The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-18
PASTOR PROMISED
HELP OF CHURCH
COMMITTEE MADE REPORT
AT MORNING MEETING At DUFFY
STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.

Revolutions Drawn Up in Answer
to Letter Recently Given Church
by Rev. Robert Van Deventer, the
PaStOr-COnEreEatiO Expressed
Its High Respect and Sincere
Love for Pastor and His LabOrs in
Behalf of Church and COnErega-
ton.
At the close of the morning service
at Duffy Street Baptist Church yester-
day, before the congregation was dis
missed, the members were called to-
gether in conference by Chairman of
the Deacons Mcmillan, to receive the
report of the special committee ap-
pointed at the meeting on Sunday last,
to draft resolutions expressive of the
true attitude of the church towards its
pastor, Rev. Robert Van Deventer.
After the reading of the resolutions
number of short talks were made,
all tending to show that the lack of
interest in the work and affection for
the pastor was more apparent than
real, and the entire congregation was
visibly moved. The resolutions offered
were unanimously adopted by rising
vote as expressing the true sentiment
of the church toward its pastor.
The letter which prompted the meet
ing and this action. together with the
resolutions adopted. are as follows:
Rev. DIR. Van Deventers Letter.
ITO the Church, through the Dea-
cons-My Dear Brethren: For some
time it has been growing conviction
that I should have a candid expression
from the church relative to the exist
ing pastorate, and 1 take this oppor-
tunity when absent, that my presence
may in no way affect the freest action
of the church.
II neeG not tell you that I have no
desire to retire from the pastorate,
and do not take this step as the initial
one in moving. My love for my church
is cordial and sincere. 1t has ever
been my joy to serve you. When /
came to you 1 could consent to do so
only after l knew that it was your
unanimous wish. / can stay with you
only SO long as this condition con-
tinues.
The year passing has been the most
strenuous one of the pastorate, made
so in part, it seems to me, by the
seeming want of enthusiastic co-opera-
ton of the church. l want to know
if this apparent want of interest be
real. l do not feel willing to continue
the pastOrate another year without a,
free expression from the church.
Therefore l wish you would have a
meeting during my absence, if con-
venient, for the purpose expressed.
Ao hi ic CT n n oh ~
and not for the public 1 trust that it
may be kept in the family. Praying
for you, my joy and my crown at the
coming of the Lord, and trusting He
will guide for His glory, l am, affec-
tionately, your servant in the Lord
Jesus"
Congregations Resolution.
The resolutions follow:
Whereas The pastor has addressed
to this church, through the deacons,
letter, which was submitted to a
meeting of the congregation Sunday,
July 10, desiring an expression from
the church relative to the existing pas
torate; and
Whereas, At said meeting the sub
ject of the letter was given full con-
sideration and free discussion. and
Whereas, A committee was appoint
ed to draft resolutions expressing the
SSllllHl6Il VI tic ClluINllB odlu NOitlAAliN-
tee to report at the morning service,
Sunday, July II, now, therefore,
BE it Resolved, That we do hereby
express our high respect and sincere
love for our pastor, Rev. Robert Van
Deventer, and our hearty appreciation
of his intense zeal for the Lords
cause, his loyal devotion to duty, his
love for the truth, and his constant
and untiring labors in behalf of this
church and congregation.
believing that the relation of pas
tor and people should have the appro-
val of the Holy Spirit, and having the
assurance that we were divinely led
in the call of our brother to this pas
torate, and he in its acceptance, and
having knowledge that his labors with
us have been abundantly blessed in
the temporal and spiritual development
of the church and in leading many
souls into the kingdom, we are i'm
pressed that this relation should not
be dissolved, and it is our earnest de-
sire that the present pastorate shall
be continued.
1--WE, therefore, promise our loyal
support of and our enthusiastic CO.
operation with our beloved brother in
the Masters work, pledging him our
warmest sympathy and our earnest
prayers that the Lord may continue to
bless his labors with us. and use him
and us for the enlarging of the king
dom and the glory Of His name"
Mr.. Van Deventer has just returned
from the convention of the BAPTIST
Young Peoples Union. held at Detroit
and he devoted the night service at
the church to a discussion of this meet
ing, the work of the convention and
other matters in connection with Il
The talk was an interesting one, and
was enjoyed by the congregation. An
other Savannahian at the convention
was Mr.. c. II. King, who has also re-
turned home.
----e--e-~-
Tn AINEEn