Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-09
mo MORE DEBT" is THE CHURCH LAW.


So Pastoral Supply and Delaware Avenue
Baptist Church Part Company, But Are
Still the Best of Friends.
At the close Of the services at Della
ware Avenue Baptist Church Sunday
Rev. W. y. Bainbridge, d. D., who has
been the acting pastor, read letter TO
the congregation severing his connection
with them. The church and DR.. Balm
bridge are still the best of friends, in
every meaning of the term. DR.. Balm
bridges action is the result of q mutual
understanding highly creditable to both
sides.
The letter which follows fully eS.
plains the situation:
NO MORE CHURCH DEBT.
To Che Deiawdre Avenue Baptist Church:
God has graciously enabled me TO lead you
out of heavy debt of over 5000, but
He does not appear to me to require that
should accompany you again into debt.
The hard times, which have dragged so
long and are still upon us, make me as
sured, from what j know of all your re-
sources, that you are unable at present to
carry more than a pulpit supply from
Sunday to Sunday. As therefore l have
other and very pressing work upon my
hands. believe that ought to lessen your
financial burden in church support, and
therefore / feel it my duty to give you
this notice, that my services will close
with you at the end of the present month.
As never fully accepted your pastorate,
but only consented to an associated tenn
porary work, requiring the equivalent of
every other week in pastoral service, there
is no opportunity for any formal resigna-
ton. l came to give you part of my
time to accomplish definite service. That,
Think, is DONE and cannot see it at all
undone. This i owe to the many friends,
of our own and other denominations, who
have helped to release you from crushing
| burdens.
May these trying financial times brighten
with all OF you soon, and then may God
| give you a pastor, whose time can all be
devoted to your service and whose support
| you may be able to provide with a reasona-
Bile amount of the always needed and best
self-saoritice.
Remember our motto: "Never any
more church debit
am glad you are still perfectly united,
that you still honor me with the loyalty OF
all your hearts, and that only the distress
ing financial situation requires that ease
You Of the burden of pastoral support
until better times come to your financial
| prospects.
Most cordially your friend,
w. Il. BAISBRIDoE.
IT is NOT A RESIGNATION.
One of the church officials was seen
by representative of The GAZETTE
in regard to DR.. Bainbridge's action. He
said:
1--WE don't propose to go one dollar
into debt" the official said ave will
depend on supplies until such time as
We can afford hiring regular pastor
We are determined, now as we are ou
of debt, never to get into it again."
"Religion on cash basis ?" the re
porter asked.
swell, that's about what it is" The
church official replied smiling, ant
added, tive are very sorry to lose DR.
cambridge. We all appreciate him
You know that it is through his instru'
mentality the tremendous debt of Della
ware Avenue Baptist Church has beer
wiped out. There was no necessity o
his resigning. He was but pastora
supply. That is to say DIR. Bainbridg
was not called. Therefore his connec
ton with us needed no action of tn
church officially"