The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-05
MIR. MURRAY WILL
 GO ID BALTIMORE
Birmingham Congregation Ex-
 presses its Sorrow
RECTOR LEAVES IN MARCH
Many Eloquent and Feeling Remarks Were Made and Resolutions Were Adopted at Church of the
 Advent Last Night

The Rev. John G. Murray, who has been the esteemed rector of the Church of the Advent for nearly seven years, rendered his resignation to the vestry of the church yesterday afternoon in order that he might accept the call to the rectorship of St. Michaers and all Angels church at Baltimore.
 A meeting of the parish and of the cit- izens of Birmingham in general had been called for last night for the purpose of discussing some means of inducing the rector to remain here, but as Mir Murray had made his decision before the time ap- pointed for the parish gathering, there was nothing to be done but take action expressive of the church's sincere regret at being called upon to part with him.
 The meeting took place in the church and was called to order by Col. K. H. Pearson as senior warden, who presided during the evening. A resolution Of sor- row was unanimously adopted by stand ing and short talks were made by Vari- ous leading members of the parish and others.
 Mir. Murray's Work.
 Dr. E. P Riggs, who offered the resolu- tion. said: MT. Murray's departure is great loss to this community. There are many in the parish who knew him only as visitor to warm comfortable nre- sides but there are others of us who know of his work in novels and among the poor Probably no man ever oio more work among the poor than he. lie has done wonders for the Church or the l Advent He found it poor and in debt ana Inv six years hard work he has built 1t up to it's present condition. There Is not d single member of the congregation who 1 does not regret to see MT. Murray ms wife and his children leave Birmingham. Cleared 9he Debt.
 Mai. John W. Bush in speaking on he resolution said: "When Mir Murray came here the Church of the Advent was mortgaged for $13,00O. The parish was not even paying the interest on this sum-
 "Bv hard work MT. Murray has cleared all this away and we owe him debt or gratitude. His influence was widely telt outside his own church. He was made trustee of a sacred fund to do with 1t as he pleased, and he used 1t to build home for indigent veterans at Mountain Creek. His name will always be rev cred for that"
 William A. Walker: "No one has watched Mir Murray's work since he came to the city more closely than l. and can truthfuly say that l think there is no man in Birmingham whom we can so lilly afford to spare"
 Public Calamity.
 B. Steiner: Tt is very seldom l have an opportunity to say anything Tn churches but this is an opportunity cannot resist l have watched MT. Mur- ray very closely since he came among us and feel that l know him better than most men. One of the first things found about him was that he is a fine busl ness man. I cannot help expressing my sorrow at his going. It is really public calamity. l feel like saying that would rather see some immense industry leave Birmingham than to see MT. Murray go.
 Robert Jemison: q am loathe to speak in public, and especially at this time, because of the great loss we are about to sustain. Up to the time of his re- turn from Baltimore I had hoped that MT. Murray would stay nere. had honed that he would find the church in Baltimore so well built up that he would feel that his services were needed more here. On the contrary, he found much work to be done there and now feels 1t his duty to go to the new field and do his best. I believe he is as full of sor- row at going from us as we are to see him leave. We must now do our best in assisting and in holding up the hands q hus successor"
 More Work.
 pr. E. P. Riggs: "I want to emphasize Mir. Jemisons remarks. Mir Murray going from us simply makes more work for us to do ourselves. We must stand firm and do all in our power for the sup port of his successor"
 At this point a rising vote was taken on the resolution and 1t was carried unani- mously. The resolutions were as fol- ,i lows:
 The Resolutions.
 Resolved by the members of the parish of the Church of the Advent, That we have learned with deepest regret the de- cision of our rector, Rev. John c. Mur- ray, to accept the call to the Church of ] St. Michaels and All Angels" at Balti- more; we would leave nothing undone to induce him, If possible, to change this de- cision, but from his communication to the vestry we see clearly that he feels 1t his duty to go to Baltimore; and in view Of this fact, we feel that 1t would be useless tn attempt to change his purpose.
 We wish at this time to express tc hlm and to his wife our greatest love and affection and our sincere appreciation oi all he has done for us since he has beer l among us From the day of his coming 1