The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-06
LEAVES 1T TO THE PRESBYTERY
NATTER or DIR. VASs' REsIG-
NATION.


day That He Would Remain With
the First Presbyterian Church
That Statement Was Recorded on
the Minutes of the Session, hut on
decentralization of the Matter
He Decided IL Would he Best for
the Harmony of the Church 10
Leave II 30 the Presbytery-A Meet
ing Of That Body May he Called
within Two or Three Weeks.
Rev. I. c. Vass. D. D.. viii submit to the
Savannah Presbytery the question as to
whether he should withdraw his res-gna-
tion which has been pending before his
congregation of the First Presbyterian
church. or let il stand and be accepted by
the presbytery.
This is the result Of his deliberations
over the situation I'm his church as an
nounced TO his congregation at the close
of last nights services. DIT. Nass did not
determine upon what course he would
pursue in the matter until a short time
before the evening services began. In
fact. up TO the time Of the morning ser
vice and the meeting Of the session which
followed he had not determined at all
as to what action he would take. and
any statements made previous 10 that
time he says. were premature.
After the morning sermon meeting Of
the elders of the church was held at
which all of them We're present. The eld-
ers are; Messrs II. i. Train, William Har-
den. c. S. Wood. J. Z. Way, and J. V.
Nungezer. DR. Nass presided as modera-
tor of the session.
The whole matter was gone over and
thoroughly discussed by the elders, after
which DIR. Nass read them his decision
with regard to his resignation, which he
had written. and IL was recorded on the
minutes OF the session
This statement by Dr. Vass was to the
effect that after fully considering the
matter. the results OF both meetings of
the congregation, and other facts in that
connection, he had decided to withdraw
his resignation There were some fifty
members of the church necessarily absent
from the last congregational meeting
which acted on the resignation, and the
vote at that time was 1O7 TO 50 in favor
of requesting him to withdraw his resig-
nation. Nearly an Of these absent mem
bers had expressed a desire for him 10
remain with the church which gave him
larger majority pracucally man was
shown at the meeting. These Facts ana
others led him to consider that the best
course 10 pursue.
In considering the matter later in the
afternoon, however. DR.. Nass was led to
a different conclusion than that which he
had expressed to the members Of the ses-
ments that had been made with regard
to certain divisions in the congregation,
and desiring harmony and peace among
the members of the congregation above
all things. he was led TO make the follow
ing announcement to the congregation at
the close of last nights service;
THE interests of the church, its spirit
ual prosperity and harmony Will be best
promoted, L think, by my not deciding this
matter according to my own Judgment.
congregation is divided in sentiment as
TO the best thing TO do. 1t seems to me
that the wisest course Is to lay all the
Presbytery, and let that body decide for
us both. There may be some difficulty
as the attendance at such a meeting is
usually small, and in matter % sucn
importance as this It is desirable to have
a large meeting. / thought. however II
the matter is not delayed until the regu-
lar meeting of the presbytery II will be
possible to have a meeting in two weeks
time, or within brief time, at any rate,
when the conclusion can be reached. 1
think we can all work together pleasantly
and tremendously for the interests of the
church of Christ, as represented by us, un-
A meeting of the presbytery cannot be
held until the session of the church holds
q meeting and asks for it. The session
will probably hold a meeting on Wednes-
day and ask the moderator of the pres
bytery, Rev j. c. Nisbet of this city. to
call a meeting of that body. The regu-
lar meeting of the presbytery does not
sidered too long a time TO wait, provided
full meeting can be secured after the
regular legal notice of ten days which is
required according to the rules governing
the church.
1t is not known just what induced DR..
Nass to change the conclusion he had
reached with. regard 20 the matter He
feconsidered the matter between the adj
journment of the session, just after the
morning service, and the beginning of the
evening service. Whether anything trans
pired within that time which led Inn 10
II or not has not been stated. DIR. Nass
did not give any other reasons than those
IN his statement to the congregation. The
elders refuse to discuss the matter be-
heving as DR.. Nass does, that the facts
should 80 before the presbytery, and
At the morning service yesterday Dr.
Nass preached from the text Judges v:
70, The Stars in their courses fought
song of victory by Deborah over the en-
emies of Israel DR.. Nass said this por-
ton of the scripture brought out three
prominent and useful thoughts the first
being that God works his purposes
through natural agencies. We serve a
masterful deity, he said, who controls all
nature. as well as all men. There is no
conflict between God and nature nor
IS there any conflict between Gods SOW
ereignty and mans freedom, from which
the conclusion is drawn that miracles are
credible.
The second lesson DIR. vass drew was
that in the lives of people every power of
nature Is confederate with them in their
work, just as the storm sent here to helm
Israel overthrow King Jabin. and as
William of Orange was driven by adverse
winds to different landing, but to the
right one in England. so God is ruling
everything TO work together for the good
of his people.
The third lesson drawn was that all this
help is secured by faith in God There
is thereby an encouragement to every
body TO trust IN God he said, only let us
say that we are on the right side-on
Gods side. There is great danger in OPP
posing God His enemies meet only sad
defeat This. he said, is a profitable pas
sage of scripture for us to take through
out the whole year for guidance and
comfort.
LITTLE ANNE POTTINGER MEAN