The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-29
TO SUCCEED
DIR. COOPER
Rev. Carter Helm Jones May
Be Called Here.
WILL ACCEPT RESIGNATION
AMeetirg Of the First Church Commit
tee Held Last Night. but the Result
Was Not Made Pub
lie

After n lengthy session, lasting until
nearly midnight, the committee appointed
by the First Baptist Church. OF THIS CITY,
to consider the resignation Of the pastor,
the Rev. George Cooper, ID. ", tenuered
on Sunday, declined last night to make
any statement whatsoever III cohiieetioii
with the matter.
The meeting was held after a regular
quarterly session of the church, at which
only the routine of business was trans
acted Those present. were Messrs. Chas.
II. Winston, r. S. Bosher, N. p. Golfer,
w. r. Hancock, A. w. Patterson, George
A. Haynes and John B. Jeffress and Dr..
L. C. Mitchell. The gentlemen discussed
4 the resignation at length, and adjourned
Ffter II O'clock with nothing decided, SO
fal as could be gathered. The report Of
this committee will decide the church in
Its course. According to one Of the menu
bers, It Is possible that this report will
be made next Sunday, but not likely.
ACCEPT RESIGNATION.
While II IS impossible thus to get at the
actual facts In connection With the mat
ter, 1t may be stated positively that the
recommendation Of the committee will be
that the resignation. be accepted. No
other course is possible In view of the
position taken by DR.. Cooper 1t may be
stated also that the kindliest feelings ex-
ist between the pastor and people. Many
of the congregation have been heard to
express regret at the coming departure Of
Or. Cooper, who has served them faith
fully for the past eighteen years.
A GREAT SURPRISE.
~, The resignation came as an intense sur
kprise to the majority Of the compensation
Sand to the denomination at large. a
Il few Of the church officials knew what
was coming, but for the most part the
Baptists Of the city and State eXpe-
srienced distinct shock
The matter was laid before the consre-
cation at the close Of the morning ser
vice. The letter Of DR.. Cooper announce
4 ing his determination to sever the pas
toral tie consisted Of but few sentences
He referred In brief to his long pas
torate here. and expressed the belief that
his period Of usefulness in this field was
nearing an end. He Stated that the
resignation was final and had been de-
cided upon after mature consideration
A No date was set for the resignation 10
take effect. The time will be agreed
upon by the pastor and the committee
to which the letter was referred
So far as IS known Dr. Cooper has
formed no definite plans for the future.
He left the city yesterday to be gone
several days, and hence no statement
from him could be obtained. IT IS sug-
gested that he probably entertans some
Intention Of devoting his time to literary
work, but this is mere rumor that has
received 10 word OF verifcatipn.
MAY CALL DIR. JONES.
IT was reported yesterday that DR..
Cooper wottld probably after all not leave
the First Church; that the congregation
would endeavor to retain him and that
he would reconsider. This. however.
hardly appears possible His letter stated
plainly that his resignation was final and
4 will fn,sh ri 1,a tad
The action Of DR.. Cooper and the i'm
portant relation the church bears to the
denomination causes Immediate discus
sion as to who Will probably succeed tC
the pulpit in the event that 1t really
becomes vacant. This is, of course alto.
gether by The way and has no foundation
Insofar as action by the church IS con.
oerned Still the gossip has begun al.
ready and 1t is interesting,
Among the names mentioned there Is
one that is by common consent the one
most likely to receive serious conf dora.
ton. 1T can scarcely be doubted that tho
church Will make a strong effort to Sc
cure the Services Of the Rev. Carter Helm
Jones, of Louisville. If 1t has to choose {
successor to DR.. Cooper. The congrega
ton IS mich attached to the distinguished
Louisville minister and have regularly FOL
several years past, inyity1 him .tto. Spend
his vacation With, t hem, an invitation ht
Of Securing Or: Jones, he will certainl,
be called. 1t Is likely. however, thai
strong obstacles will be thrown in hi
way If he attempts to leave Louisville
and this fact may block the First Churcf
III any move 1t NAV desire to make