The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-02
MAC MINI GIVES Up
Result of a Long Feud
Between Members of
Summit Avenue Bap-
fist Church.
THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION
Praise for His Attempts to Recon-
cile the Factions-A Good
Record Left.
THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION

trouble in the Summit Avenue Baptist
Church existing between a small ma
jority of the members of the congrega-
ton and the pastor, Rev. Edwin = Mac
Mimi, has resulted in the pastors resig-
nation.
About a year ago at this time Pastor
| MacMinn sent in his resignation, but his
many friends would not hear of his re-
signing, as they said at the time the
church could not afford to lose HIM.
The result of that vote upon his resig-
nation was 119 for retaining him and
some twenty odd for letting him go.
Az the vote was so large to have hlm
stay, he promised to remain another
year and try to adjust the troubles which
existed among the members.
Instead of matters improving however,,
they got worse, and he decided to re-
| sign, and at the meeting of the congre-
CATION last night he sent this letter.
THE RESIGNATION.
ITO the Summit Avenue Baptist Church:
Dear Brethren-It has always been a
conviction deep seated in my mind that
an ordained minister of the Gospei
| should have a clear consciousness OF d
divine call to the ministry. Also thal
he is called by the Holy Spirit. to the
particular field in which he labors, ana
when making a change of location IS
guided by the same Spirit.
Anything less than such a convlctioh
| on the minister's part is a substitution OF
| self or the will of man for the will OF
the Holy Spirit.
81 believe that 1 was called bq the Holy
Spirit to be your pastor more than hVe
years ago.: 1 have never doubted 1t.
You. at that time. issued the call, pc
lieving yourselves to be instruments OF
the Holy Spirit in doing SO. I accepted
the cali in the same spirit: thus We
worked conformity with the Holy Spirit.
Now, there is expressed by some a
belief that my pa~sforate mere sh 9oaa
the Holy Spirit indicate this to them !?
If so, I ought to resign and you should
accept my resignation; To this end there
should be on my part a conviction tnat
my work here is done, and on your part
there should be a conviction that, as a
church Of the Lord Jesus, being asd Of co one
be done in this field by some other
Il have earnestly sought for such a
conviction. Impaired health, WEAKNESS
of disputes, desires for a less restless
church. and inclination to seek spirit
ual results more than outward show, a
lions. a positive disapproval of certain
methods touching work in part of the
field, and the oppression of unfriendli-
ness among workers. have led me to
wish to quietly retire. Hence. I announce
my intention to resign at this meeting.
When I made that announcement |
ness, to seek to establish and
to prepare for a cordial cooperation with
the next pastor. But, not needing, my re-
creased in virulence and words have
been uttered which threaten the peace
of the church, until my, conviction of
perative that I should have a clearly
expressed manifestation of your desire.
"In this meeting tonight you are to
he influenced by any other consideration
than what is to you the will of the Holy
Spirit; It is my province to open the
way to the settlement of this question.
If it is the will of the Holy Spirit mani
Tested to you: that my work here is done;
my labors would be only empty forms
the shell without the kernel. And If it
is clearly revealed to your minds that
my work nresu mere is Done ION ,d it would 70 ID be oi f9lly
without or AGAINST the Holy Spirit.
| thus seekine the guidance and in the de-
sire of obedience to the Holy Spirit, 7
take effect according to the stipulations
of the church manual, the first day of
January. 1896.
Affectionately you pastor.
EDWIN MacMINN.
The pastor, who was present. then
called Frank Matthews to the chair.
when Deacon R. T. Richardson, one of
the pastors best friends, moved that the
resignation be accepted. The motion was
seconded by Theodore L4emmerz, the Sun
day School Superintendent, and one of
the most ardent supporters of the pas
tor. The vote was by ballot, and the
resignation was accepted, thus releasing
Mr.. MacMinn.
Mr.. MacMinn then addressed the
church, telling them of the great respon-
thanking in special terms of endearnent
the Church Treasurer. d~eacons,. trustees
| and Sunday school Superintendent for
their cordial cooperation and loving 10y
atty.
| The meeting then adjourned with bene-
diction by the pastor.
There weHe 10 members present, and
, when the Vote was taken 40 refused to
| vote against their pastor. His resigla-
tion was only accepted by a small ma
| iority, a number of his warm supporters
only voting to accept 1t. as they knew he
was desirious of getting out of the
church.
1t was a very quiet meeting, and no
hurting remarks of any kind We're made.
Mrs. Minnie Reinhard, Mrs: Buckley,
and Deacon Richardson spoke in the
highest terms of their pastor, and said
they regretted his departure greatly; In
support of the pastor they said that
they knew his action was final and
wanted to put no obstacle in his way.
When Church Clerk Hunter began to
speak the Ladies' Auxiliary Kissed him.
gen which has never paid it's way and
has been a great expense upon the
church. Pastor MacMinn advised doing
away with it and Mr.. Hunter became