Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-24
TO REMAIN.
THE POPULAR PASTOR ANNOUNCES
HIS PURPOSE TO CONTINUE HERE.
An Intsrestipg Service at the Second Bap-
tist Churca-The Call Consfdsred
from n Sense OF Duty.

Rev. DR.. W. W. Landrum. the beloved
pastor of Second Baptist church. VIII not
leave Richmond. He made this announce
ment before large congreratio last night
and the news, though not altogether un-
expected, created great delight among the
audience.
1t bad previously been stated that IN
stead of holding the regular Wednesday
night services on this occasion Dr. Lam
drums decision would be announced py
the committee appointed to Wall upon
him and urge him not to accept the cali Oh
the Broadway Baptist church.
Tue COMMITTEE REPORTS.
After the devotional exercises. DIR. Jack
son Il. Wood made feeling reference 10
the sudden shock received by the congre-
CATION on learning of DR.. Landrum's in
tsntion TO resign his pastorate mere.
He added that he was one OF tne
committee appointed to urge nm
to change his decision, and that,
with the other gentlemen assigned to
this duty, he called at the residence OF Dr;;
Iandrum Sunday afternoon. He found
him sick in bed, but the preacher. who was
suffering great mental anguish, willlngiy
consented to confer with the delegation;
and after some conversation, they arrived
at u mutual understanding and the matter
was favorably settled.
DIR. Wood stated that he fully appreci,
ated the anguish which DR.. Landrum had
suffered in his efforts TO act concientiously,
but that his brother deacoDs, IN speaking
in behalf of the Second church. had pre-
sented their side in such very forclble
manner that DIR. Landrum could not faii TO
yield to their persuasion.
THE PASTORS ADDRESS.
Dr.. Landrum next addressed the con-
gregation, saying in his opening remarks
that he had no intention of making a
speech, but would simply talk with his
auditors as If they were beside winters
freside.
Bs said that IN his lifetime he had under
gone but few great spiritual Struggles,
perhaps because he had not been suffi-
ciently consecrated-but one of the most
severe which ever perplexed him was at
the time when he first decided that he
should become minister. subsequently.
however, he had learned to consider the
calling of preacher the highest on earth.
Continuing he said that last fail he re-
ceiyed calls from q church III Texas. one
in Tennessee. and one III Savannah, but he
could not then entertain the idea OF &C
cepting any of them, although they set
him to thinking.
THE LOUISVILLE CALL.
Recently the call from the Louisville
church reached him, and 1t was something
of surprise. although some of his old
professors in that city had been communi-
eating with him on the subject.
Not only were the congregation OF the
Kentucky church, but also the Iheologi-
cal Seminary unanimous IN the call:
DIR. Landrum, said that he bad never
been entirely in accord with the pecu-
\; o& ha ttat4 af that GfqtQ and
wnen, notwithstanding this, they promptly
decided upon him. after looking over the
whole South, il seemed to him tnat he
should 90. He did not confer with his
congregation about tho matter because he
was afraid to do so. His heart was with
them, and the question before him was
Am / willing 10 go to strange city and
take hold of a community with which
am unfamiliar and not altogether IN ao-
cord?'
Continuing, DIR. Landrum said: The
question was not whether you could get
along without me. | know you can. 1t
was: Should give up this church. which
| have always loved, TO promote the honor
of the church in Kentucky? L didn't sur
yey nv obligations TO Virginia. The .ques-
tion was whether | was willing TO do the
most painful thing of my life and DO what
/ thought was my duty" The speaker
then recited the worry and trouble which
the decision had caused him, and the an
guish be had experienced.
ATTACHED TO HIS PEOPLE.
DIR. I,andrum, in concluding. said;
Brethren. know 1T is good for me TO
be with you. / would esteem 1t high
honor to live and die with you. ! felt that
when the hour OF parting came it was like
tearing my heart from me"
lie added that his psstorate here was
the longest of his life. and that he loved
the church and his congregation most ten
DERBY.
Feeling remarks were made by Messrs.
J. TAYLOR Ellyson, Joe Montgomery, and
DR.. Corey after DR.. Landrum had resumed
| hia seat