Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-28
DIR. FAIR WILL LEAVE
pREsnyTERy CONSENTS FOR HIN
TO GO TO SAVANNAH.
GREAT REGRET AT HIS GOING.
Many Feeling Speeches Made. In
Guiding Those ny Representatives
of the Church In Georxia-Nr.
Henry on Westminster Assembly.

Stcbbins The following additional mem-
bers OF Presbytery were enrolled: Minis
tors--J. \. Waddnl. ID. D., T. y. Ercs,
d. X wanhall. J. W. Roscbro. u. D..
L. =. saunders II. d. and IL. c. Brown.
Liccnuate-w. J. King.
Ruling Elders-Dr. II. NJ. n. Martin, OF
the fredericksburg church: George Watt
OF the Fairfield church, r. A. Coleman.
OF Namozine church; Judge Isaac Chris
tan. OF Bethany church.
Rev. c. y. Van Houtcn was elected
reading clerk.
Rev. C. c. Campbell. of the
Prcsbyicry OF Southern Virginia,
Rev J. X Hazcn. d. D.. OF the
Prcsbytery Of North Alabama. and Rev
W. A. Nisbitt. Of the Savannah Presby-
terry: Rev L. II. Baldwin. of the Pres
hytory Of Norfolk; Rev. l.. A. Mclean.
o. Winchester Prosbytery. were invited to
ST rs corresponding members. and Rev.
II. ". D. Martin. Of the Episcopal Church,
was invited 20 sit as a visiting brother.
Rev a. +. Hale OF the Presbytery Of
Frceport. Of Illinois. was granted permis-
sion 10 labor within the bounds OF the
i7csbytory until its next meeting.
CASE OF DIR. FAIR.
DIR. Fair asked that the pastoral rela-
tlous between himself and the Grace
street church be dissolved. He said the
chief reason which prompted him in maxi
ing this request was the wide and open
0cld Of usefulness which the Independent
Ia
further: Il have decided prayerfully and
deliberately that it is my duty 10 accept
his call" lie does not intend TO with
draw from the presbytery. but viii ask
"a transfer 20 the Pre- bytery Of Savannah,
within whose bounds he will be. He ask
oil mat ne might be permitted TO 90 with
Che blessing Of the presbytery resting
upon him.
Mr. r. 3. Somervire. an elder CT the
Grace-Strcet church. said:
"At first our people resolved that we
would not consent 10 this request. on
last Sunday the matter was again before
81 fuil meeting OF the congregation. and
with great reluctance and sorrow we
united with our pastor in his request
hut only because he asked it. Brethren
we love that man."
Nj. Somerville sketched the history OF
during his long life. and said: 1--WE loved
sQ those men, but pointing TO DR.. Fair)
We love that man more than any Of them.
And vet we consent 10 let him so, be-
cause he asks st."
FOR THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH.
N-. Randolph Arson. an elder Of the
Independent church. was granted the
privileges Of the floor He said:
II come with a greeting from my
church 10 your venerable body. IL is
with no slight embarrassment that I
come 10 ask you TO give ND one so wen
beloved and highly honored. but we feel
that our need Is so great that we feel
compelled TO do so. We, as a cnurcn'
date back to 100. For seventy-two years
we were the only Presbyterian church IN
Savannah; and the church has always
everted a great influence for Presbyte-
risnism and for the cause OF Christ
Now. across the Savannah and across
the James comes the Macedonian cry,
Come over and help us win you re-
fuse 10 hear our cry and grant our re-
quest? ! DO not believe you viii. When
We received the letter from DIR. Fair
expressing his willingness 10 come. il
sent a thrill of JOY through the hearts
OF all classes I'm our church and through
out the community. And we hope that
we shall not have our JOY turned mo
sorrow.
enough an independent church We
work IN connection with the Southern
lsreebvterlan Church in all Of its mis-
sion enterprises.
brethren. send TO US DR.. Fair. We
want him. we need him. We are pray
ing for him.
THE COMMISSIONER HEARD.
Pev W A Nisbitt. was heard as com
missioner from Savannah Presbytery.
he said:
u bring YOU the love and warm greet
ines OF Savannah PresbyteTy. our pres
bytery was requested by the session or
the Independent church TO appoint
commissioner to represent IT and plead
FOR it on this occasion, and for this
reason I am here.
eve are coming not 10 rob you. but
We come 20 ask Or. Fair at your hands
because we believe We are walking IN
the way in which God leads. Since we
have learned Of the submission of Grace
Street church. we feel that the way Is
clear
eve need DR.. Fair in Savannah Pres
lytory as we are all young men, ana
need his counsel In its deliberations ana
lahors May Gods spirit guide you; ana
if il is His VIII that he be sent TO Us.
MANY OTHER SPEECHES MADE
Mr.. somervillc. rising again. said:
Gan that has been said Of the needs OF
tho Savannah church can be SAID oil the
Graco-Street church. We yield only 10
this request because our pastor whom
we love. has made IT,
Judge Wexford said: "I am sure that
] voice the sentiment Of all the PresDy-
terians Of the city when ! say that II IS
With the deepest regret that we nave
heard that Dr. Fair is thinking OF leaving
Us. and that 70 viii be the cause. or sor-
row 10 ass an
Or. Kerr said: owe have felt the force
End the pathos Of what has been SAID
yet we would not consent 70 his Solhs
except that Dr. Fair says he feels that IL
Is his duty 20 60" Dr. Kerr spoke or me |
good work OF DR.. Fair. and said the !
Grace-Strect church needed sympathy III
MS great loss.
Ur Hoge said: 81 an going 10 make !
request There Is no doubt, j suppose
that DR. Fairs request viii be granteu' /
and yet there Is not one OF US VINO WahtS |
him 20 co. and not one OF US wants 10 /
make the motion 20 let him 80. so ask
taat some one who IS not pastor IN this !
city shall make the notion"
AZ this point Rev. s. q. Hutton arose
ana said that az the request Of Or. Hoge'
Doe would move that DR. Fairs request !
should be granted.
Then DR. Hoee continued speaking OF |
The tender relations which had existed |
between himself and DR. Fair He said; |
upon the smooth surface OF our inter-
course and our love there has never |
been ripple. / feel that ! can say that |
when he goes he will be regretted by /
every man, woman, and child who ever