Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-02-15
MR.. BRYAN'S STATEMENT.
MADE TO HIS CONGREGATION
YESTERDAY.

The Pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church speaks to His
Flock About HE Call to the Sec-
ond Chur. h of Cincinnati.
At the close of the services at the First
Presbyterian church Yesterday morning,
Rev. W. 5. P. Bryan made a full state
ment to his congregation regarding the
call made for him last week by the
Second Presbyterian church Of Cincin-
natl. Mr.. Bryan said that about the
middle Of December he had received an
invitation to fill the pulpit of that church,
on the ground that I'VE are without a
regular pastor and have had our pulpit
supplied by different clergymen.'
Had the invitation intimated any
reference to probable call or enquired
my willingness to consider CALL"
said Mr.. Bryan, Il would have
promptly declined it on the
ground that had no desire to disturb
my present relations with this church,
which may now say has been my uni
form answer to all invitations looking
10 my removal from Ashevllle.
AFTER having preached in the Cincin-
natl church on sunday, Jan. 10, was
ON Monday preparing to start home
ward when these gentlemen, members OF
the pastoral committee OF the church,
stated the desire OF the congregation for
nay services az pastor, and that call
would issut If there was any reasona-
bic prospect OF its receiving considera-
ton. This statement was afterwards
formally presented to me IN letter from
the pastoral committee.
ITO me personally this is crisis.
realize that the decision now before me
to be made will throw it's influence over
the whole OF my future ministry and effect
the mode of lite OF my family as well as
myself. On the one hand, and speaking
ior my wife as well as tor myself, wish
to say that we are more than content
with our home and the present sphere OF
my work. Neither within the church nor
in the community, is there any Of those
disturbing clements which so often make
a change III d pastOrate sad necessity;
on the contrary, the most kindly and
generous relations exist and even the
thought Of the loss OF these is painful.
My work as pastor ot this church has
not to my mind been particularly sue
cessiul, but it has had some measure oi
divine approval, and until this call was
presented, had expected 10 labor here
lor years to come, as is indicated by the
new house 80 lately ly completed and but
recently occupied by my family"
"On the other hand, the call now before
me Is extended by church which has
been without a regular pastor Tor the
space OF three years and halt, and the
pulpit has been supplied on the Sabbath
ny different clergymen. That a church
alter such a vacancy should so heartily
and cordially unite on a man as theii
pastor is tact to which cannot reiust
great weight.
Further, the acquaintance l formed
with some of the leading members OF tht
church in Cincinnati assures me that the
congregation is composed of people who
are not only congenial to me personally
but whose views OF Christian doctrine
and worship are the same that l hold
and have presented from year to year In
this pulpit. The sermons preached hac
been delivered from this pulpit, and ii
other ways ascertained that the pro
posed change was a change chiefly o
location. and that the atmosphere o
religious belief and work and worship
was that to which am accustomed here
while the resources for Christian useful
ness in that great city offered by tn
personal character, the zeal and the lib
erality of membership of the church
which has called me, appeal to me yer,
strongly for what assistance l can giv'
in developing them"
Mr.. Bryan said he should visit Cincin
natl before deciding upon the call, IL
order to acquaint himself more particu
larly with the methods of church worl
and also the special demands which thl
pastorate would make upon linn.
. In concluding Mr.. Bryan said: 81 will
be grateful for your counsel and advlc
: and would especially ask you to unit
with me in beseeching the great Head O
the church to make known His will, an
to use me as shall be most pleasing t.
His sight"