The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-12
PASTOR DIXON RESIGNS.
READS A SENSA TIONAL LETTER OF
RESIGNA TON.
Preeiaiuns . New Creed-will Organize an
Undeoominstionsl Undertaking to
Reach Non Church Goers.

morning NHDU ni0 announce
Spectacle VS.. Sensationalism-Reply 10
an Old Fashioned Clergyman" the Rev.
Thos Dixon, Jr.. electrified the large au-
dience assembled by reading sensation
al letter addressed TO the trustees Of the
Twenty-third Street Baptist church. re-
signing his pastcratc and announcing
new creed. which for want Of better
name may be termed "Unicn-Evangeh-
calism" Many portions Of the letter
were loudly applauded. The resignation
IS 20 take effect May LIST.
TIE main features Of the new CHRIS
Ianity 10 be introduced in the rev hall
not church-to be founded 10y Mr. Dixon
and his friends arc the adjustment oil
UNCONVENTIONAL lines Of rituals. and pa
per creeds. OF ecclesiastical buildings,
and the full appreciation Of the sdcred'
ness OF the secular
Mr. Dixon thus hopes 20 reach the great
masses who never 90 to church for FEAR
Of hearing the old platitudes, and 1t Is
in order 10 gain these lost ones that he
nings aside what he is pleased TO call
his "donomlnatioual baggage
At the conclusion of the services Mr..
Dixon wat asked 10 detail his plans
more at length. and in general way
ne did so. follows:
lif Edld iudt IL was tUc intention OF
himself and his friends 20 secure one or
the largest halls In New York for the
purpose Of carrying on the work so aus
piciOusly begun iu Association Hall. lie
was prepared 20 pass for a Universalist
or a Presbyterian. If only ne could in
duce men to listen 10 the Word Of God
lie said he had eight young men in mind
WHO would become the first trustees
OF the new enterprise. Some Of these
were members Of the Authors and some
OF the Lambs club.
Proceeding. Mr.. Dixon said that nc
should from time TO time Increase the
number Of the trustees until there were
twenty OF them. He wanted these trus-
tees 10 be young men fun Of vim and
push. who would be willing 10 relieve
him OF the care Of temporal things ana
rot old fellows standing about with
their bosoms pulled up with pride.
MI Dixon went on 20 say that he must
certainly have an assistant inasmuch as
pastoral work was not his forte. and ne
should scarcely otherwise be able 10 nIl
the post OF preacher acceptably. At the
same time lie pTOfcsscd tho kjndIiest
feelings for his brethren Of the Twenty.
third-Street Baptist church.
Two OF these brethren. however very
strongly limited yesterday that tho dis
I"pCch OF The Association Han enter
t'ti''N hf-rn Il utI lbIffl upon than SOUGHT
by Mr.. Dixon. They dcuicc that his reign
had been prosperous. and intimated that
the congregation had been Wondering IN
financial quicksands owing 10 his adj
Vlncement I'm liberal ideas
ms LITTLE.
But Mr.. DiNon's change II belief VIII
be more clearly seen m the following
letter or resignation read Yesterday be
1ore his congregation in Assertion Han:
To the Society of the Twenty-third-
Street Baptist Church:
Or James \. Bennett. chdirm4n board
of trustees-l beg leave herewith 10 pre-
sent 10 the society my resignation as
pastor. % .dke effect on 4lay lst for
the following reasons:
First-ln the particular work 10 which
] have devoted my life in New York
namely, the reaching of the non-church-
going masses-l am convinced that the
machinery OF strict Baptist church is
a hindraTCc 10 the bcst work While /
remain In fundamental creed a Baptist.
] believe the time has come to make
Christian union a reality in our great
cities--if the lily Is To be reached with
the gospel. | have accepted it as my
working basis and propose to place my
work on a union evangelical PLATFORM
with but one principle only recognized in
its membership--vita faith i'm Jesus
lift many men out Of the ditch than to
spend my time making a few men Bap-
fists.
CHURCH BUILDINGS DEMDET.
Secoud-Some of the older members of
the church nave for some time desired
10 leave the hall 10 return 10 their pews
in the church building. Your board has
three times expressed this desire to me.
would not consent to IT, / am thorough
" convinced that an ecclesiastical build
ing is the poorest instrument for reach
ing and saving men that is now In use.
Nv heart is with the great multitude We
have gathered and held through the last
fiVe years To leave this sea OF eager,
uplifted faces Swallowed by doubts and
hungry for truth TO return TO the quiet
and narrowness OF your church building
would be 10 me the betrayal OF a living
trust.
Third wish TO have a perfectly free
pulpit i'm which to push 20 their last
logical conclusion those things which
have become TO me of supreme impOr-
lance. Among them:
l. TO insist upon the absolute non-es-
ecntiality 10 true religion Of all forms,
ceremonies. rituals. places. paper creeds.
and church ofhcialism. emphasizing as
of first Importance the freedom OF the
individual conscience and the individual
church Here / would build squarely on
all that Is really fundamental IN the Faith
OF my fathers.
.. To restate in the language OF modern
life. grateful for all the light OF science
philosophy and criticism, The Gospel OF
Jesus Christ In It's beauty JOY, simplicity
and power, presenting old faiths in new
lights i'm the effort TO rebuild the crumb-
ling faiths OF the thousands who have de-
serted the churches. sick of the platitudes
of dead traditions.
g. To proclaim sacredness Of the secu-
lar In that all channels through which
truth and beauty. lie and love, enter the
soul OF man are divine, and therefore
that education. art. literature. science
and society political and economic are
holy ground.
4 To proclaim this as the hour In which
the Gospel OF Jesus Christ must have
its social fulhlment II society be saved
from anarchy. That the state IS even
now the outline OF the Kingdom Of God,
being the only organ through which the
people can act as one man in the pursuit
of righteousness. That politics is re-
ueious inaction. That political action is
A sacrament That political economy
must be human.zed until men know that
production is communion with God and
distribution q human fellowship, the
brotherhood OF man and the solidarity OF
the race facts. not fancies.
HIS UNCONVENTIONAL BAGGAGE
I have preached these truths for five
years | wish now TO lay aside my de-
nominal ional baggage. that | may preach
them with whole heart. have de-
termincd. therefore. TO reorGanize and
.e,ahllsh our hail work upOn a perma-