The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-03
NORTH CAROLlNA'S PART
A Contribution to the Twentieth CeG.
fury Fund.
REVEREND ] K. FRASER TO ASSIST HIM
Or. Stage Says Future Influence and Growth
Of Southern Presbyterian Church Largely
Deperdes Upon Success Of Twen-
tiih Century Movement.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Charlotte, N. c., Nov. 30.-Rev. John
w. Stage, d. d., accepts the call of the
Synod of North Carolina in the following
letter to Rev. f. W. Smith, D. D.:
Having decided to take up the work of
raising the 100000 as North Cardinals
to the Twentieth Century
fund.- / deem it proper to notify you at
this time of my decision, and of my pur-
pose to enter upon the work about the
first of January. The delay in making
of completely severing my
self from the cause of Presbyterianism
in the city of Charlotte, and particularly
from the congregation of which / am
pastor, and to which I have given more
years of my ministerial life than to any
other charge which / have had
I necessarily feel toward it and all
attached to it in a way / never was to
any other church. The wisest of this
congregation and the good judgment of
the officers of this church have largely
governed me in coming to a final de-
cision in this matter. We have secured
Rev. ]. K Frasier to be co-worker with
me, so go to the Synod of North Caro-
lima, not in the capacity of an agent or
of secretary, but as the pastor of a
church which realizes that the very vi
tails of the Southern Presbyterian church
are affected by, and that the future in
f,bence and growth of the church, to no
small extent, depends upon the success
of the Twentieth Century movement
Therefore this congregation is willing
for me to remain it's pastor and tell to
the Synod throughout it's borders that
it recognizes the Twentieth Century
movement to be pre-eminent, and that no
individual church or congregation can
afford either by holding aloof from the
work, or by failure to contribute to the
cause, to hinder this great and. as they
believe, God-given conception. Mr.
Frasier has already entered uuon his
labors, and it is our purpose to work as
one.
No special notice will be given
when either one or the other will appear
in the pulpit. The congregation has de-
termined to draw no lines, and have no
favoritism with men. It is the one SUI
preme wish that this issue be successful.
J enter upon the work realizing that it.
is herculean undertaking that the peo-
pie will have to be aroused to a concep-
ton of liberality that probably has not
dominated North Carolina Presbyterian
ism hitherto, and that every Presbyter-
ian in the State must be seen. and that
every Presbyterian in the State must
contribute. To this end every pastor,
every session, every board of d1acons,
every congregation in the bounds of the
Synod should recognize that he who
speaks in behalf of this movement
speaks in the interest of Gods kingdom
in the interest of the Presbyterian
church South, generally, in the interest
Of Presbyterianism in North Carolina
particularly. and is helping to place the
Presbyterian church, in this Twentieth
Century with all it's wealth and great
institutions, where our forefathers
placed it in the centuries less blessed
with material wealth, and not so char
acterized by great institutions, who yet
placed it in the forefront by a self de-
NAL, devotion and loyalty to God and to
Gods church, that we fear does rot and
has not for some time characterized the
life Of our people
5 1t is my firm belief and il is likewise
the Judgment of some of the best and most
successful among the men in our COM
munity, in both the first and second
churches, that Charlotte will give one
sixth of the 100000 assigned to the
Synod OF North Carolina. 1t does seem
to me that the Presbyterians of this
State would feel too keenly the disparity
between one community with one sixth
and the entire State with five sixth, of
100000, to let this amount come shot t.
one cent of the 100000 mark that has
been set by the Synod and acknowledged
by every Presbyterian minister in tie
State and confirmed by a represents
tive or every church session In thus
communicating my purpose and setting
forth my views to You and your commit
tee | hope that l in no sense produce
the impression that / do not feel my
absolute dependence upon the coo, eIa-
ton of the ministery the eldership and
the deaconate, and that l oaly feel con-
fdent of success because believe tb1:
Gods people in our denomination will
pray for and contribute to this great
cause.
Very sincerely yours
tSigned) JNO. w. stage.