The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-11
RESIGNATION IS ACCEPTED
REV. j. H. MASON 10 RETIRE FROM
HIS P4STORATE.

The Members of First Baptist Church Ac-
cepted the Resignation With Great Re-
gret--Rendered Necessary by Mr.. Ma
sons Action-ResolutionsA Adopted.
A special meeting of the members of
the First Baptist church was held last
evening to take action on the resigna-
tion of the pastor, Rev. j. II. Mason.
The meeting was held in the prayer
meeting room and was attended by
nearly all the members of the church,
the room being completely filled. IN
surance Commissioner F. A. Belts pre-
sided and after he had called the meet
ing to order the committee appointed
last Friday evening to interview the
pastor reported The report was as
follows:
To the First Baptist Church of New
Haven:
Dear Brethren and Sisters-Your COM
mittee appointed at the Friday evening
meeting to interview the pastor in the
matter of his resignation and report to
this meeting would respectfully submit
the following report:
First-We do not understand that it
lies in our province to recommend any
distinct plan of action to the church in
this emergency, or that we were in any
sense authorized to submit any alter.
native action to our pastor; ard, least
| of all, to induce the pastor to commit
himself beforehand to any alternative
the church might desire to submit for
his acceptance.
Second-We have not in a body, but
severally, seen the pastor and have sat
isfied ourselves on a point on which
| neither we nor any of the church could
have had the slightest doubt-that his
| resignation was offered in all good
| faith; and from his own personal con-
viction that he was best promoting the
| good of the church, which he has SO
| faithfully and unselfishly served for
| the last seven years. We know him to
| be one Of those men, of whom there are
| too few in the world. who are ready to
| offer themselves as a sacrifice to the
church they serve.
| Third-We are convinced that the
| pastor would not have taken this step
| but for feeling, in his own mind, that
many of the church would share his
| convictions Now, in this we think the
| pastor has entirely mistaken the feel
| ing and wishes of the church. Judging
| from our own feelings and from what
| we have gathered of the opinions Of t;ie
brethren, we are assured that there is
practical unanimity in the desire thai
| the pastoral relation should continue
| A direct vote, uninf1uenced by the ten
| dered resignation, would be stronger
| for the retention of the pastor than W.
| could reasonably expect a vote to be
for the calling of another man. This is
not saying that there are not any who
would prefer to try the effect of d
change of pastors. This may be the
case where there is no pronounced op
position to a pastor. We believe it tt
be true of every church in every place
Fourth-Believing that the church
does not agree with the pastor as tc
| the desirability of change, his being
| tie Judgment Of one and theirs that ot
many, and all alike willing to be led by
the divine spirit, we are free to say
that in our judgment the members
should freely express their convictions
| by declining to concur in the resigna-
! ton A vote to accept, however, seem
ingly reluctantly given, would be capa-
BILE of only one Interpretation viz, thai
the majority of the church were of the
same opinion with the pastor, which
| &c ns
| truth.
If this separation of pastor and peo'
pie must take place let the responsible
| ity for it rest on our pastor, who was
the first and remains nearly the only
man who has seen the need of it.
Fifth-We have said that we do moi
| interpret our appointment on this com
| nittee as emitting us to recommend
any definite action by the church. Still
we avail ourselves of the privilege o!
expressing our personal views anc
wishes, which are that a vote having
been taken not to accept the resigna-
| tion of our pastor, the church suggest
to the trustees that they tender to Pas
tor Mason prolonged vacation of from
| four to six months, and such proper
|
and they should mutually agree upon
We suggest this because we feel tha
the most reasonable of the reasons on,
pastor gave for his resignation is tht
need he feels of a period of rest after
his nineteen years spent in the minis
try; this also coupled with the oppor
tunity offered him of protracted peri
cd of travel.
Dear Brethren and Sisters-Trustine
| that the Holy Spirit will have His full
way in our hearts while we consider
this question, which so involves the
| interest, alike of the church and o
Brother Mason, we respectfully submit
this report
P. S. EVANS,
DEACON HANSON,
DR. S. C. WHITNEY,
Committee