The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-24
Rev. |. C. VAsS, RESIGNATION.
1T WAS UNANIEOUSLY ACCEPTED
BY THE PREsBYTERH.

scented at the NeetinE-Dr. Vass
the Acceptance of His Resignation
in Case the Presbytery showed Any
Indications of Acting Otherwise.
Statements Made by. the Commits
siOners Representing the COngre-
gatioB-The Resignation TO Take
Eject in Three MOnths-Othcr
business of the Presbytery.
The Savannah presbytery, at meeting
held yesterday I'm the lecture room of the
First Presbyterian church, accepted the
resignation Of Or. L. G. Nass and agreed
that the relations between him and the
church should be dissolved.
The meeting was called at the request of
Dr. Vass, who had expressed desire TO
have his resignation go before that body.
There were sixteen members of the pres
bytery present, including DIR. Nass, ana
Rev. ". A Nesbit of the Second Pres
byterian church of this city presided as
moderator. The delegates in attendance,
besides DR.. Nass and the moderator, We're:
Rev. C. c. Carson of Pennington. Rev.
T. NJ. Hunter of Darien, Rev. r. G. Gill
more of Brunswick, Rev. j. w. Wood of
Quitman, Rev. J. W. Quarterman Of Mar
low, Rev J. W. Folsom of Blackshear,
Mr.. c. S. Wood of Savannah, Mr.. f. =.
Miller of Walthourville. Mr.. j. NJ. Me-
Kay. OF Second Presbyterian church OF
Savannah, MIR. Charles Way of Brdns-
wick, DIR. J. f. Smith of Waycross. Mr.. J.
Z, Martin of Pennington, Mr.. r. II. Clay
of Bryan Neck, Mr.. J. f. Mccain of Mar
low.
DIR. Vass' resignation being the impor-
tant matter for which the presbytery was
called together it was taken up first Mr..
c. S. Wood, who represented the church.
appeared as alternate in place of Mr.. w.
+. Train, who was unable TO be present
at the opening of the meeting. Messrs.
VIM. Harden and Jno. Nicolson, Jr., APP
peared as commissioners representing the
congregation. Both of these commission
ers were with the minority, and Mr.. Chas.
NJ. Gibbs also appointed a commissioner,
who voted and stood with the majority in
DIR. Vass' favor, was not present.
A suggestion was made that the major
ity of the church was not represented and
that 1t might be well to wait for him. Mr..
Nicolson, however, stated that Mr.. Gibbs
told him the day before he would not be
able to be present. DIR. Nass, however, was
present to speak for himself in case any
discussion arose and the meeting proceed
ed.
The moderator asked after DR.. Vass'
resignation had been read, If there was
anything to be said on the part OF the
church as to why the pastoral relation be-
tween him and the church should not pc
dissolved. Mr. Nicolson replied that he
and Mr.. Harden were the only commits
sioners present for the church, ana as both
of them were with the minority they OF
course, had nothing to say
Mr. Nicolson said in case DIR. Nass' res
fgnation was a bona fide one, and in
case the fact of a majority having voted
with DIR. Vass would not deter the pres
bytery from accepting his resignation,
whether he pressed 1t or not, that neither
he nor Mr. Harden would have anything
to say; otherwise, he said, they would
desire TO make a statement ana submit
certain evidence.
was certainly bona fide one, that he
never did anything that was not bona
fide, and that he was there to insist on
no discussion of the church matters
which led to the resignation, Dr. Nass
made no statement whatever with re-
gard to the circumstances IN cohnecuoh
Mr. Nicolson also made a statement in
which he said that ten members OF the
church, all of the minority ana less man
one-third of il contributed annually more
than one-third of the amount required Tor
its annual expenses. DIR. Nass maze no
reply with regard to this. Mr.. William
with what Mr.. Nieolson had said.
Mr. c. S. Wood moved the acceptance
of the resignation, which motion was car
ried by a unanimous vote, fourteen OF
those present voting Mr. Woods motion,
that a committee of three be appointed
TO draft resolutions expressing the good
feeling of the congregation towarae IT II
Xass, was withdrawn, on account OF the
fact that this was a congregational mat
ter and not one for the presbytery TO con
slider Similarly, suggestion that the
y1l.,ma ton mi NJ a
pulpit of the church on Sunday and an
nounce the pulpit vacant was cropped
because DIR. Nass has not yet left the
presbytery, and according to the reslSha-
lion the relations are not dissolved until
three months, which will be April %;
This being an adjourned meeting of the
preSbytery the meeting was open for the
discussion of other business. Rev. John
w. Quarterman was authorized to organize
@ church at Statesboro, in Bulloch coun-
", as soon as all necessary arrangements
in and around Statesboro,
and they feel they are able to go ahead
with the work Of building a church.
The presbytery also sanctioned the or
of a church at Onerman, Ga,
on the Savannah, Florida and Western
railroad. THIS church wis organized
some time ago by Rev. ]. W. Folsom and
a committee, of which DR.. Nass was
chairman, and the presbytery sanctioned
that action
of Darien, that a church should be es-
tablished at Fitzgerald in Wilcox county
was received favorably, and the commit
tee which has such matters in charge was
instructed to see what could be done to
that end.
II made no statement" DR.. Vass said,
when asked about the action of the pres
bytery, because there was no discus
sion of the situation, and consequently
no necessity for It. l was there to insist
on the acceptance of my resignation in
case the presbytery gave any indication
of acting otherwise. / did not reply to the
argument made. l haven't stud
led the figures, and the statement may
be true, but / saw no reason why l
should answer an argument of that kind.
at understa 1t has been said all the
elders but one would resign unless l left.
That. however, has already been stated.
l consider / have been badly treated by
the minority. i have made no sharp or
severe criticisms. Certain statements
with regard to my ministerial work were
made which / consider could not, with
Justice to myself, be left unchallenged,
and l made an argumentatiVe reply, dis
proving those statements incontroverti-
bly, BY that argument / stand, though
do say ii was not meant a s a criticism
or structure upon anyone. The spiritual
condition of the church is not what l
would have liked, but for that the pastor
cannot be taken to task.
Under my resignation, I can go al
any time that / may have a call. The
margin of three months is simply left