The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-23
DIR. BLACKWELL RELIEVED.
THE NEWPORT NEWS CHURCH LEAVES
ITS CALL OPEN.
He is now al Liberty T. Accept it or
Remain I'm Wilmington. as He Deems
observation-disclosures are that He will
Stick to His Flock Here.

The Newport News Herald of Thurs
day, April 18th, says:
AT a special business meeting of the
First Baptist church held last night the
question of calling a pastor about
which so much has been said recently,
came up for discussion. Two letters
were e bearing on the call extended
by the church to e DR.. Calvin S.
Blackwell, Of Wilmington, n. c., and
the church took action which leaves
the matter entirely in the hands of DR..
Blackwell.
THE circumstances in this connec
ton were somewhat unusual and when
the meeting was called to order there
was a very large number Of the mem
bers of the church present. After
Captain J. A. Buxton had been called
to the chair the clerk, Mr.. George B..
West, read a communication from DR..
Blackwell and one from a committee
of the First Baptist church, of Will
mington.
DIR. Blackwell stated that before the
members of his church knew that the
Newport News church was considering
the matter of extending him a call,
anu Wnen captain buAlOU DIS CndlIIIldu
of the pulpit committee, wrote him in
this connection, he did not see any
reason why he should not accept the
call and SO stated in a letter to Cap
tain Buxton, but that since that time
his people had taken such action and
new conditions had come to the sur
face convincing him that his work in
Wilmington had not been completed.
He also stated hat while he re-
garded his promise or rather the i'm
preston which he made to the effect
that he would accept the call of this
church, should it see At to extend one,
as binding and would act accordingly
unless relieved by the church, he did
not overlook the conditions at present
existing in his own field.
The letter from the First Baptist
churc of Wilmington requested that
the call which has been extended to
DR.. Blackwell be withdrawn as his res
~ignation of the pastorate of that
church just now would result disas-
trouSly to them. A strong plea is
made along this line by the clerk of
the church by whom the letter was
written.
After considerable discussion of the
question a resolution was passed re-
lieving DR.. Blackwell from any obi
cation he might be under to the church
by reason of anything he had written
Captain Buxton.
THE clerk was instructed to write
to DR.. Blackwell enclosing a copy of
the resolutions and informing him th"t
the call of the church was still his
hands n requesting a reply at as
early a date as practicable. The clerk
and the moderator were also directed
to frame a letter to the Wilmington
committee informing the members of
the committee of the action of the
church tonight.
ct is more than probable that DR..
Blackwell will decline the call to this
city Notwithstanding the impression
he made to the effect that he would
accept. This change in his position is
due to the new tur affairs have tax
en- in the Tar Heel" city. In fact ev-
erything possible has been brought to
bear on him to induce him to remain
in Wilmington, n now that the un-
expected has taken place at ho~oo it
is more than probable hat he will re-
main there"