The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-03-02
REV. JAMES ROBERTS, D. 0, RESIGNS.

to take effect on the first day of June.
The resignation was presented in the
following formal letter;
Iambertville, n ] March list, ISIS
To the Session ofMe First Presdy-
terrain church.
My DEAR BRRTuREN:-W When | came
to Lambertville il was with no thought
in my mind but that of remaining here
as the pastor of this church until the
end of my life, but God seems to
have ordered otherwise. Some weeks
ago. rs | informed you at the last
meeting of the Session, the Managers
of the John c. Mercer Home For
Disabled Ministers of the Presbyterian
Faith, " at Amber, Pa, created an of
flee which Is known as Secretary of
the Home, and, with great unanimity
and earnest cordially, invited me to
become the first occupant of the posi-
ton. have been one of their number
for about five years aud have taken an
active interest in all that concerned
the welfare of the institution. | am
familiar with the past history, the
needs and affairs of the Home, and for
these. among other reasons, the Mana
gers felt that the providence of God
pointed to me rs the most suitable per
son to take up and to carry ON the work
| which now waits to be performed.
To no move OF my life have | given
more serious aud thoughtful eonsldera-
| ton than to this call from the Mana
! gers of the Mercer Home. | have
/ tried to look nj it carefully from every
/ point of view, being by no means un-
mindful of my duty to this congregation
and the claims which it has upon me-
| Had there been spirit offault finding
| in the congregation, or friction be-
! tween the people of this church and
myself, it would have been an easy
matter to decide that door of escape
| hal been opened from that which was
unpleasant and disagreeabe. But, SO
| far rs | know, il would be hard to con
ceivo of greater cordially and har-
mony than that which EXISTS between
| the people and pastor OF this congre-
cation | know of no discord between
any organization within the church and
the pastor This impression was CON
iirmed, sometime ago, by the remark OF
member of the Session who said to me:
- have never heard one adverse eriti-
cism of your ministry since you came
among us. There nre, | am sure,
abundant evidences of good will and
kind consideration ON the part of the
people for the comfort and wishes of
the pastor. Especially do | note the
thoughtful consideration and kindly
feeling which our Young people have
always manifested toward me. | am
always made to feel That nm welcome
in the sabbath school and in the meet
ines of the Christian Endeayor Socie-
~; and in both. any suggestions which
| mike IRE kindly received and my
voice is always heard with respectful
attention
The Snbbaths uud the Tuesday even
ings are TO me the most delightful
DAYS in Eambertsille the days when
| have the privilege Of speaking to
large congregations IN which there Is
intelligence enough ia stimulate any
preacher to do his best and 10 apPreei
ate the best that any preacher can pro
duce. When think only of all these
things SO enjoyable III pastors work
and life, would Ella lIyremain horeun-
disturbed by even the consideration OF
call of duty TO any other field of
labor.
But another place of work for the
Master has been set before me, and ]
have been obliged to consider It. ]
have sincerely tried to diyest myself
OF all selfish considerations, and have
asked a9ain and again: Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do = One SUI
pteme thought has hlled my mlnd ana
heart and that thought has been one
Of submission To the Divine purpose
! hive cherished spirit OF readiness
to do whatever God would he pleased
to Indicate as His will in the whole
,,fo4ta,, AbfIa bItgtr VsItb flp work Of
the day, and IN the silent watches OF
the night. | have sought DIVINE lSht
and guidance IA 10 the path OF duty.
After ali these days aud nights OF
anxious Thought, earnest prayer and
sincere desire to be guided arlght,
am lei to the conclusion That duty
points to Amber. J., therefore, now
give notice to the Session OF my reslS
nation OF the pastoral charge OF ms
church, to take effect ON the nrst day
OF June next, or sooner, II, IN your
judgment, the best welfare OF Inc
church requires IT. AS 1t Is often sald
that ministers are usually called to
larger salarles, am led to say TINT |
have not been influenced IN my decl-
SION by money considerations, as my
income VIII likely be less, rather than
greater, by the chahge which am
about to make, The one selhsh con-
alteration which has influenced my
decision more han any other IL the
matter OF health ! have not been
well Tor some time, ana II ~ hopeu
that change Of work. different KIND
of care and OF responsibility, VIII be
advantageous III this respect
In aceep,ihi3 Tue P sasi ION, 10 wnien
n n%,g " ,nany ", niaaaant and tender Ties
which have here been formed that /
am leaving. large and influential
chafge ana 'na,' III M Plon |at J.
p pifa I'll tbe Work Of t6e nastorate which I
have greatly and continuously enjoyed
for nearly thirty years. Still. if | am
RIGHT in my INTERPRETATION Of the will
of God concerning this call, it is bet
ter for this church, MS well as for my
self, however much we might wish 10 !
have it otherwise. that 90 10 the new