Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-04
SORRY TO LET HIM GO.

DR.. Hollands Resignation Reluctantly Ac-
cepted by the Bellefeld Presbyterian
Church-Result of His Seventeen Years
Work in the Congregation.
A congregational meeting of the Belle
field Presbyterian Church was held Thurs
day night to consider DIR Hollands request
for dissolution of the pastoral relation ex-
isting between the congregation and him.
self. Elder j. Il. Baldwin presided. A
committee, consisting of Elders Thomas
Herriot. Esq, and Thomas Wightman, was
appointed to express the sense of the meet
ing. They brought in the following pre-
amble and resolution, which was unani-
mously adopted, although very reluctantly:
To the Presbytery OF Pittsburg:
In yielding to the request of DR.. Holland for
a dissolution of the pastoral relation which has
existed between himself and the Belleheld
Church for II years the congregation desires
to present to Presbytery and to place on their
own records brief minute of their reasons for
their action,
1t would be easy to adopt, and with all sim
cerity. the customary expressions of regret in
such cases, but we believe that we ought to call
specific attention to two or three things that
should be stated, both as proper &C
acknowledgement of our pastors work among
us and as showing that we know what we lose
when We part with him.
When DIR. Holland took charge of the Belle
field Church its membership was lc7 Within
the first ten years of his ministry many of his
best and strongest helpers were taken away by
death (some of them men for whom the whole
city mourned). Now our church roll shows that
during these years 81 of our members have
died. go have been dismissed to other churches
and (omitting those dropped from the roll for
various causes) our present communicate mem-
bership is Az, while the contributions of the
church for congregational and benevolent pur-
poses have been nearly $500. 00O
Within the past two years we have under DR..
Hollands guidance and directions erected and
completed the new church edifice which we
OCCUPY, and this has caused him much addl-
tional labor, while 1t should also be noted that
he and his family have assisted us in our con-
triputions to the church and its beneVplent
work to an amount which we dare assert has
been seldom-if ever-equaled in any other
pastorate in our land.
Besides all this we recognize that DIR. Holland
is just coming to the maturity and full strength
of his power as pastor and preacher when
he is called away from us.
When, therefore, we put aside our personal
affection for him and waive the protest against
his resignation, which so many have desired to
make your venerable body will readily believe
that we DO not part with him willingly. and
that we realize all the difficulty we shall have
in trying to NIL his place.
Neither do we place the work of the educator
above that of the pastor, but We recognize the
peculiar fitness which DR.. Holland has for the
position to which he has been called, and we
know that he has followed a clear conviction
of duty in accepting it.
We therefore submit the entire question to
you, simply praying that yonr decision may be
that of the Master in this-to him, as we'll as to
us-most serious matter.
Resolved, That under the facts and for the
reasons set out in the minute which accompa-
nies this resolution we accede to DIR. Hollands
request for a dissolution of the pastoral rela-
tion now existing between him and the Belle
seld Church, subject to the approval of the
Presbytery of Pittsburg. and that Thomas
Herriot and Thomas Wightman are hereby ap-
pointed as commissioners to represent the
church and congregation and present said min
ute at the April meeting of said Presbytery.
4 call has not yet been issued for DIR.
Hollands successor.