The morning call., 1894-03-05
HE WAS ASKED TO RESIGN.
Sessioners Wished to Avoid Any
Notoriety.
HE GOES WELL RECOMMENDED.
Many People Wept When the Pastor
Made His Manly Adieu at the
First Presbyterian Church.

ut is quite true" said John o. DOane,
one of the leading members Of the session
of the First PresbyterankChurch to a re-
porter of THE CALL last night, "that we
intimated 10 Rev. w. d. Nicholas that ii
would be better for him to send in his res
ignation. We did it because we saw that
there was a disposition among certain
members of the congregation TO make him
the subject of unpleasant notoriety, and
we thought il bstteribolh for himself and
the church that he should sever his con-
nection with il. 1t would be very wrong
to deny that we took this course, because
we did take it, and that is the truth OF the
matter.
personally, have very high regard
for DR.. Nicholas, and so have all the other
members of the session. He is a grand
speaker and we ali.like him very much"
You thought, did you not, that his en-
gagement with Miss Edna Groves came a
little too quickly on the divorce from his
wife 2" was asked
1--WE did. 1t would have been much bet
ter for him TO have waited little while
longer lit certainly would have been
better"
Had the fact that Miss Groves belongs
to another church any weight with the
session in asking for his res gnation?"
mo. it had not. Ii was mentioned by
only one member, and was dismissed as
not worthy of consideration, because il is
quite probable that the young lady-who
IS most estimable young lady-may en-
brace her husbands church. No, sir; the
only reason we acted as we did was TO
avoid unpleasant notoriety. We therefore
accepted his resignation and gave him our
best wishes"
Tho mann har Of tho eacriop xrho
up the matter of the young lady protesting
a different faith, ii is understood, was Sam
Irving, clerk of the session, though j. G.
Chown, In previous conversation with
reporter Of THE CALL, dwelt upon that
fact as having weight with the session.
The statement of John o. Doane fully
bears out that made in The CALL to the
effect that DIR. Nicholas had been asked for
h S resignation. statement which the
preacher took pains to deny.
When Kew. Robert Mackenzie was seen
last evening he practically admitted that
such course had been taken. He said
guardedly that the seSsiohers might have
individually made representations in a
friendly way" to DR.. Nicholas that as his
year was at an end his services would not
De wanted for further period.
In his letter of resign alton DIR. Nicholas
gives the grounds for his resignation as
that his year was completed and that he
be the sole pastor.
This letter IF resignation was read at the
morning service of the First Presbyterian
Church by DR.. Mackenzie yesterday. He
also read the decision of the session ac-
ceptIng the resignation, which was
cnuched in the following terms:
WHEREAS, Rev. w. ID. Nicholas who has
been our associate minister for a year has Of
feTed his resignation the session In RECEIVING
and aeeepIlng the same wish 10 express their
N ha fnl1 zgpe,
Resolved. That Mr.. Nicholas came TO us with
The highest ecclesiastical and ministerial in-
dorsement and that our personal Inquiry CON
1rmed that Endorsements; that we were ac-
quained with his previous domestic relations
and regarded them such as might occur i'm fine
case oil any good man and that he was ID. refore
the more deserving of our sympathy; that his
services among US have been peculiarly accept.
able; as preacher he is able ana evangelical
ana lD the performance of the general duties
as a pastor be is entitled TO our unanImous
appreciation; that we regret the necessity for
his resignation and express our entire conf
deDce In his character as Christian and a
gentleman, ana mat we commend him 10 any
church 10 which Providence may guide him.
For himself DR.. Mackenzie stated tina,
he was sorry 20 lose the assistance of so
able man as the associate pastor and
that his best wishes went out to him.
DIR. Nicholas preached his last sermon in
the church as associate pastor last night,
Miss Graves. in the choir-loft immediately
hauis oouS tbc ON Ccb culU, lily w Ill
Be Done" The young lady, who has a
sweet and attractive appearance. sang this
solo with a feeling that ELECTED the sym-
pathy of the large congregation, and
when, later on, the pastor babe a manly
and open farewell. there were many hand
kerchiefs TO be seen in various parts of the
church.
He chose for his theme the fall Of Jeri-
cho, and preached with great eloQuence
the fact that there is in every life a spirit
uai Jericho which cannot be taken with
out the aid of God. Like the Israelites of
old, one can 90 neither to the right nor
left OF this fortress, but must perforce
take IT. This fortress is the besetting sin
OF each man. and if he should attempt to
pass it by he will find it behind him il
future days to his detriment and hurt.
AT the conclusion OF his remarks DIR.
Nicholas paused for while and then said :
This is the last sermon i will preach |
here. Under the terms of my agreement
my engagement is at an end. L never have |
been in the habit OF preaching farewell
sermons. Ii l did so on this occasion |
might cry and Go not like to weep. / do |
not think i look " ell weeping. and l would |
not have you go away With NV face i'm
pressed so on your minds. You NAV get a |
better preacher than / am here. You may |
get more sanctimonious one. but you will |
not get one that loves you better than do. |
wish | had some other words than the |
God bless you to give you,
but DO say God bless you and be In your |
hearts until we go to that land where there |
are DO churches because il is all one great |
and no ministers because all are |
blessed. Once again L say. God bless Won |
and speed YOU"
When Miss Groves sang the offertory |
SOLO afier this short and manly farewell |
there was a perceptible tremor in the |
sweet voice. and many people wept. IL |
was, In fact, an occasion that will long be |
remembered by those present.
IL Is quite possible that DIR. Nicholas |
may receive a call to one of two churches |
10 this city which are at present without |
permanent pastors. One church is the |
Hnward-street and the other ST. Johns. |
Ihere is no reason why he should not ac- !
cert In case of a call. which, 1t is said, IS |
likely 10 be made.
The gossip about his domestic affairs. |
which has made his stay as associate |
pastor at the First Presbyterian Church |
~ ohf 81 81 n &c