The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-09
M. Sloan Resigns.

Last sunday was memorable day Ia tne
calendar OF tho Associate Reformed church
q, this place. At the conclusion OF the SER
vices, and after the benediction had been
said, Mr.. sloan asked the members OF the
church and tho supporters Of the churcn 10
remain for few minutes. The pastor ss'o
that be had been called TO larger field that
of tho First Presbyterian church In the city
OF Greepviiie. That church. he said, onered
him better opportunities than he could ever
hope 10 have In the Associate Reformed
church, and he believed IL TO DO his duty 70
ACCEPT the call. He felt sorrow In sever!ng
the churchly relations 10 which hs had been
born, and 10 which his father served. but he
was sure that tho same God that had caused
To him 10 be born In that church had now
called him to another. He asked The supreme
Ruler TO witness the sincerely OF bis speech
and the honesty Of bis action.
He said that he loved the church OF bis
fathers, and he loved this congregation, and
for the individual members Of this church be
had much affection. He parted from them
With sorrow, but he felt called To labor In an
other field. where he might be more useiui.
He would likely not enter upon bis new
work before tho drst OF September. II the
brethren desired he would serve them until
then, or his resignation might DO accepted 10
take effect at once.
When tho preacher had LEFT the congrega-
,ion Mr.. r. L. Morrow was called 70 the chair.
Motion was made 20 accept the resignation
and AFTER some discussion OF tho wording oi
tho original resolution IL was amended, and
adopted.
Elder W. r. Bradley and Elder John Lyon
were appointed q committee 70 Inform Mr.
sloan.
Action In reference 10 securing another pas
tor was deferred. Tho congregation was not
prepared 10 act. and no definite plan pre-
sented itseif.
A moro solemn or = moro Impressive occa.
sion We do not remember. The feeiing Of the
Individual members and tho voice and msn'
ner OF the preacher niled the air with the
soiemnity OF the occasion.
Many realised that the church had lost one
of its best and most useful members, and that
The individuals OF the congregation had ex'
psrienesd something Of q personal loss.
Their pride In having 90 good pastor. and
the consciousness that NO church al this place
had . better preacher are hurt at his do
parture.
Mr.. Sloan 10 deeply affected. This II. per-
haps, the most trying ordeal Of bis life. May
bis manhood and his Christian grace DO SOS
tained by Him whose voice he 10 obeying.
In his new field he will. a. In aforetime
nght the good light Of faith, and work for the
same cause TO which bis life has been conse'
Grated. The Christian world In not affected
by the change. He 10 stiIl the same servant ol
the Great High Priest 10 whom We aii bow
and do our homage. The change ID matter
between Mr.. Sloan and bis Maker. Those o
bis brethren Who have loved him In the past
need love him none the less because OF his
transfer TO another organization In The great
army which 10 serving the same Lord and
praying to the same God. Mr.. Sloan will moi
DO less Jealous or less worthy OF Christian
love and fellowship.