The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-08
DIR. FAIR WILL NOT COME.
HIS CHURCH IN RICHMOND APPEALS
TO THE PREsBYTERY.

DIR Fair Says lie VIII Abide by Its
Action-The Question of salary In
| huenced Him 10 Leave His Pres
ent PnstOrate-His Masonic Friends
| Urge Him to Remain-The indie
| pendent Congregation Surprised Mt
the Turn Matters Have Taken.
1t is pretty well settled that Rev DR..
Fair of Richmond will not come to Savan-
nah and the Independent Presbyterian
church will have to look about for an
other pastor.
The officers of the church were surprised
at the dispatch from Richmond in Sester-
| days Morning News announcing that the
| congregation of Grace church, over which
Or. Fair presides would petition the pres
bytery in which the Richmond churches
are included to refuse to allow their pas
tor to leave.
A Richmond dispatch to the Morning
News last night gives little doubt that
DR.. Fair will leave his present pastorate.
The dispatch says:
There is every reason to believe now
that Rev. DR.. Fair will not leave his pas
torate in this city to accept the call to
Savannah. A largely attended meeting of
his congregation was held tonight and by
an unanimous vote it was decided to re-
fuse his request to unite with him in ask
ing the Presbytery to relieve him of his
present charge. Two commissioners were
appointed to go before presbytery on April
20, and urge that body to decline 10 re-
lieve the reverend gentleman from duty In
Richmond
During the meeting many speeches eu-
logistic of DR.. Fair were made, and it
was stated that one of the reasons that
impelled him to resign was that he realized
that the payment of his salary was more
than the church could struggle along I'M
der, and because he didn't care to remain
a burden upon the congregation This
created considerable enthusiasm, and the
deficiency was quickly raised, ladies as
sorting that they would go without their
spring dresses and bonnets in order to re-
tain their beloved pastor and gentlemen
volunteering to make sacrifices with that
end in view
The action of the congregation was
communicated to DR.. Fair at his home,
and he said he would abide by the decis-
ion of the presbytery, and would make no
night for his release. This is considered by
nAA W AASdd Nll1L Allb AtiiHlSLeT Will remain
here. His Masonic friends are anxious
that he shall not go and St. Andrews COM
mandary Knight Templars has sent
committee to urge him to remain"
The officers of the church here are sur
prised at the action taken by the Rich
mond church. The presbytery has such
matters within its jurisdiction, they say.
but il, is seldom, If ever, a congregation
petitions it to oppose a minister's de-
parture from a church. He is usually
allowed to exercise his discretion in the
matter, after all influence in the way OF
personal wishes have been brought TO
bear Such summary methods as an ap,
peal to the presbytery to prevent DR..
Fairs acceptance of the call to the
church here was not anticipated by the
Independent congregation.
The members of the congregation knew
that the congregation of Grace church
was anxious to have DIR. Fair remain, but
they thought the Richmond people had
become reconciled to his leaving, and were
ready to bid him God speed. Such seems
not to have been the case, however.