The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-09-25
IT SURPRISED THEM
Rev. Theo' Heisig Resigns
as Pastor of the First
Baptist Church.
REASONS NOT DlVULGED
Church Secrets and Difficulties
Have Necessitated His Leaving
His Post.

few minutes before the close OF
Sunday mornings service in First Bap-
tist Church. Rev. Theodore Heisig. the
Pastor, pulled few sheets of paper out
of his pocket and read this document
September q. 1884
To First Baptist Church,
JERSEY City N. j.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,-About three
years and a half ago you UNANIMOUSLY
invited me to assume the paStorate %
your church Coming, as%he call did with
out any solicitation on my part, having
been recommended TO you without my
consent or even knowledge, L felt II 70
be the voice of God and accordingly ac-
cepted your invitation. 1 came full of
enthusiasm. 1t was my hope 10 lapog
with you many years IN the Gospel anu
to make this city ana TINS cnurcn the
scene of my life work. Under ordinary
circumstances such might nave peen tuS
case. You know, however, the dithcul.
ties which existed before l camel 4sd pds
and which during all these years on
every hand have confronted me, some
being of such nature that no paSto pStor
prayerful and thoughtful conslderatlon
of the future welfare OF TINS caurcn,
and after consultation with us oLlcSlss
in my judgment, the work God caued 70
me to do here is finished and the time
has arrived when pastor, unineumper5=
ed by the entanglements whicn toun9 tnS.
existing, will be able to do better WORK
for the church than /. The interest anu
prosperity of the church should pc above
every personal considera tion. there-
fore tender my resignation as your pass
tor said resignation to take erect on
'''i'''''- FAITHFUL WORK DONE.
AS 1 prayed for Gods blessing upon
you when / came, so now l pray Tor
His blessing upon you as we separate;
| need not refer to the work accomplished
open book. You know what large num-
Der of young people have been broughs
either into the church or into close
touch with it, You are the best judges
of the faithfulness with which your dis
tressed, your sick, your dying, your
bereaved have been visited and eomfort-
manifold duties of a pastor have been
performed May / just add this one
word The commentator and apprecla-
ton Of my pulpit ministrafions nod SO unli
to me have been great inspiration TO
me in my preaching, and for which
must heartily thank you;
IT IS FINAL.
Just one word In conclusion. This
resignation will no doubt be surprisel
and grief to many You may see, see no o
view to sound the sentiment of the
church. 1t is my decided convicttsn tnar-
under existing circumstances cnange
of pastors is most desirable TO YOU. MY
resignation for this reason Is hnat
ask that for the good of the churcn no
one may even hint at its refusali put
may be accepted. You can show your
confidence in me as a leader better oV
accepting my resignation than by m
sisting upon my Withdrawing it and
l thank you for the kindness you have
shown me. I hope that in short time
ton to a man after Gods own heart
and incline him to accept your call. Ana
now may you keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond OF peace: peace ana Th,a may th thS
love of God, the Father and the Fellow1
ship of the Holy Spirit rest upon each
Of you individually and upon you col-
lectively as church: q
THEO. HEIsIG. I
SOME SHED TEARS.
The congregation were intensely sur-
prised when their pastor had finished
They could scarcely believe their ears.
Many of them were seen to put their
handkerchiefs to their eyes. whilst others
gazed in blank amazement at each other.
Mr. Heisig broke the silence which en-
sued after the reading of the letter by
announcing that his resignation would
be handed to the trustees for their action
Then he hastily pronounced the Benedic-
ton and left the building, anxious to
avoid the sorrowfuI countenanees of his
friends.
And now for the reason of this letter
To all the congregation except two or
three of the deacons the bare suspicion
even that Mr.. Heisig was dissatisfied
was never for a moment harbored. His
work, untiring, jealous and successful,
and his charming personality had en-
deared him to his congregation, but this
small group of deacons knew that there
were insuperable difficulties which met
Mr.. Heisig. Precisely what these are
cannot now be learned, because Mr..
Heisig and his deacons are as mute as
the proverbial carp.
CHURCH SECRETS.
This morning Mr.. Heisig was interviews
ed by News" representative and he
admitted the difficulties, but declined to-
state what they are.
81 would gladly enhghten you, but the
secret is not my own. 1t would be wrong
for me to make it public unless the dea-
cons wished it, and even then 1 am not
sure that I ought TO say anything. The
church needs another pastor and that
| is ALL"
One of the members little more
communicative than the pastor, said;-
.Oh, YOU know first that there is a
big financial drain on the church, and
believe what with money paid out to
other sources Mr.. Heisig has often been
embarrassed by the irregularities in
meeting his salary. Then there is-but
you'd better ask some one else and SO
saying he skipped into car.
And SO 1t was with two others seen
by a News reporter. They preferred
to keep things quiet until the meeting of
the deacons.
MR.. HEISIG'S PLANS.
Mr.. Heisig, however, will not remain
after the end of the year. that is sure.
He has not he said, any plans, any call,
but may afterwards devote some time
to giving lectures. In this line he has
had much success in different towns in
this and other States. One of his favor
ite lecture is, Hitting the Bulls Eye"
which has attracted much attention for
it's felicity and humer He is also a
journalist, having after leaving college
spent some time with a leading paper In
Galveston, Texas.
MA11ERS OF FACT