The morning call., 1892-02-22
HE MAY NOT RETURN.
Pastor Curtis Likely to Remain
in Australia.
Several of the Woodbridge Church Congrega-
tion Wish to Sever Pastoral Relations
With Him at Once.

After the regular morning service at the
Woodbridge Presbyterian Church yester-
day meeting was held in order to give the
congregation a chance of expressing their
views to the committee appointed by the
PresbyteTy to inquire into the present diff
culties, financial and otherwise, with which
the Woodbridge Church is at present over
Whelmed.
Th committee comprises Ministers A. J.
Kerr and james Matthews, and Elder
Charles Geddes. The Rev. james Matthews
presided, and briefly stated the objects Of
the nesting.
This church., he said, ''lS in financial
difficulties. 1t has practically no income
beyond what is collected in the plate, and
the pastor, L. j. Curtis, has betaken hi n =
self to Australia, and thrown out strong
hints that he may never return. 1t is for
you TO say whether you will sever your
connection with your pastor, turn over the
church to the PresbyteTy, or what other
course you will adopt"
The Rev. A. j. Kerr then read the follow
ing petition which had been signed by four
teen members of the church:
TO DISSOLVE PASTORAL RELATION.
TO The PresJyterV Of san Francisco: We, the
Undersigned, members of the church aud con-
gregatlOn OF Woodbridge Church. San Fan
cisco respectfully petition the PresDytery 10
dissolve Tie pastoral relation existing between
this church aud the Rev. I. j. Curtis In max
lug this request we wish to state the following
reasons:
First-Mr. Curtis has left the church and gone
to a foreign country, leaving us without the
regular Illustrations OF the gospel.
oecOnd-He mas lett The question OF bis return
indefinite and contingent upon possible eAigen'
cies foreign 10 us.
Thlgd-Ihe congregation has been for some
time much scattered and financially embar-
raised ana TpOUires immediate and leader
snip in order 10 avert complete dissolution ana
loss OF property.
! Curtis has labored diligently aud persiStenty
for what he deemed the good of tile church We
fully convinced that the welfare aud even
the life Of the church requires the severance OF
this pastoral relation 10 tile church.
James Graham, the Secretary of the Board
of Trustees, read the resolutions granting
Pastor Curtis three months leave Of alb
sence from January J., and added that as
Curtis had promised either to return or let
them have his resignation within three
months and only about half that tina had
already expired, he was opposed to the pc
titiOn, and maintained that it would be an
unrighteous, cruel and unjust act TO sever
| the pastoral relations between the church
| and Alr. Curtis without giving the latter a
chance of RETURNING j. Nicholson, James
Davidson and w. j. Bratton also supported
Graham's views and opposed the sentiments
Of the petition.
WILL NEVER RETURN.
G. S. Gladwin was in favor of the plan Of
Immediately seYering all pastoral relations
with Mr.. Curtis. There is very little
doubt" said he, that Mr.. Curtis will never
return, in fact he has openly stated so. We
are without income and in debt, and how is
the church to be kept open for even six
weeksS unless indeed the Trustees put
their hands into their own pockets" He
elected from the Treasurer that the church
owed some $50 in addition to the $500
mortgage on the church, the interest on
which was overdue. The expenses of run
ming the church were about $500 per month
all told, aud all that could be applied thereto
was the collections at every service. He
hoped the congregation would release Mr..
Curtis and place their affairs liz the hands
of the Presbytery.
Several other members expressed their
views and finally resolution was carried
agreeing to lay the whole matter upon the
table until the expiration Of Pastor Curtis
three-mOnths' leave of absence. In the
meantime the Presbytery was appealed to
to help the church in its difficulties. The
Rev. James Matthews promised to report
the resolution TO the PreSbytery, which
meets this morning.
1t was denied at the meeting that there
Howard-street Church was DESTROYS of
amalgamating with the Woodbridge Church
or that an effort had been made to induce
the members of the latter church to with
draw in favor Of the former.