New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-20
RESIGNS WHILE IN EUROPE
THE REV CLAUDE RABOTEAU WITH
DRAWS FROM HIS PASTORATE.
ILLNESS or HIS WIFE GIVEN AS 1HE REASON
OPPOSITION TO HIS STYLE OF PREACHING
U.tIrfr WAS so SUCCESSFUL. IN
BUILDING Up THE CHURCH.

WHICH WAS so SUCCESSFUL IN
BUILDING Up THE CHURCH
The Rev Claude Raboteau has resigned az pastor
OF the Parmiy Memorial Baptist Church. in Grove
ST. Jersey City The letter sem from Europe 10
William Rouse. clerk Of the Board Of Deacons' ana
was received Tuesday. An effort was mace 10
keep secret the fact until the meeting Of the deacons
on Friday Of next week. the admirers OF the
Rev Mr.. Rabotesu hoped TO persuade MIN 20 WIN
draw his resignation.
The reason given yesterday. for me pastor sct'oh
WAS the ll-heath OF Mrs. Ra Doteau, VINO mad I'M
proved since crossing the Atlantic, and her husband
finding the climate there beneficial mad prooaoy
decided 10 remain permanently. or until ms wire
has completely recovered While this is considered
a plausib bic explanation. because Mrs. Ra0o,eau 10
a nervous delicate woman II Is minated that there
are other causes.
The minister and MS family sailed on July on Inc
steamer Veendam and few days later II was
rumored that they would not return TO Jersey Ciiy
The church officials asserted that mere We io
foundation FOR tine rmeT was h.nied that the
pasOrate had not been peasant ohS -, o , in
" He Was Installed on September last The church
was nor then an enviable charge. 1t was Originally
W. r H. panfisr chmrch and the late Rev. DR.
Parmy was It's pastor for over forty years ne va
made pastor emeritus and the Rev Theodore hei tx
was called He suddenly resigned. after serving 10,
three years and the {pupl5 was was called
Mr. Raboteau Is OF the later school OF prrac",v,
and believes I'm departing from the ortnonoN n i
and using current topics subjects foT MS NJ, ais
He discussed The rln ~, mt "rrrnnt f.,
ister." The Church Dudes. me oscian ser
Church and similar subjects. preached speGcIa go
mons TO the American Protective Assoc io,, o."
kindred ORGANIZATIONS. and delivered nuhle ~ ~,
DreGdcs the closing or liquor satooiI7 81
Sabbath When he assumed charge the cohs,, esa-
ton was small but il increased rapidly anu tne
church was crowded at almost every serFice sia ~
We're baptized and received as members anu w
church regarded again being IN a noun. -,
ing condition The style of sermons was hew ~
some OF the old members. who had Tor years peel
accustomed hearing only doctrinal bosPei 81, 81,
mons and they were not pleased WIN WHAT MI
regarded as sensational preaching. Ihey uehiurIeu,
and when the large growth IN atteHudlNe W.
not receiving the proper spiritual n0urishmeht;
that the growth was abnormal ana the incr r
was composed Of those who came merely 10 listen
TO worldly sermons and were not being DeneNteu
or brought 10 the fatth.
II Is said that this element comprised on4y
small minority but It had been active ana had
made the pastor uncomfortable. and II was AT thls
class that ne aimed when he prepared MS sermons
The Cranks In the church ana talked OF me
dry rot that killed churches and OF ofiicious mem
bers who assumed that they knew more apout
conducting "A church than the pastor ana were
constantly finding fault with him and his metnods
while he was striving 10 put lie INTO q soclety
that the cranks had almost destroyed. The pastor
was popular with the young people and the church
officials OF whom had not wholly lndorsed
his subjects but seeing the church membership
Increase had concluded that he was the pastor
the old church needed.
The church officials refused yesterday TO divuge
what the letter of resignation contained indlcat-
inc that there something aside from the
health OF his wife that Influenced Mr. Raboteau TO
send his resignation. and that the opposition or
Influence in inducing him retire from the pulpit
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