The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-25
D. ]. ELLISON TO RETIRE
POPULAR PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH RESIGNS HIS CHARGE.
Illness in His Family Requires u Stay
in Southern Clime-Offer to
Increase His Salary.

Rev. D. ]. Ellison, pastor of the First
Baptist Church. at the close Of the morning
service yesterday, rendered his resignation
to the official board of the church, to be-
come effective the last Sunday in Decem-
Der.
In speaking of the cause of his resigna-
ton, Mr. Ellison said that he offered it with
the greatest reluctance. The step was talk
en- only that he might look after the health
of members of his family, who have not
been benefited by their stay of months in
the mountains of western New York. Mrs
Ellison is a great sufferer from neuralgia
and her son. who is twelve years of age,
has been Ill for months with malaria, and
this has now taken more serious form,
affecting the kidneys The family physician
recommends that Mr.. Ellison, with his fam
lily. spend few months on the Bahama
islands. This he fels it his duty to do. Jan
/ ne will complete his third year as pastor
Of the First Baptist Church. He is very
DESTROYS that no impression should go out
that he sewers his connection with the
church on account of any shortcomings on
the part of the congregation, which he says
he has found to be a band of noble true
Christian workers. Neither does he leave
on account of salary as members of the
chi.rch who had heard Of his intention of
resigning voluntarily offered to increase his
salary $1,000 q year, making it 81 900, should
ne remain. He says he simply feels that
he owes to his wife and son this effort to
bring about restoration of their health.
The large audience in attendance was
greatly surprised over the resignation, but
two or three members having known of his
intention to take such a step. The reverend
gentleman has done a great work for the
Baptist church and the members feel that
In his going the church and this community
lose faithful, earnest pastor and friend.
The First Baptist Church called Mr. FL
lison in October, 1894, but he did not begin
his laborS as pastor until the first Sunday
in January, 1895, he coming to Indianapolis
from the Bergen Hill Baptist Church, Jer-
Sey City, where he had been the pastor for
ten years, this being the first church of
which he was pastor. He is still young
man, but thlrty-SeVen years of age, and of
that nervous temperament which will bear
a good deal of hard work. During his STAY
in this city he has been very jealous in his
work and as a result the church which
when he came here numbered 416 members
now numbers S25 and a large per cent. of
the memberbership was baptized by him.
Mr.. Ellison is very fond of good music and
one of the considerations of his accept
ing the call to the Indianapolis church was
that Arthur Preston have entire direction
Of the music AS a result the church, in adj
dition to the regular quartet, has a we'll
trained chorus of fifty voices, and the
music has had some share in drawing the
large numbers OF people who attend the
First Baptist Church On Sunday nights ii
is not an unusual thing for from two to
three hundred people to be turned away,
there not being sitting room in the church
to accommodate them. MIR. Ellisons resig-
nation, as one of the deacons puts It, came
upon them as an avalanche, and 1t is too
early to state what action will be taken by
the official board in the matter.