to unite in the |
request:
Resolved Ist, That this meeting fully be- |
lieves our interests will suffer great injury by
dissolution of the said relation, and therefore
declines 9t present to concur.
Resolved End, That the meeting recognises
the fact that iour Pastors physical condition |
demands that he be released, for time, from
his abundant and arduous labors.
RESOLVED 3rd, That DR.. Mcfarland be earn
esty requested to reconsider and withdraw
n ic M n as
the following conditions, viz:
l That he take vacation, away from home |
If practicable, for as many weeks as IN his |
opinion may be necessary or desirable.
2. That thereafter. for at least one year, he |
preach only one sermon week, on Sunday |
morning, and that he conduct no service on |
Sunday and Wednesday nights. |
8. That his attendance and service at funer- |
ais be restricted. and that in no case shall he |
Officlate or attend at the cemetery.
4. That he shall not continue his habit of
pastoral visitation to the same extent as here |
tofore.
s. That the officers of the church provide |
supplemental ministerial service as far as |
necessary and practicable.
RESOLVED. finally. that the Chairman and
Secretary of this meeting communicate the
foregoing propositions to DR.. Mcfarland, and, |
on behalf of the congregation, urge his ac- |
ceptance thereof.
After reading the resolutions Mr.. Burke said |
every one in the commuI ity, whether Of that |
church or another, or of no church whatever
was anxious that DR.. Mcfarland should be |
prevailed upon to withdraw his resignation.-I
He said that on his way TO church he was ac- |
costed by gentleman of another church who |
said 10 him that they should not allow DR.. |
Mcfarland to leave-that they should demand
of him TO remain-that his loss would be a
calamity. And another who was not menu
Der OF any church said that DR.. Mcfarland
should not be allowed TO leave-that he had
been thinking of joining the church. but did
not know that he would if DR.. Mcfarland
should leave. Mr.. Burke spoke with deep
emotion that caused his voice to tremble.-|
At his request, Mr.. Burke handed the paper
containing the resolutions to Elder ]. A. Wad-
dali, who said he wished to make some ex
plantations in regard to them. That all might
hear and understand them, he. also, read
them. He stated that the restrictions as to
funeral services and pastoral visits contained
in the resolutions were not to be construed as
implying any Discrimination on the part of DR..
Mcfarland to perform them, for such was not
the case at all, but they were deemed necessary
in consideration of his feeble health.
He had been called 10 officiate at as many as
ak funerals in a month, and sometimes two in
week, and some for persons not of his
church or of any church, and that the atten
dance at the cemetery in raw weather, stand
ing on the damp ground, would tax the health
of the most robust, and DR.. McFarland's
health was not such as to be able to stand 1t,
and therefore should be reli eyed oft.
AS to pastoral visits, he knew it would be a
great deprivation on the part of the members
not to have the pleasure and benefit of them
as heretofore, but it was a sacrifice they
should willingly make under the circum-
stances. He judged of the value and benefit of
them to others by their effect upon himself
He never met with DR.. Mcfarland anywhere,
bia ba cfr of h hot
he did not feel encouraged and strengthened
He did not know how that influence was
produced, but he knew the fact that it was ex
erted. 1t was not the purpose TO forbid him
from paying pastoral visits. but it was simply
to leave it to his ability and chic ce, and that
the members should not expect such visits or
he disannointad and mortified at not receivinc