The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-19
REV. DR.. BLACKWELL'S CALL.
HE CANT MAKE UP HIS MIND To
LEAVE WILMINGTON.
At a Congregational Meeting on Sum
day He Said He Would lave to Give
the Call Further Prayerful Consider
ation-A Committee Appointed to Get
draw Its Call.

The First Baptist church was crowd
ed on Sunday at II o'clock with a deep
ly interested and anxious congregation.
1t was anticipated that the Rev. Calvin
S. Blackwell, D.. D.. would announce
whether or not he would accept the
cal rendered 10 him by the First Bapt-
list church of Newport News, Va, but
he did not do so.
At a meeting of the congregation af-
ter the sermon. DR.. Blackwell told his
congregation that he had hoped to have
made up his hind but he u that it
would require further prayerful con
sideration for him to do so. He an
nounced publicly that the matter a
given him a great Zeal of concern nj
it had proven Unexpectedly hard foi
him to leave his church here. 1t was
difficult for him to sever the affection
ate ties that have been made, and he
would take further time to make up his
mind rs to the course he would pursue.
After DR.. Blackwell had spoken of
the matter, on motion of Mr.. G. E.
Leftwich. Mr.. j. c. Stevenson was
called to the chair and by request he
read the following resolutions:
Resolved by h First Baptist
church in conference assembled that we
have heard with regret that our be-
loved pastor, DR.. Calvin S. Blackwell,
is at present considering a call to an
other field.
That we are in anxious fear that he
will conclude that it is his duty to ac-
cept h same.
That We are persuaded that his use
fulness with us is but fairly commenced
and that it wouldsbe a we're shock to
the best interests of u church to have
him leave US.
z-1 g. -~% -
single voice in our church which is
not raised in protest against his leav-
ing us.
That our church and other interests
of our brethren in our immediate vicin-
ity have prospreed under his personal
and brotherly care and are now an
active. united and Jealous people pre-
pared to do the Lords work.
That we ask him to suggest any
conditions within u power to observe
which may induce him to remain
with U.S."
1t was stated that the above resolu-
tons were adopted in official conference
Monday night and they were submitted
for the concurrence of the congregation.
On motion they were unanimously
adopted by the church.
After the sermon On Sunday night.
the executive committee of the church
"tNA -
earnest efforts to get his consent to re-
main in Wilmington. The result of the
conference that MesSrs. J.. G. Steven
son. b. F. Keith, and E. S. Lathrop
were appointed a committee with in
structions to correspond with the
church at Newport News with a view
to inducing the withdrawal of the call
to DR.. Blackwell. This was done so, il
DR.. Blackwell, made up his mind to
stay here it would save him the m
pleasant task of declining the call of
h Newport News church.
Those who so earnestly hope that DIR.
Blackwell will not go to Newport News,
~construe this action of the executive
committee as meaning that DIR. Black
well will finally decide to stay in Will
mington.
DR.. Blackwell went to Rockingham
yesterday to assist the Rev. :. L.
Greaves in a revival meeting and he viii
not return till the latter part of
week. The Rev. T. H. Leavitt vii con-
duct his prayer meeting for him here
on Thursday night