The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-01
PASTOR M,MINN RESIGNS.
Dissentions in Church Caused
his Step.

DtSsentlOIs IN tine Cnurcn Sausoes
This Step.
The Rev. Edward McMinn, Pastor of the
Summit Avenue Baptist Church, rendered
his resignation Tuesday evening to the con-
gregation. The resignation was a great sur
prise, as in view of recent proceedings it was
thought all differences in the church had
been settled. Pastor McMinn's letter was as
follows
To the Members of the Summit AUsnte Bdptist
Charch OF Jersey Ctr:
DEAR BRETHREN AND SIsTERs:-While pleas
antly engaged 10 the pastorate or Que OF tne
most delightful suburban towns IN New Jersey
four years ago l received a call from you 70
leave that field and become your pastor. lfelt
that it was the hand of God that was ieading
me and | came. am sure that l was not mis-
taken in that conviction for my experiences VIII
you has been largely pleasant and successful;
1t has been declared to be the most peaceIut
p~astorate in the history of this church. Wnen
/ came knew how pastorates often close In
turmoil and strife, and l determined that sucn
should not mark my career with you, but That
when clouds of threatening aspect should pegtn
to arise l would retire and leave a prosperous
church to MY successor. | believe that time
has now come. When l first ineimite1 my in-
teptlon to resign many urged me not TO DO SO,
not only my fellow minister's. but a touching re-
| quest signed by 100 members of the church
was given to me to turn mt from that purpose.
| When again l spoke of it some OF the oi1cers
or the Cnurcn ASKED me uOLtO 0u ~, Jul W
withhold such action. / do not wish 70 grieve
those dear friends, but l am convinced that the
bsst interests of the church will be conserved
by my obeying my original impulses IN this
matter. / beg you to remember that only one
Of the nine recent pastors or the cnurcn mas
had q pastorate as long as my own. and IN so
busy a city as ours, it has been a constant STRAIN
to do the work, only a loyal pastor can see
needs to be done. At an unofficial gathering
last night of the officers and sons memoers OF
the church. it was asked IL there were any
nna - ~ yrfauon ooa which I GnnI1ld m 3Af. AND
the statement. was made that there was none,
and that l was held in the highest esteem YET
for all this, the business depression, many OF
our members being out of work, and a temper
airy deficit of small amount in the treasury. has
made some feel fearful of the development OF 9
deficit which always had been an incubus on
the church, until in the first year OF my pastor-
ate it was entirely removed.
In reviewing my success in this field, allow me
to contrast these three years of my pastorate
with the three years previous to my coming.
During the three years previous the church
raised for all purposes, Sl4.26o.21 During the
three years of my pastorate they raised Slo,3l4.-
"a. Thus a gain of over $4,000. A deficit was
removed, our house of worship renovated. and q
magnificent new organ put in. During the pre-
ceding three years there were Il baptis ms; dur
ing my shree years there were 102 baptisnis. In
the previous period 20 were received by letter:
in the latter period 36 were received by letter.
During the last associations yea r.
churches. only two had a larger number of
baptisms than our own. | call your attention
to these things that you MAY see that our course
has been steadily prosperous. And now l COM
nit to your care our 400 members. our Sunday
school of SIT members and our Eudsavor school
of 49, members: our six circles OF Kings
Daughters. two circles Of Kings Sons, our
Christian Endeavor and missionary societies.
1t is a great work for some one TO take up.
and happy the man who can do it successfully
for the Lord. And now, brethren, l offer my
resignation, to take eff ct the 1st of June, and
may the blessing Of God abide with us all. Af-
fectionately your pastor,
EDWARD McMNN.
Jan. 80, 1894.
The meeting decided to act on the resigna-
ton at a meeting to be held next Tuesday
evening.
There is a feeling of regret among the con-
~gregation that the pastor should take this
step. In all probability, however, the re-
signation win be accepted.
An intimate friend of the Rev. Mr.. Nc
MINI, connected with the church, told a
JERSEY CITY News reporter this morning
that he did not think Mr.. McMinn would
leave the church if the majority of the con-
gregation stood by him. He said that to the
best of his knowledge, the trustees were
equally divided in the matter, as he knew
two were positively for the pastor, two de-
cidedly against him, and the other three
were on the fence and could be easily per-
suaded one way or the other. He further
said that he did not think Mr.. McMinn
would do anything OF make any plans until
after the meeting next Tuesday night.