The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-06
BACK TO HIS NATIVE STATE.
Rev. Lewis NJ. Roper Decides to Make
Change OF Pastorate.
HIS RESIGNATION ACCEPTED
BY the Congregation, Though Great Re-
Instance Was shown. as Rev. Roper
Has Done Great work
In This City--An
Interview.

After the close of the morning services
at the First Baptist church Sunday.
Rev. Lewis M. Roper pres nted his res
ignation as pastor of the church in this
city. Upon motion of Mr.. s. J.. Smith,
the resignation was accepted and Rev.
Roper released from his pastorate in
Canton. Rev. Roper has received call
from Spartanburg, s. c., his native
state and about 40 miles from his home
city. Rev. Roper's intention was
known to but few and came as a great
shock to the large congregation with
whom Rev. Roper has been connected
with the past four years. Following is
the resignation presented Sunday morn
ing:
To the First Baptist church, Canton,
Ohio.
Dear Brethren: Nearly four years
ago in response to your invitation I
came to Canton to serve as pastor of
this church. 1 have tried to do my
duty with a good conscience as a
preacher of righteousness, as a servant
of Jesus Christ, and as personal friend
to every member of this congregation.
How successfully and wisely 1 have
served in these offices I must leave for
others to tell.
The time has now come, am sorry
to say, when our relation as church and
pastor must be dissolved. I hereby
present my resignation and ask to be
released from all obligations. to this
church after the 30th of March, 1900,
in order that I may accept a call to the
First Baptist church of Spartanburg.
S. C.
have not made this decision hastily.
1 have sought earnestly to know and do
the Lords will in this matter. I do
not resign because ]. am dissatisfied or
discouraged with this church. 1 have
more confidence in your love and loyalty
today than ever before; the outlook for
the future of our work has not been so
bright and promising at any other time
In my pastorate. Truly, believe in you
and love you, my friends and brethren
and 1t Will be great sorrow to me to
be separated from you. Yet, I believe II
is my duty to return to my native state
and give the best years of my life to the
people who have done most for me and
to whom 1 am under first and greatest
obligation. l therefore beg you to re-
lease me in order that / may undertake
this work to which have been called
LEWIS M. ROPER.
with reference to his leaving the First
Baptist church and Canton Rev. Roper
said to a News Democrat representa-
tive this morning:
There is not much difference in the
salary, not enough to make me willing
to tear myself away from as noble and
as true people as the Baptists of Can
ton. My friends in the south have
never been satisfied that I did not come
back to them after finished my educa-
tion. They have been praying and
working for three years to have me
come home. Spartanburg is a noted
college town, the seat of Wofford college
for young men, and Converse college
for young women, the finest college for
women in the south. Spartanburg coun-
ty leads all the counties of the south
In cotton manufacture, and the city is
rapidly becoming the controlling centre
OF the cotton manufacturing industry
in this country. 1t now has a popula-
tion of over $4,000; only 5000 in 1890.
The First Baptist church of that city
is' in the opinion of those who know
best, the most important field in s. C.
and one of the most promising fields
in all the south. 1t offers me advan-
tages and opportunities for usefulness
such as / could not have here; it is a
work for which am better suited, and
1t is return to the state which 1 love
above all others"