Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-08
DIR. FAIRS CONGREGATION REFUSE
TO ACCEPT HIS RESIGNATION.
URGE PRESBYIERY TO HOLD HIN.
Instead OF Uniting In the Request
to Dissolve His Pastoral Relations,
Commissioners Are Appointed to
Oppose ThIs-Is willing to Xemnin.

congregation a few days ago. and SUBJ
stitute for it "A declination of the fiatter-
ing call extended him.
This, at least, is the present Indication,
Last night his congregation met and re-
fused TO unite in his request to East
Hanover Presbytery to relieve him from
his pastorate here. The congregation
also appointed two commissioners to go
before the presbytery and urge that body
TO refuse permission to their pastor TO
leave them, and Or. Fair has asserted
! that he Will abide by the action Of the
presbytery and make no fight TO be re-
leased.
As a matter Of fact, DR.. Fair has no
desire 10 leave here. 1t is believed he
would greatly prefer to remain his chief
object in accepting the Savannah call
being TO relieve the Grace-Street con-
gregation of the burden which the pay
ment OF his salary imposed on them.
BY popular subscription, the money with
which TO meet all the churchs obliga-
tions has now almost been raised, and,
as the congregation spoke last night In
no uncertain manner, there is every like
lihood that the popular minister will now
consent to remain in Richmond where
he has done such a fine work.
LAST NIGHTS MEETING.
The congregational Iaeeting was called
for last night for the reception Of a. let
ter from the pastor, and as all knew
what the letter referred to, a large gath
ering was present, nearly 100 votes being
cast against the acceptance Of the resig-
nation.
The meeting was presided over by Rev.
DR.. James i. Smith, of East-Hanover
Presbytery, who by request, acted as
moderator. He first conducted prayer
meeting and after a fervent prayer for
Divine guidance. raped the assemblage
to order. Mr.. b. c. Wherry was elected
clerk Of the meeting. and rs soon as
he assumed his office he read the fol-
lowing letter from DR.. Fair:
To the Session of the Grace-Street Pres
byterian Church:
Dear Brethren.-As you are already
aware, the Independer Presbyterian
church, Of Savannah, Ga, has extended
10 me a call to become it's pastor. After
mature and prayerful deliberation, / have
decided to accept this call.
spring meeting of East-Hanover Presby-
terry, to be held April 2sth. in the First
church, this city, / shall tender my resig-
nation as pastor of the Grdce-Street
church. to take effect May 1st, and \
ask that you will call a meeting Of the
CONGREGATION TO unite with me in re-
quest to presbytery TO dissolve the pas
toral relations now existing between us.
1t is unnecessary TO detail all the rea-
1T.
sion; the principle one is the wide and
attractive field Of usefulness Savannah
offers.
In sundering the ties which have
hound us together for eight years ] ex-
perience an emotion Of deep and genuine
sorrow: | shall carry away with me many
happy memories Of my pastOrate In your
midst. and / beg that you will accept my
sincere thanks for the numerous tokens
Of kindness l have received from you
and the congregation. While the Off
cial bonds which link us together may
be severed. the bonds of Christian love
will remain unbroken, and | assure you
my earnest prayer win ever ascend that
the richest benedictions of Heaven may
rest upon you and each member and
home OF the beloved church.
Yours very truly and fraternally.
JAMES Y. FAIR.
Richmond, Va. April 1, 1897.
HAS DONE 4 GOOD WORK.
The letter was listened to attentively,
and when Mr. Wherry concluded the
reading. Mr. Harvey Blair took the floor
and said: "That letter, as / listened to
its reading sent a thrill Of sorrow
through me. l love DR.. Fair. He Is no
ordinary man. The ties that bind him to
us are of no ordinary kind" Mr.. Blair,
in euoeistic terms, spoke of DR.. Fair
performance of his pastoral duties; of his
kind tender mnistrations TO the members
Of his flock; Of the privilege he had en-
ioyed I'm listening TO his preaching during
the past eight years; of the personal be-
reavement he would experience in his
loss should he go. and then told of the
success OF DR.. Fairs ministry at Grace
Street church, showing that during his
pastorate. extending over the period since
1889. the membership had increased from
293 to 4a Mr. Blair asserted that the
congregation had while growing numeri-
ca.ly increased In spirituality DR.. Fairs
popularity throughout the city was next
alluded to by Mr. Blair and then he
plugged into the causes which led 10 Dr.
Fairs acceptance Of the Savannah call.
For some time" said he, "the deacons
have been laboring under "A neavy burden,
ana nave ndQ grave lOltbouiilbS NAdt my
would not be able 10 keep up the pastors
salary. Naturally, these forebodngs were
communicated TO DR.. Fair. and he, rea-
lizing that the church was stumbling
under a too heavy load, and not being
willing TO be a burden upon them de-
cided to accept the call. The deacons
have had hard struggle during the past
three years. and their burden being so
heavy, they have felt their inability to
pay Dr. Fair his salary, and hence felt
constrained 10 let him go, believing that
TO do otherwise would be standing In his
light.
Another light was shed on the case to-
day. though, as by a personal canvas,
twenty people were seen, and $3.50 raised.
everybody visited being willing to give
every cent they could afford in order 10
keep their beloved pastor with them"
THEY WILL NOT UNITE.
Mr. Blair, at this juncture, offered the
following resolution:
Whereas, it has been demonstrated
that we are united church, q
spiritual church, a growing church
and. whereas, a severance of the pas
toraI relations at this time Will be
a serious menace 10 the peace and use
fulness OF the church: therefore, be IL
Resolved. That We do not unite with
DR.. Fair in his request to East Hanover
Presbytery TO dissolve the pastoral re-
ations with the church. and that two
commissioners be appointed TO present
our protest 10 presbytery.'
Mr. Edward =. Gray addressed the
meeting next and paid a high tribute to
DR.. Fairs faithfulness as pastor and
eloquence as a preacher.
MUST NOT LET HIM GO.
xyha,, M. concluded Mr. Wherry arose.