The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-11
THEY WANT MIR. CHALMERS
PLYMOUTH CHURCH OF WOR-
 CESTER RECOGNIZES

PLYMOUTH CHURCH OF JVOR-
 CESTER RECOGNIZES
 HIS Great Abilities-Letters to Grand
 Avenue Congregational Church Read
 Last Eventng-Worcester Church Begs 1 to Intrude Upon Harmonious Rela-
 tions-lr. Chalmers WIl Not Accept
 Conditions Limit His Usefulness in
 Ministry.
 B No decision has as yet been reached by the Rev. Andrew Burns Chalmers, the pastor of the Grand avenue Con- gregational church. in relation to his call to the Plymouth Congregational church of Worcester, Mass. At the meeting of the Grand avenue Congre- gational church, last evening, a letter addressed to Deacon Henry Futile by the outlook committee Of Plymouth church was read. The letter is given below:
 Tn view of the action taken by Ply mouth church of Worcester in extend Ing to the Rev. Andrew Burns Chal- mers call to become it's pastor, we ]. feel it our duty to say to you that this action on our part is entirely without the solicitation of MT. Chalmers. He has never preached in our pulpit. He came to our attention by no word or act of his own. We have been search ing for some months past for a man qualified in our judgment to fill the place to which MT. Chalmers is invited and having found him, we have given ! him the opportunity to say whether he wishes to accept the invitation or not.
 We desire to leave no possible room for misapprehension as to MT. Chal- mers connection with this possible change from New Haven to Worces- ! ter. We. would do nothing to disturb the relation of confidence existing be- tween MT. Chalmers and your church.
 We must bear the responsibility of being an intruder upon your pleasant relations, and MT. Chalmers is entitled t to be regarded as a passive element in the situation up to the present time.
 We hope he will come to us and permit us to be benefited by the same energy, wisdom and persuasive elo- quence which he has exerted in your behalf during his Grand avenue pastor ate. We can offer him wide field for his abilities; we can assure him of loyal support; we can place before him work enough to stretch his cpacities and make him grow; and all these things @ycu can do also, but according to the best light we can get, we are peculiar ly in need Of him here and our work demands those talents he has to offer ill the fulfllment of his ministerial life.
 Whether he comes to us or remains with you however, we shall concur in the conclusion, to which he is held by the Masters guidance. Be good enough to extend the fraternal greetings of Plymouth church of Worcester ito the Grand avenue church of New Haven and believe us in Christian fellowship and service.
 Cordially yours,
 "John s. Gould, Chairman,
 Prescott T. Kent, Secretary.
 outlook Committee of Plymouth church, Worcester, Mass.''
 Plymouth church edifice cost over $150,ooO and has the only chime of bells s Ill Worcester. Although without a pas tor. it contributed for all benevolences last year over $20,O0O and over $7,OOO for foreign missions. It's home ex- penses were oyer $12,OO0. The member ship is over 750. With the call to MT. Chalmers is an offer of 8 salary of $5.- 900. Although it is a very flattering call, MT. Chalmers has not yet decided whether to remain in New Haven or go to Worcester. During his stay here, his church has rapidly grown in mem- bership and his parishioners are very anxious for him to remain. MT. Chal- mers goes to Worcester to preach in Plymouth church tomorrow and his own pulpit will be occupied by the Rev. James Robertson, D. D., of Edinboro, Scotland. Dr. Robertson is to lecture on Scottish Songs and How to Sing Them in the Grand avenue Congrega- tional church next Tuesday evening. At the meeting last evening MT. Chalmers made g. statement to his church. as sollows:
 TO the Officers and Members of the
 Grand 1 Avenue Congregational
 Church:
 This call which has come to me to become the pastor of Plymouth church of Worcester. Mass. was as much surprise to me when it was first sug- gested as it is to you. The thought of leaving you had never occurred to me. And when the prospect of call was suggested. to me, I prayerfully deter mined that should in no way encour-