The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-02
REV. j. W. aooAN,s RESIGNATION.
The First Presbyterian Church Loses
Its Pastor.


Its Pastor.
After the morning service yesterday the
members and pewholders Of the First Pres
byterian church held congregational and
business meeting TO consider the resignation
Of the pastor, Rev J. w. Rogan, who has
accepted call to the Westminster Presby-
terrain church at Baltimore Mr.. H. F.
Train, as chairman Of the meeting, read the
following letter:
SAvAxSAH, May %. 1880
To the Members Of the First Presbyterian
Church:
My DEAR PEoPLE-At my request a special
meeting Of Savannah Presbytery will be held in
our lecture room on June 5. at II O'Clock a. m =,
10 consider my application for the dissolution
or the pastoral relation existing between us, In
order that may accept the call which / have
received from the Westminster church OF Balti-
more. Md
In order to facilitate matters, herewith give
you formal notice Of this meeting and ask that
you Join me In petitioning the presbytery to
dissolve the relation. 1t is scarcely necessary
70 assure you that it pains me to take this step.
During the five years and a half that have been
with you have become strongly attached to
you and deeply interested in my work.
When look around me and see how signally
God has blessed our union, and when remem-
Der how strenuously you opposed my leaving
you eighteen months ago. when l was
about to accept another call; and when
l remember further that the LAST wear
has been perhaps the most prosperous
year OF my paStorate with you, / could not
bring myself TO take the step do were it not
Tor the fact that my wife's health demands a
change OF climate. and that have thought for
some months that at no distant day my own
health also might require such change.
have the 10Y of leaving you, as a church. in
nne condition Your property is In first-rate re-
par and attractive. Your finances are on
sound basis Your congregations are large and
Increasing and snfriftla1 nnndrfap hao Nv
occupying such vantage grounds and being
IN the center Of the population of RAPIDLY
growing city, your outlook for the future is in
deed bright.
It is useless to say that 1 shall always feel
deep interest in your welfare. Ny prayer to
GOD for you is that he viii speedily send you a
leader, and that. rallying as one man to him,
you may go up aud possess the land that is set
before you.
And now, invoking upon you grace, mercy
and peace from God our Father and Jesus
Chrlst our Lord, am yours in christian love,
J. w. RoeAs.
After the reading Of Mr. Rogan's letter,
MIR. Walter Coney offered a motion that
before the congregation proceed TO accept
the resignation a committee be appointed
to draft set of resolutions, stating that
the reasons for Mr.. Rogan's resignation were
such that the church could not we'll oppose
them, especially on account of the health
OF his family, and TO petition
PtcSOJtcIJ W grant bu6 Qe-
sired dissolution between the pastor
and church, also rendering Mr.. Rogan the
thanks OF the church for his untirlng inter
est and zeal, at the same time expressing
regret at parting with one who has labored
SO faithfully and efficiently, and who has
endeared himself to the people
Mr.. Train appointed committee of three,
Walter Coney, ]. E. Way and c. S. Wood,
TO draw up suitable resolutions, and they
were read by Mr.. Coney and confirmed by
the congregation.
On motion of Mr.. I. A. Askew the resig-
nation was formally accepted.
Mr.. Hogan will probably leave here soon
after June 15 When he came to Savannah
nearly six years ago the church building
was in dilapidated condition, with bare
floors, and small congregation. Since
then the congregation has grown, the
interior OF the church has been renovated,
and the floors carpeted and cushions placed
In each pew. About year ago new pipe
organ was placed in the church, and since
the destruction by fire of the organ in the
Independent Presbyterian church it is con-
sldered the finest instrument in Savannah