Evening star., 1899-03-22
PASTOR JOHNSON'S CALL
He is Invited to Engage in General Denomi-
national Work.
His Congregation Takes Action, Urg.
ing Him to Reject the Offer
4 strong Appeal.

| Rev. DR.. w. Bishop johnson has just
entered upon the seventeenth year of his
pastorate of the Second Baptist Church, Sd
| near II street northwest. The circumstance
was made quite notable at meeting of the
congregation held few evenings ago.
Some time since DR.. Johnson received a
very fatterng offer to engage in denomi-
| national work, in a capacity that would,
| had he accepted it, given him a pleasant
| berth and afforded him the opportunity to
| travel, not only throughout this country.
| but also in foreign lands, without expense
! to himself. The acceptance of the offer
would, however, have necessitated his leav-
| ing Washington and the REIMBURSEMENT of
| the pastoral work in which he has been SO
long engaged. Through some means the
| 1act that their pastor had received the
tender leaked out, and meeting of the
| members of the church was called to con-
| slider the emergency which had arisen.
| More than one thousand persons responded
at the designated time, but DR.. johnson
remained away.
1t was pointed out that when DR.. johnson
I took charge of the congregation, in 1882, it
numbered but Seventy-five members, all
told, and that the roll of active member
! ship now contained the names of over l 800
persons in good standing; that fine church
edifice, one Of the best belonging to the
denomination in the city, had been built !;
that although there was a debt on the
church. that debt, owing to the manage
ment of DR.. Johnson was rapidly cisap-
pearing, and would soon be entirely extin-
| guished; that, in short, the best interests
of the church and congregation demanded
that DR.. johnson remain in the Dastorate
he has filled SO long and so acceptably.
Committee Appointed.
committee of fifteen was appointed to
| wait DR.. johnson and ask him to con-
| tinue in his present office of pastor of the
church, previous to which resolutions were
| adopted to the effect that 1T is the unani-
nous sense of this church that 1t could
| Ill afford to dispense with the services of
| Its hCnored pastor, Rev. w. Bishop John
| son, ID. D., believing, it does, that such
sacrlf1ce would be disastrous both to its
| spiritual and material welfare, and would
seriously retard its progress for years to
come, If not utterly destroy it's influence
and usefulness in the community
rhat our own best interest as a Chris
tan organization, whose high aims and
most exalted purposes are to better the
coholtlon OF mankind on earth, demand that
we secure hold and utilize every factor
agency and appliance essential to the ac-
complishment of such aims and purposes
1t now becomes our solemn duty and seri-
Gus purpose to pledge ourselves, each and
every one, to renewed and more earnest
zeal IN aiding and sustaining him, our pas
tor, in every way within our power in his
work for us and for humanity, and further,
TO sincerely assure him of our heartfelt
gratitude for all he has done for US in the
past and for what, under Gods guidance
ana direction, we know his great abilities
can effect for US in the future
The committee was directed to youchsare
TO DR.. johnson the confidence of the entire
membership in his leadership. and the paper
authorized contained that assurance
Dr. johnson has in recent years borne a
prominent and influential part in church af-
fairs. He is greatly interested in the es-
taoiIshment Of great publishing house for
colored Baptists, and would it is under
stood, like to have it located in Washington
tOr. johnson will al early day give his
answer to the church committee, and while
he has not as yet indicated what his future
course viii be- it is expected, in view of all
the circumstances, he will conclude to re-
main as pastor of the church he has served
during so many years