The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-04-03
From the Darby, Pa, Progress.l
REV. JAMES ROBERTS,
He Accept. the Call to Lambertvllle, N. }

there was ever seen, at any Wednesday
evening service, so large an audience as
that which assembled in the lecture room
of the church last Wednesday evening.
A week ago, last Sabbath, it was an
nounced by DR.. Roberts that, at this meet
ing, he would give his decision in regard
to the unanimous call which had been
rendered him By the Presbyterian Church
of Lambertville, N. ]. So far as we have
been able to ascertain, the hope that DIR.
Roberts would see his way clear to de-
cline this call was unanimous, both in his
own church and community. But this
hope, so fondly cherished, has not been
realized.
AT the close of his lecture, which was
review of the last three months studies
in the Life of Christ, the doctor made
statement, in which he said:
No one can be more surprised by this
call from Lambertvile than be was him
self. 1t had compelled him to take care
fully and praycrfully into consideration
his removal to a new field of labor. Since
the notice of the call came to him there
had not been an hour in the day in which
some aspect of the case had not been be-
fore his mind, and the more he thought
of it the stronger grew the conviction
that the time had come when a change
chpnlH ha 10 koI h,v
means been unmindful of the interests of
this church and of the many friends by
which he was surrounded, both Ia the
congregation and in the community, to
whom he was warmly attached, and from
whom he had received SO many nantes
tations of kindness. He felt sorry to
leave this neighborhood, so near to Phil
adephia, which he dearly loved He felt
sure this locality was destined TO greater
growth in the next ten years than it had
seen during any like period of its history.
The church, he was sure, would share in
this growth and in ten years would be
larger and more influential than it had
ever been. Notwithstanding oil this, |
think it beat for you and best for me that
| go away.
In reaching this decision, | have not
been influenced by any want of harmony
on the part OF the congregation, for we
are and have ever been as harmonious as
any congregation composed of so many
various elements can well be. There are
those here, tonight, who have stood 10y
ally and lovingly by me in all these near
ly ten years, and 1t is sore trial to sun
so many whose loyalty and love / have
never questioned for single moment.
Nor have been influenced by desire
for greater prominence and position
among my ministerial brethren.
From the Presbytery of Chester and
from the Synod of Pennsylvania, l have
had all Of this that any man can desire.
Both bodies have given to me all the hon.
ors that they can give to any minister. l
can never expect so much out Of any new
connection into which may enter. Nor
have been influenced in my decision by
more actual cash from this congregation
and from personal friends, interested in
the welfare of this church, than ever ex
pected when accepted your invitation to
become your pastor. So far as the prom
Use of support made to mo by the Lam
bertville Church is concerned, shall re-
ceive considerably less financial income in
the future than / have received in the
past. But that is neither here nor there.
II my decision is in the line Of Gods or
dering, shall want for no good thing.
The hearts of men of Lambertvllle are as
much 10 the hands OF God as are the
hearts of people whom it has been my joy
to serve here. AS have said to you be-
fore : When | entered the ministry it
was my ruling desire to be at all times
where God wanted me. II was on this
principle that | came 10 Darby. The
same principle governs me In my decision
to accept the invitation so cordially ex-
tended to me by the church of Lambert
vile TO become Its pastor. / feel that /
am now following divine voice which
says: "This is the way, walk ye in it,"
With sad faces and fearful eyes, the
congregation received the statement, of
which the above is only an outline of
what was said. Such is the confidence |
Of the people In the wisdom and judg- |
ment of their pastor that his decision was |
accepted, though reluctantly.
While accepting his decision, there are |
many here, both in and out Of the church, |
who cannot see why DIR. Roberts should |
have so decided. He knows what he has
here, and he knows not 80 well what is
before him. In addition to the places
which will be made vacant 10 the Presby
terry of Chester and in the Synod OF Penn
sylvania, OF which we spoke last week,
and which will become vacant by his re-
moval, he is the chaplain OF the st. An
drew's Society, he is a member of the
| Prison Society OF Pennsylvania and
member Of its acting committees and one
OF the managers of the John G. Mercer
Home for Aged Ministers OF the Presby-
terian Faith and Order. In each OF these
organizations he will be missed.
The editor of this paper, perhaps as
much as any, regrets the going of DIR.
| Roberts from among US. Largely owing
to the unstinted moral support that he has
given us, have we been enabled to buffet
the storms incident to the establishment
of a newspaper Of the character now uni
versally conceded to Progress. When
ever the occasion presented itself, even
from the pulpit, DIR. Roberts was free to
speak OF Progress in terms of highest
praise. In note 10 US since making his
decision, he says: zone Of the things
that regret in leaving, is the Progress
and its editor. shall always remember
with the most profound pleasure the con-
slant kindness that you have shown me. "
Nor is II forgotten that Mrs. Roberts
will be quite as much missed as her bus
band. Ever since her coming to Darby,
Mrs. Roberts has been the efficient and
successful teacher of the primary depart
ment OF the Sabbath school. No one was
ever mere dearly loved by the children
and by their parents than she has been.
SO strong is the attachment of the little
ones to her that when they reach a suffl-
| nianf aUa for faromoiion tho lar0ar