Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-04-08
FORMAL
Acceptance byDr.
MacAyeaI
Of Call Extended Him
to Become Pastor
Of the First Congrega-
tionaI Church.
Will Begin His Ministry Here by
September |.

Ayeal, pastor of the Central Congre-
gational church of st. Louis, was
read at the First Congregational
church Sunday morning. The letter
was formal acceptance of the call
extended to Dr. MacAyeal to become
the pastor of the First Congregational
church of this city. 1t follows:
st. Louis, Mo-, April 2, 1901.
Messrs stephen II. Pitkin, Nathan
Morse, John MacGregor VIM. G. Pit
kin, committee of church and society;
DR.. Monroe, pastor; the members of
church and society, all of the First
Congregational church and society in
Akron, Ohio, greeting:
Dear Brethren:
Under the wise and kindly guidance
Of Him whose we are and whom we
serve" you have been led to extend
to me n call to become the pastor and
teacher of your congregation, and /
have consented, as trust most wisely,
to accept the great responsibilities in
yolved in this relation.
You have had one of the happy
! pastOrates of the denomination to
which we belong, and the years have
been marked with blessings of enlarge
ment In every way. 1t Is not often we
are privileged to record so beautiful
n story as the one told me concerning
the relations between your pastor and
yourselves. Your pastor Is literally
Father in Israel" and has seen the
birth into the new life of so many
in your midst that il might be said
of him "he has seen his childrens
children and peace on Israel" 1t Is
with great regret you allow him to lay
| over the burden of the day upon
other shoulders, and cannot doubt
that YOU have questioned seriously
the future outlook after so great and
blessed II past.
p Let me assure you that my owr
heart has failed me when the thought
of becoming successor to such u wori
has come home TO me. And yet can
not avoid building some hope ais,
upon the fact of habit in your own ex
:. pericnce, and that you will bring Il
my own aid the trained qualities o
devotion TO pastor and to church whicl
have been so manifest during the pass
Ing years of your history.
1t Is also my consolation that w
g shall have the counsel and wisdom
of your pastor to guide MS as we pas
on to the work before us. with sue
~ sympathetic assistance smile at day
to come.
" The present pastorate has seen you
congregation grow steadily until yo
have become numerically one of tn
q leading congregations OF the denomlna
ton. You have also been mothe
OF churches in your own city. Bu
~ l wish TO say to you now that God ha
ly not at all brought you to your pres
10 ent strength for a life of gnoble cas-,
Many congregations appear to STAG
Il nate when they reach certain stag
W In development. Beyond this the
H'Ntr 10. lt IL not uncommon
4, hear the philosophy taught that a COZ
ut gregaton has its youth, maturity, an
us old age, and that nothing more shoul
be expected. The fact Is that onl
M the violation of the law of continuil
wv can injure any congregation, NJ
trouble is not so often in condition
~, as in the mind ana heart of membe
and adherents. My desire for you
that you shah regard the past as pr
paratory for the future, There is
y, greater work beyond than anyrhiI
you have ever accomplished in II
} past No man rcaps to the fun Il
fruit from his own sowing and