The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-27
EXPRESS REGRET,
Council of Congregational Minis
tiers and Delegates Convene
at Central Church
ACTS ON RESIGNATION OF
REV. Mr.. CHAPMAN
Resolutions of His Worth Filed BY
the Council, Church and Young
Peoples Society

The Congregational ecclesiastical
council which was called to take action
on the resignation of Rev. E. NJ. Chap
man, associate pastor of Central
church, met yesterday afternoon at ;
o'clock. The following churches were
represented by their pastors and dele.
gates Old South Rev. A. q. Conrad
William M. Spaulding, delegate; Union
church. Rev. DR.. John e. futile, A. B.
Kimbail, delegate; Summer Street, Rev.
o. c. Bailey, S. P. Pratt, delegate Ply
mouth, Rev. Dr.. Archibald McCullagh,
Charles III. Morgan, delegate; First
Swedish, Rev. A. L. Anderson; Pilgrim,
Rev. DR.. Alexander Lewis, Benjamin
Briefly, delegate; Church of the Cow
enant, Rev. John e. Hurlbut; Hope,
Rev. E. w. Phillips; Bethany, Rev. A.
G. Todd, v. p. Curtis, delegate; Ar
menian Rev. Benneyan; Emmanuel,
Rev. G. S. Dodge, James Hammond
delegate; Second Swedish, Rev John
Udd; Adams Square, Rev John f.
Dodge Lewis E. Cotton; Piedmont,
Rev. DR.. Willard Scott; Second church,
Millbury, Rev. George p. Eastman, A.
Armsby, delegate; these, together with
Rev, Dr.. Eldredge Mix, made up the
council.
Rev. DR.. McCullagh was chosen mod
orator and Rev. John e. Dodge scribe
The meeting was opened with prayer
by the moderator, and the records of
the parish and the church were read
by thei" respective clerks. After the
reading OF the records, which spoke of
Rev. Mr.. Chapman's resignation, Rev.
Mr.. Chapman said a few words rela-
tive to the
REGRET HE FELT IN LEAVING
Worcester and the parish, and of the
happy relations which had always ex-
listed between him and the senior pas
tor and the church.
The council, in private session, voted
to approve the action of the church and
congregation, and DR.. Conrad, DR..
Scott and Rev. Mr.. Eastman, were ap-
pointed on a committee to draw up res
oluttons, which were soon presented
and adopted. Before the close of the
meeting, Rev. DR.. McCullagh took oc-
casion to speak of Rev. Mr.. Chapmans
work in the parish and the city.
The resolutions of the council follow;
of the severance, at his own re-
quest, IF the pastoral relations hereto
fore existing between Rev. Edward NJ
Chapman and Central church, Worces-
ter we the council, desire to put on
record our deep sense of loss at his de-
parture and our profound appreciation
of his manly and devoted Christian
character, and of the service, he has
rendered as minister of the gospel
among us. In the reasonably long pas
torate of seven years in Central church.
undisturbed throughout by any note of
disagreement or disappointment, and
concluded in entire good will between
all parties concerned, Mr.. Chapman
has made
GOOD PROOF OF HIS MINISTRY
and won the esteem and affection of
his fellow-pastors in all denominations
and the confidence and high regard of
the community at large. In his wider
ecclesiastical relations he has exhibit
ted exceptional fidelity and wisdom,
and as citizen has been an earnest
advocate of all measures for the pub
lie good. To the pastor and members
of Central church we extend our sin
cere sympathy in this event and heart
lily commend our brother to the wider
constituency of churches as a beloved
and successful minister of the Lord
Jesus Christ"
The following are proposed for entry
on the records of Central church:
For those who, after us, may make
use of our records and for all others
interested, we as a church wish to ex-
tend more fully than can be done in
the formal passing of motions connect
ed with the resignation of Rev. Ed
ward M. Chapman as associate pastor,
our appreciation of his manly charac-
ter, his ability and his effective work
among u.s."
At the meeting of the church on the
evening of Dec. 6, called to act upon
Mr.. Chapman's letter, many present
took occasion in a spontaneous, infor-
NAL way to make remarks. the spirit
and tenor of which it is the purpose of
this minute to record.
The position held by Mr.. Chapman
for the past seven years has been one
of special difficulties, calling for pc
culiar TACT patience, good sense, YER
sat1lity and differentiation. That it
has been filled with marked success, is |
recognized by all. Ou1 associate pas
tor has, in conspicuous degree, shown
a resourcefulness, a delicate sense of
what is fitting, wealth of thought
and of scholarly insight,
A CHIvALRoUs sENsITIvENEss
as to the rights of the senior pastor a
sympathy with the sorrowing the un-
fortunate and the degraded, and-in-
Guiding all these-a truly Christian life
and deep spiritual experience, that
have won from us all the warmeSt SEN
timents of respect and affection. No
place has been too low for his hand of
helpfulnesS when it was needed, no out
cast too forsaken for his sympathy. To
the young in the Sunday school, to the
stranger student, to the unfriended
and to the honest endeavorer every
where, his heart has been particularly
open. While in his more public and
formal ministrations in the pulpit and
in the community at large, we recog-
nize his ability and effectiveness, it is
in the prayer meetings, the chapel lee
lures and the impromtu addresses that
we have recognized to the best advan-
tage his fine feelings, his prayerful,
devoted life and richness of thought.
AS q judicious and sincere man, he
knows his own desires and the needs
of himself and the church. In ac-
ceding to his request. we only regret
that circumstances make it seem to
him wise that our extremely congenial
and helpful relations as church and
pastor should cease. Mr.. Chapman is
worthy of a large place in the worlds
work and the worlds affection, and he
will have it. He and Mrs Chapman,
whose less conspicuous but no less re-
fined and cordial influence we have al
ways felt for good will ever be fol-