The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-04
DR.. vAss ASKED TO STAY.
The First Church Refuses to Accept
His Resignation.

/ held. FOR the purpO5e % hearing the re-
ports Of the church officers and consider
1 ing the resignation OF the pastor. Rev. l.
/ c. Nass, ID. ID. The resignation practi-
cally. was not accented. The sermon Of
I the morning was preached by Rev DIT
4 Iayior DR.. Nass being absent in Pitts
burg, attending a meeting Of the eZecu-
/ tive commission for America Of the Pan
! Presbyterian council.
At the conclusion OF the services
4 nleellng OF the CONGREGATION was called.
/ MI II. F. Train was made moderator.
[ Inc urst business was the reading or the
/ report OF the deacons py MT. W: q.
thompson. The report referred especially
I TO the financial condition of the church,
and urged a more careful constdera zion
+ Of the question of finances on the part Of
I the members Of the congregation, u being
stated that the collections during the east
year were not sufficient TO meet the eX-
/ penses, particularly in view OF the fact
] that considerable Indebtedness on the
Manse building remains unpaid Mr..
I Train read the annual report Of DR.. Nass,
I which IS as follows
During the year ending Nov. l. 1895,
four OF our beloved members have been
called by the Lord TO Hlmself; While
We MOURN their departure, our loss has
[ been their eternal gain.
Two % members were dropped from our
twenty-five members have been dis
missed 10 various places. OF these four
/ teen Cd have not lived in Savannah for
some time; one not since 1880 fifteen
years ago, and we could not learn where
she was. There are still on our roll, af
/ ter all efforts to purge it, perhaps more
/ than thirty 900 names Of members, many
/ of whom cannot be traced, and have not
been in Savannah for many years, and
] whom / have never met.
In other cases while the members are
seldom or never in the city, TINS church
Is the natural one for them to belong to.
as nearest to their homes. church roll
cannot be kept absolutely clear of dead
wood.
In the past year fifteen persons have
U Mi 70 faffe 1laaFsz y in
OF them by profession and ten upon GER
tlhcate OF membership.
The roll now shows a membership of
25J. Since the present pastorate began,
nearly hve years ago, there have been
received into this church one hundred and
slNty-three members, or an average Of
The church register will show about
$50 to go names of members, who can be
Durng the year eleven infants and
three 90 adults have been baptized; total,
All the services of the sanctuary, both
regular and occasional, have been prompt
~ conducted. Not a service has been
lost by sickness on the Lords day since
this pastorate was formed.
Since last November, about seven hun
pred pastoral visits have been made in
performance of general duties to the flock.
Eighteen funerals have been conducted
ana nine marriages have been solemn
lied
Our sabbath school has been conducted
Gus superintendent and the primary de-
partment Is especially nourishing. But
we greatly desire the parents to show
more interest in this work and to see
that the larger children are regular, both
IN attendance upon the Sunday school
and In preparation Of the lessons at home.
Inc spiritual life OF the congregation,
ana active work for Jesus, are not what
they should be- The members are not
regular and diligent in many cases in
attendance on the Sabbath or weekday
I IN % crfr,-
port. We do need a great quickening
| Of Gods holy spirit in all of our hearts,
our midst. May the whole congregation
earnestly rally around the banner of
Christ, and enter vigorously and success
fully upon a new campaign of work in all
departments. God will surely bless every
effort Of faith and love"
The report was adopted. DIR. Vass' resie-
nation was then read by Mr.. Train, as fol-
Savannah, Ca. Oct g. 1870 the
Annual Congregational Meeting Of the
/ First presbyterian Church, Nov. 3, 1895:
! Dear Brethren--During my pastorate of
nearly five years there have been added
/ to our membership 1853. Much work has
been accomplished amongst ourselves and
| God beyond. I-
But for a number, Of months have
been greatly troubled about the spiritual
/ condition and general outlook of the con-
| gregation. This has. not been such as /
! have earnestly desired and labored for
/ So, after much reflection and prayer, IT
/ seems best that | should ask Savannah
! Presbytery, at its session in Macon during
! synod TO dissolve the existing pastoral
relation between US, and that the dlsso,
/ luton take place in three months from
/ its action, as this win give pastor ana
/ people a suitable time to arrange for
Therefore, ask the congregation to
/ join me in this request to the presbytery
In the bonds of Christ, Your pastor.
1t was decided that all voting upon
| the resignation as it Is in effect be by
/ ballot A motion was made to the effect
ina ha' regioat sS De IsqueS1ed 10 Wthdraw
church. Mr.. T. H. Mcmillan and others
suggested that some Of the congregation
might like to vote directly upon the
4 question of whether they wished DR.
/ Vass to remain or not. 1t was decided
! then that this course be taken and that
/ the vote be upon the question whether
! DR.. Nass should be requested to with
/ draw his resignation to the presbytery
or the church should join him in it as
For the sake of facilitating the vote
+ MT w. j. Lindsay suggested that all who
wished to ask Dr. Vass TO withdraw his
main" while those who wished to join
/ MIN IN the request to the presbytery
should write go. +" This plan was adop
ted and the ballot was taken. When
/ counted it was found there were 40 re
! mains and 80 goes" the majority re-
fusing to join DR.. Vass in his request to
/ the presbytery to relieve him of further
pastoral work here
4 ON consideration of this vote Mr. c.
5. Woods moved that tho vote requesting
] Or. Nass to remain. he made unanimous.
/ He thoueht that the majority having OK
/ pressed its wishes as stated. the minority
should unto With 1t. On further consid-
/ GRAFTON, however. it was decided to let
/ the vote stand as it was as expressing
moro clearly the attitude of the congre-
CATION
! While tho vote means that tho congre-
cation as body, refuses to join the pas
/ tor in his request to the presbytery to be
relieved, Z does not hinder the request
/ going before that body. In view of the
action Of the congregation. however, il
remains to be seen what further steps DR..
/ Nass VIII take in tho matter.
Trips Undertaken for ueaIth's Sake
VIII be rendered more beneficial and the
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vovager will take along with him Hostel
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tcctive and enabling tonic, nerve invigor-
/ ant and appetizer regularly, Impurities
/ in air and water is neutralized by it, and
1t IS matchless. tranquilizer and regula-
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/ counteracts, malaria, rheumatism and
| tendency TO kidney and bladder ailments