The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-27
Mr.. W|CK'S FAREWELL
Wayne Street Church Thank
ed Tribute to DR..
Van Cleef.

At the morning service in the Wayne
Street Reformed Church, yesterday, the
Rev. Robert X. Wick. who has accepted
a call TO the First Reformed Dutch
Church of Jamaica. Long Island, said
in verifying the report which has been
going round to the effect that your pas
tor had received and accepted a call to
the First Reformed Dutch Church of
Jamaica, / wish to say that both reports
are true, and that / have placed my
resignation in the hands of the Consistory
of his church and asked them to con-
cur with me in requesting the South
Chassis of Bergen to dissolve the rela-
ions which at present exist us.
Said dissolution to take effect on Tues
day, April II, next.
I'm doing this / am not unmindful of
my obligations to you all. appreciate
the courtesy and the kindness OF Your
attitude toward me since ] came here,
eight years ago, as your associate pas
tor.
"A more charitable, considerable, for
bearing, long-suffering, benevolent, OPEN
hearted Christian people ! have never
seen, and if it should please God to let
me continue my work in the ministry
for the next half century to come, l do
not expect to find a more gracious people
than those with whom it has been my
happy lot to work for the greater part
of the last decade.
my relations with hat esteemed and
venerable man of God, the Rev. DR.. Van
elect, for so many years pastor of this
church., have been of the closest and kind
est possible.
1--WE have been like brothers. Yes, we
nave been like brothers in the very best
sense of the word.
.In a relation which has often caused
friction in other places. thanks to his IN
selfish, self ~abnegation and forbearins
spirit nothing has ever occurred to mar In
the slightest respect our relations which
nave always been of the very happiest ma
ture.
HE has left me free-free to do just as
| I chose in the conduct of this organization
| and in my pastoral and pulpit work. and
/! you, with a consideration which is in it
| self the greatest compliment I Ia re-
| ceived in my ministry among you, have
| taken your cue from the confidence OF
your venerable pdStof dho iCt liz "a Ju9'
as 1 pleased.
81 have been free, absolutely free tc
dress as l pleased, and preach as ]
pleased-in short, have let me be q
| free man with all the rights and privi-
| leges any other self respecting citizen en-
joys.
II remember you all with gratitude long
as l live, and when the time comes fol-
me to bid you farewell as you pastor, III
do it with poignant right"
Mr.. Wick was born in the year 1861, in
| Mercer county, Penn, where he attended
a district school until thirteen years OF
| age. when he entered the preparatory
| school of Westminster College, New VIII
| mington. Penn. He graduated in 1882,
| teaching one year in the same State. In
the fall of 1888 he entered Union Semi
nary. whence he graduate three years
later. !,
The same year, 1886, Mr.. Wick took
| charge of the First and Second Presby-
| terrain Churches, at Sparta, IN the Pres
| bytery of Rochester. Two years later ne
| received a call to the Wayne Street
| Church, of this city. which he did not
| accept until a year later, in the fall o.
1890, when the call was renewed. The
| following December found him installed
| as pastor of the Wayne Street Church.
\ where he has remained ever since.
| His new call is to the First Dutch Re-
! formed Church of Jamaica. Long Island
| This is a large substantial church witt
| a large following. The property Is wortf
some SIS, 900. There is the church build
ing. the Sunday-schoo1 building and 2
| large parsonage, while the pastor will
preach to from five to six undred peo-
pie every Sunday. Mr.. Wick will tax
charge of his Jamaica Church the thire
Sunday next month, April ID.