New-York tribune., 1901-02-05
DIR. Fl. N. SANDERS RESIGNS.
THINKS A YOUNG MAN is NEEDED AS
PASTOR OF MADISON AVENUE
BAPTIST CHURCH.

II learned last night that the Rev. DIR.
Henry NJ Sanders. pastor Of the Madison Ave
nue. Baptist Church, at Thirty-hrst-st. and Mad
ison-ave., rendered his resignation last wednes-
day at a regular business meeting Of the church
He resigned partly because he thought young
er man. with newer methods. could better for
ward the work of the church, and because he
could devise plan for increasing the member
ship of the church.
DR.. Sanders said that the number of members
who lived between Fifty-ffth and sixty-ffth
SITS. was continually growing greater than those
living between Twenty-ifth and Thirty-fifth
SITS His resignation has not yet been acted
upon. No formal action will be taken on it
until the business meeting of the church, to be
held tomorrow night.
When seen last night DIR. Sanders said:
For the last year or two had been thinking
of resigninS the pastorate of the church. as
younger man. with newer methods. could better
forward the work of the church There has been
no disagreement between me and the members
of the congregation. When / presented my res
ignation the church refused to consider it. The
members said that they were determined that
I should remain their pastor.
For some time the members of the cOngrega-
tion have been gradually moving further up
town. In view of this / have been constantly
striking names from the downtown list of men,
bers and placing their names in the uptown
list.
have many more names of members between
StXty-1Ith and SeVenty-0fth StS. Unan between
Twenty-ffth and Thirty-ffth SITS. This proper
tion is continually growing larger. 1t seemed
TO that the church must suffer. owing to this
fact, and it discouraged me to that / could
do nothing To build up the church.
I have been given free hand by the congre-
cation, and all the suggestions that have made
in endeavor to increase the membership Of
the church have been followed But have not
been able to originate successful method TO
build up the church. The congregation has told
me that II would do anything wanted IL TO do
if / would stay. I am anxious to be relieved of
the duties pastor of the church. I have no
plans for the future and I shall not leave the
ministry.
DR.. Sanders added that he expected to remain
in this city
Joseph AIilbank. trustee of the church. said
TO Tribune reporter last night:
No action on the resignation has yet been
taken.
Or. Sanders was born in this city in 1S49.
His father was DIR. Charles W. Sanders the au-
thor Of a series of school books. and his mother
Elizabeth Barker Sanders. His father died
about ten years ago. His mother is still alive.
DR.. Sanders was graduated from Yale In 1872
and from the Union Theological Seminary in
1876
He later became pastor of the Warburton
Avenue Baptist Church. Yonkers. where he re-
mained six years. He then came to this city tn
be pastor Of the Central Baptist Church. in
church for seven years. He then made tour
around the world. and was away two years on
his return he became pastor of the Madison
Avenue Baptist Church. succeeding the Rev. Dr.
Charles De Witt Bridgman. who became min
lister of the Protestant Episcopal Church.