Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-24

she shall not indulge in red tape lido
sYncracies If there is any possible means
to prevent it.
Rev. DIR. j. b. Hawthorne has rendered
his resignation as pastor of the First
Baptist church of Atlanta. This is great
ly deplored by his entire congregation
and the officers of this large and in
fluental denomina ton. He will accept a
call from a church in Nashville, although
efforts are being made to induce him to
reconsider and withdraw his resignation.
In q letter to the deacons of the First
Baptist church Dr. Hawthorne gives
these reasons for his determination to
resign his Atlanta charge and accept the
position offered him by the Nashville con-
gregation:
MY decision to accept the call to Nash
Vile is based solely upon the conviction
that my services are needed there more
than in Atlanta, and that l can accom-
plsh there more for the cause of my
Divine Master, in what remains to me of
life, than 1 can reasonably hope to &C
complish here. The church there iS much
weaker, numerically, than the one which
/ am now serving. 1t is smaller than your
church was at the beginning of my pas
torate. 1t is weak, but its possibilities
are great. 1t has Il spacious and mag
nificent house of worship, located in the
very heart of the city, and easily accesSi-
BILE to many thousands of people. If it
were as strong and prosperous as the
church I now serve, the situation would
have much less attraction for me. NASH
vile is the educational center of the
south. There are 5000 young men and
young women in the colleges located
there. / am assured that hundreds of
these students will be members of my
congregation. This will furnish me an
opportunity for usefulness which any
minister can afford To cOVet
"Your church Is now, for the first
time, seriously considering the project of
building a new and larger house of wor-
ship. 1t has been apparent to all of us
for many years that our present building
has not half the capacity which is needed
to accommodate our congregations. If
the money necessary to erect such
building as you contemplate was now In
the hands of your treasurer, 1t would re-
quire not less than two years and half
to complete the undertaking. l feel that
at my age Of life l cannot afford to wait
for the completion of such building. l
cannot reasonably hope for more than
five or six years more of vigorous life. 1t
is my hearts desire and purpose to make
the best use of the time which remains
to me.
"Your church Is so strong in piety,
wisdom and wealth. and so united in feel
ing and purpose, that 1 feel [ can sever
my connection with you without inf1ict-
ing any serious injury upon the cause.
You can easily procure the services of
spiritual leader and teacher who will not
only prevent any disintegration, but
make you stronger than you have ever
been.
"As it is my purpose to accept the call
of the Nashville church, and enter upon
my work there on the second Sunday in
May, next, 1 hereby tender my resigna-
ton to you. to take effect on the first
Sunday of the same month. Fervently
invoking upon you the guidance of the
divine Spirit in the selection of my sue
cessor, and sincerely desiring your SYM
pathy and prayers in the new undertake
ing upon which 1 am about to enter, I
an '' u. B. HAWTHORNE.
ATLANTA. Ca, April 20, 1885,
Mrs. Matte Dunlop and Miss Williams
of GAINESVILLE, Tenn, have been for sew
eral days guests of their sister. Mrs.
Rowe Webster, at Woodlawn. They have
spent the winter at Thomasville. Ca,
hoping to benefit Mrs Dunlop, who has
been in very poor health. She is much
improved, and they return home in few
days.
Mrs. Joseph F. Johnston is still in
Montgomery, the guest OF near relatives.
Mrs John w. Tomlnson returned
Wednesday evening from a brief visit to
Montgomery.
Mr.. and Mrs. John p. Tilman enter
tanned very delightfully."- on Tuesday even
ing the Thursday Evening Euchre club
the change of date being made on &C.
count of certain professional engage
ments of Mr.. Tillman. 1t was a charm
ing meeting of the club The prize was
won by Mr.. Harry Coffin. After many
spirited games of euchre delicious re-
freshments were served by Mrs. riliman
The Cadmean circle will meet this (F'rl-
day. afternoon al o'clock with Mrs.
Anna o. Phelan, Twelfth avenue and
Fifteenth street, South Highlands.
The picnic of the Sunday school OF the