Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-18
DIR. WRIGHT WILL GO
nr,om-srmnnr cescnncArroS Ao-
crrr MINISTER'S RESIGNATION.
CHURCH DOES 4 GRACEFUL ACT.
p..,ar.. salary Continued 20 the
End Of the xear--Toaehins nesoi"-
zion. ras.ed--commlttee 10 RECON-
mend Successor Elected and Meets.

.a Successor Elected and heet<.
Rev. DIR. w. L. wright's successful ana
,acnv pastoratc at Leigh-Street Bapts'
.n,rch closes tho last day OF this month
ON sunday morning Or. Wright tenaeseo
his resignation OF the pastorate. ana ias'
night. IN iargely-attended meeting Oh
tho church. the resignation was accepted.
7, Is customary at Lsigh-Street church 10
hold a general prayer-meeting each wed
n.sday evening, conducted by the pastor
II was after this meeting that a SESSION
~ the church was called. Mr.. >. 10
Woodnn, OF the deacons, presided. ne
said that never before In his conhec'ioh
with Leigh-street church did he remem-
her n more solemn occasion IL was ho'
IKE considering the resignation of a pas
TOR going to another field. or EXTENDED
from any cause the church could remeus'
but because Of the feeble health OF inc
beloved man who for six years had Deen
their leader. II became them to be solemn
indeed. DIR. Wright had said on SUNDAY
that the prospect held nothing Ior nm
than simply TO trust In God lie tnen
stated that the church had been caneu
10 take up this resignation, to accept oi
reject IL.
HE WAS A WRIGHT MAN.
Dsacon Ammons was recognized, ana
moved that the resignation be accepteu'
Ne said he had been devoted 10 III.
Wright at FIRST, III the mean time, anu
now; had rather have him ior paStoi
and preacher than any man OF the nation
mat I'm his opinion he was the pest
preacher Leigh-Street had ever mao. pu.
under the circumstances he would move
the acceptance OF the resignation. Inc
motion was carried, no one voting NO
This IA what DR.. Wright had asked. be
fore ne left the church at the close OF ms
nrayer-meeting talk he referred to MS
RESIGNATION. and asked that the vote DC
unanimous in accepting it. He had taken
the step only at the advice or ms phySi
clans. and IL was for his good tnat they
release him. This last argument preV"ieo
with them.
TOUCHING RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
A committee consisting Of Deacons H.
Morrisett. Robert A. Gary, ana :. ~
woodfn was appointed 10 draft suitaoie
resolutions ON behalf OF the deacons and
rhurch relieving are the resolutions re-
turned by this committee and read by MI
Gary:
Leigh-Street Baptist Church,
Richmond, Va. November IL, 1897.
Whereas, our beloved pastor. Rev. W.
/. Wright, ID. d., has been incapacitatcd
by III health. and by the advice OF his
musicians offered his resignation. TO take
effect at the end of this month: therefore
be 1t
Resolved. 1. That 1t is with sincere re-
greet we accept his resignation.
9 That II is with pleasure we record
the high esteem in which he is held by
the church, and hereby give expression
10 our tenderest sympathy In his SICK
ness, humbly praying that II II Is Goa 3
will he may be entirely restored to health
and TO the work of preaching the Gospel.
3. Unwavering in his fidelity to the great
principles of our blessed religion and
faithful in his proclamation OF Coos
eternal truth with his bold and fearless
denunciation of sin in every form, MS
work in our midst has been blessed OF
God TO the upbullding Of His saints and
the salvation Of sinners.
4 We bear record to the good work he
! has. under God. beer able 20 accomplish
among our young members, In developing
and utilizing in the service of the Master
the once latent. but now active force OF
this element of our membership whereby
greatly augmented and from which we
hope for still greater things In the lh-
fure.
O. And, finally, may Gods blessing abide
with him and may he daily feed on the
sweet promises of His Word. and at the
last great day of account may he hear
the welcome plaudit: well done, thou
good and faithful servant enter thou
into the Joys of thy Lord" Affectionately
submitted in behalf of the deacons,
e. MORRISSETTE,
II. A. GARY,
S. Il. WOODFIN,
Committee.
Or motion OF Mr.. Ammons, these
resolutions were unanimously adopted,
and that they be spread upon the record
OF the church and copy sent TO Dr.
Wright.
A GRACEFUL ACT.
At this stage of the proceedings the
church did most becoming and grace
full act. one. however, that but bears
out the history OF the Leigh-Street peo-
ple. The chairman of the Finance Com
Inittee brought in a report from his COM
mittee recommending that the pastors
salary be continued until January l. 1898,
and by most unanimous and hearty
vote the report was adopted. In TINS
generous deed the pent up feellDg OF
devotion and sympathy of the church
found a partial expression. During the
entire evening quiet almost painful pre-
vailed. Every one felt that his vote
was severing those ties which binds so
clearly to people the man who bap-
tizes their children. marries their sons
and daughters and buries their dead
Truly Il would seem that this church
loved It's pastor.
LOOKING TO a SUCCESSOR.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. George
"A. Goode for the deacons looking TO the
election by the church OF nine members
TO advise themselves and recommend a
successor TO Or. Wright. Upon motion
OF Mr.. Gary, this motion prevailed. The
election was Immediately gone into. with
the following result: $. Il. Woodfin, Ro.
A. Gary, X. c. Garden. h. G. Garrison,
Charles ii. Murray, +. L. Butler, IL,
Morrissette. w. j. Westwood. and 4. IL.
Peace At the adjournment OF the
church the committee had an Informal
meeting, arranging only for another SEES
sion al nearby date.
In a brief sketch of DR.. Wright's work,
printed on Tuesday, il was stated that
he built a large church at Reidyille,
n. c. This is mistake. The church at
this place was built during the pastorate
OF Rev. Mr.. Fountain. through his he
role efforts. but was enlarged by DR..
Wright.