The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-16
DR.. DRIPPS' RESIGNATION.
ANNOUNCED TO THE CONGREGA-
TION AFTER SERVICES.


pect-HIs Connection with the
Church TO Terminate IN Three
Months-NO steps Taken Yet To-
vyard Filling the Vacancy.
Rev. J. F. Dripps. D. D., announced TO
the congregation of the Independent Pres
byterian church after the regular service
yesterday morning that his connection
with the church as pastor would termin-
ate within three months. that notice being
required from the pastor to the church or
from the church to the pastor, under the
church rules.
The announcement from DR.. Dripps was
not exactly a surprise TO the congrega-
ton, as the announcement Of his resigna-
ito has already been made in the Morn
ing News, and it will appear also from
his statement, that the members Of the
church We're given notice at the service
week ago by the elders to remain after
the close Of yesterdays service.
DR.. Dripps text for the morning service
was from Psalms 23:1. 1.-THE Lord is my
Shepherd. / shah not waW." He spoke
upon this topic as showing the wise and
loving guidance Of the divine shepherd
for his people in all their circumstances.
The sermon was illustrated from the nat
ural facts of shepherd life and from Incl
dents in the old and New Testaments. He
mentioned the fact, too, that he had spok-
en- upon this topic on the first day of his
stay in Savannah, and that it might be
appropriate and helpful on this occasion.
IN,
to the statement that followed. After the
singing of the concluding hymn the mem
bers of the congregation were requested
to remain and DR.. Drpps made them the
, following statement which explains in an
exact, but general way, the reasons for
his action:
"A notice was given by the elders last
! Sunday, requesting the church members
1 and pew holders to remain at the close
Of the regular service this morning /
am desired to state on their behalf that
the object intended was solely that Of
giving Information to the congregation
with regard to the resignation of the
pastor. 1 am now here TO give this in
person.
Some of you are aware that for a
long time 1 have felt burdened with the
difficulties connected with this work. SO
that more than once 1t has been chiefly
my spirit Of obedience to my master,
which has kept me from giving it up.
l have been feeling that l was not called
to go on with it, unless 1 could make
sure of a hearty support which would
be practically unanimous Information
came TO me this summer which showed
that such unanimity was more than l
could expect. l have, all my life, been
accustomed to sudden changes, making
decisions quickly and acting on them
without delay, whenever l had no rea-
son to doubt the providential guidance.
I'm this case, therefore, 1 decided at
once to give up my charge, and COM
municated Immediately with the elders to
that effect. l had been intending to make
my personal return somewhat later than
this; at the usual date in October But
finding that l could minister better 10
the peace and quietness of the church by
coming now, l am here for that pur-
pOse In the printed rules of this church
are contained these words: 1T may be
terminated by mutual agreement, or by
the settled purpose of the pastor to re-
tire etc, and also this: There shall be a
reasonable notice of not less than three
months Of the proposed termination of
the pastoral office l therefore now re-
peat to you my own settled purpose to re-
tire. and l give notice that in three months
from Oct. 1 my pastoral relations with
this church will terminate. Let me also
add that l will leave the pulpit at your
disposal, in order that you may be en-
tirely free to make needful arrangements
for the future
at cannot be without deep emotion, that
| such a step is taken. Let me thank you
/ again with all my heart, for the kind eX-
/ pressions which are continually coming to
I me, by words spoken and words written:
! They can never be forgotten by me.
! And let me invoke for you as for my
/ self the guidance of our merciful Father
! in Heaven. l have the comfort of know
/ ing that have sought the welfare of this
| church with all my heart, and with all
| my might: from the day when you and
/ went through the fire together, until this
| day, when 1 am endeavoring to secure
1 peace within it. and to avert division.
| am leaving It with no feeling, but I'M
/ feigned kindness toward every person in
/ it. May you have peace and harmony and
every other Spiritual blessing, far more
/ abundantly than the past has ever seen.
/ God bless and guide you, each and all.
I This notice requires no action on your
part, and the object for which you were
/ asked to stay is now fulfilled. l will now
/ ask you to unite with me in a closing
prayer and then be dismissed with the
| benediction."
DR.. Dripps has been with the Independ-
ent Presbyterian church nearly seven
! years. He came to Savannah from Phila-
/ delphia, Feb. l, 1889 remaining through
that month, after which he returned north
and in the following April brought back
his family. The day before the second Sun
! day after his return to Savannah the
church property was completely destroyed
/ by the disastrous fire of that year. He de-
voted his efforts to the restoring of the
church and the Sunday school building
/ which were only entirely completed in the
/ early part of the present year.
| At the conclusion of the services several
members of the congregation spoke to
+ DR.. Dripps with regard to his resignation
| and the causes leading TO it, but nothing
more definite or detailed bearing upon it,
! was given out.
/ DIR. Dripps has not determined as yet as
4 to his future course, and is not ready to
make any statement about 1t now. Nor
| have the officers of the church taken any
steps so far looking toward filling the va
cancy which DR.. Dripps' resignation will
| leave. The usual course pursued is first
| through the elders and trustees, who after
| looking around, select some one to recon-
| mend to the congregation as pastor, and
the final selection is left with the con-
| gregation 1t will probably be some weeks
before anything definite in this direction
J is done.