The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-13
His Resignation Is to Be Pre-
sented on Sunday Night.
WILL TAKE EFFECT
LAST OF THIS MONTH
It is Understood That Dr.. kerr's Deter
mination is rrevocabIe and His
People Will sorrowfuIIy Ac-
cept the Determination
Reached by Him.
Regret General.


more in this city, the Rev. Robert p.
Kerr, D. D.. the distinguished pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church. will leave
Richmond, perhaps this month, to assume
charge of the Boundary-Avenue Presby-
tcrian Church, of Baltimore. to which he
has recently received second call.
The official announcement from Dr..
Kerr was made last night to a regular
session Of his church. at which only the
officers of the congregation were present
TO these elders he made the simple state
ment that q stern sense OF duty com
PEELED him to sever old ties, however pain
full the parting might be. and take up his
work in the Baltimore field. Everything
that could be said was said by the mem
bers Of the congregations: every tesumo-
NAL that love and affection could make
was made, but even while the elders thus
tried TO change the determination or their
pastor they recognized the inevitable.
Dr. Kerr had decided finally and utterly
that he would leave, and his resignation
IS final. So far as the elders could act, 1t
was accepted last night, and since fur
ther effort to retain the beloved pastor
is useless, none will be made.
On Sunday next DR.. Kerr Will preach
at the First Church at the morning SER
vice, after which meeting OF the con-
gregation will be held. At this time the
resignation will be formally submitted.
to take effect the latter part OF the pres
ent month. In view Of all the circum-
stances, it will probably be accepted by
the church. There is. perhaps. not in ex-
istence congregation more attached to
its pastor than the First Church people
to DR.. Kerr. But they, like the elders,
will without doubt realize that he has
decided his course. and though much re-
GREETING his decision, they will place no
further obstacle in his path.
Like his people. DR.. Kerr himself is dis
tressed at the parting. During the nine
teen years strong ties have sprung up, to
sever which is to him, as to the others.
a painful task "a stern sense OF duty"
he said last night, lis the only thing that
moves me-"
A GREAT SURPRISE.
To the public at large. as well as to his
congregation, the announcement OF the
coming departure of Dr.. Kerr will come
az a startling surprise. Recent events
prior to the second call seemed to have
closed the door upon any possibility of
his leaving Richmond, and not even his
colleagues among the ministry here would
believe that he contemplated anything
like resignation.
The first movement from Baltimore to-
ward securing DR.. Kerr came something
over two weeks ago, when. as duly
recorded at the time, the Boundary
in the Monumental City. extended to
him It's first call to become Its pastor
Even at that time there crept abroad
the impression that DR.. Kerr meant to
leave, and this impression inspired a
desperate effort which succeeded In its
object, to keep him here. From every
section letters. resolutions and the like
poured in upon him, until il seemed that
he would be flooded beneath them all II
he did not hurry and decide to remain.
This he did eventually, and the matter
was considered as settled.
a few days ago came a second and
more insfstent call from the Baltimore
church. and this time DR.. Kerr does not
decline 1t, Local ministers. or such as
expressed themselves. secuted the idea
that he intended to consider It seriously.
To them, as to many others. the sur
prise attending the announcement will
be great.
HIs WORK HERE,
The work of DR., Kerr In this city has
been of most notable Kind. Ills innu-
ence has for years been felt throughout
the city, and the withdrawal OF that In
fuence will create q strange want.
DR., Kerr Is native of Greensboro.
Ala. He was educated at William Jewel
College, in Missouri. from which he was
graduated In 1870 with the degree Of
b. A. He attended Union Theological
Seminary, in this State, and was licensed
to preach in 1872 by the Presbytery Of
Nashville. In 1874 he was ordained by
the Presbytery Of Lafayette and became
pastor In Lafayette, Mo. Later he filled
pastoral charges In Thomasville. Ga.
Savannah. Ca, and Tabb~stree Church,
Petersburg.
On February 8, 1854. Or, Kerr came
to Richmond to take charge Of the First
Church here. Since that time he has
been steadily at work in Richmond. and
the evidences of his good work have been
Widespread. The degree of D. D. was
conferred on him by Washington and
Lee University. He occupied important
positions on various church boards and
was only yesterday reelected president
of tho Board OF Trustees Of Union Theo-
logical Seminary, These positions he
will, Of course, have to resign when he
enters the Northern Church. DIR, Kerr
is also president of the Executive Com
mission OF the Pan-Presbyterian AL
lance
The activity of DR.. Kerr has not been
confined to pastoral work, He Is an author
H.