The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-24
RE|::,'v|I'..kI II
HAS RESIGNED.
Will Leave Richmond f. Go I'll
Clifton Forge OH
May 1st.
u
NIGHT
U - as
DECISION.
Letter Is Gong regationI Asks asks.
They Unite With Him if, & Ask *;
ing Presbytery. for Release.

After nine years Of notable service IN
tho East End, the REV. Jnmcs Il. Cook,
pastor OF Hogc Memorial Pres yterlan
Church, will leave Richmond for clifton
Forge Va, to which place he has re-;
Gently been called by large and IN 4
fluentral congregation.
AT the prayer meeting q his church
last night the REV. Mr.. Cook rendered
ShiY resignation toEtake EFFECT about5,lho
1st of May next. He asked his people, y
unite with him in a request to East Han
over Presbytery for dissolution or the
pastoral relation, and expressed regret
that his duty compelled him to leave n
work with which he has been Identified
for SO long. The reslgna ton was con-
tanned In 4 letter to tile member Of the
Hoge Memorial Church. ~ n;
LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
The text Of this communlca ton was as
follows: q s
After a very prayerful and careful
consideration of the call recently extend
ed to snle by the Presbyterian Church at
Clifton Forge, Va, l have reached tho
decision that 1t is my duty to accept.
the same. and therefore make the re-
quest that you join with me in a request
to East Hanover Prcsbytery a t It's APP
,proaching spring meeting for a dissolu-
ton OF the pnstoral relations nowtcxisting
between us. the same to take effect about
May ], 1901.
II have not reached this conclusion
hastily, but only after the most mature
and anxious elaboration. 855
1t is with sorrow and sadness that i
find myself compelled TO make this res
quest OF you. For nearly nine years y.
have been your pastor. and during this
time have gone In and out amongst
you, always with a desire to do all that
10 could for your welfare and happiness.
and though I feel and know thntaI have
been guiltyGof many mistakes and short
comlngs, yot I can conscien tiously 4 say
that have tried faithfully to do my duty
toward you illS tho 8fearSof God. I have
mingled with your joys, and ties have
been formed which ! assure you can
neyer be broken, and Il love for y;oli has
been Implanted In my heart which can
never be effaced. 1t matters not where.
I am, or whittier r. go, shall neVc@s
forget these years of happy and fruitful,
ministry among you, and I trust that I
shall ever be held In loving remembrance
by you. II &c BIZ IS ~ #
~ desire TO extend my sincere thanks TO
ono and all or you, who have IN any
way contributed to lry SUCCESS and hap-s
piress whlleNI have been In Your midst.
ana I bespAak for my successor. whoever
he may be, the Same uniform kindness
and courtesy that you have always on
teEdcd to me. And now. beloved, y COM
mend you to the graca of God, and I,
pray that in due season. He will send
you another shepherd, who will lead you
to yet greater things than have bean
accomplished under the leadership Of your
humble servant, ss5s. ,5e - K, \
HAS DONE FINE WORK,
Mr., Cooks first passionate WIS IIoge,
Memorial. and Hoge Memorials first pass
tor as a church with a building was MI;
Cook. The congregation was first served
by the ItcY, Dir, T., b, Turnhulltsbuttit ~;
|3tlien worshIpped In Old Market Hall Mr..
Cook began his work there mine years
ago, and. after a While. built the pres
1ent church at Nineteenth and Franklin
Streets. Since that time he 'hass$hecn
preaching there steadily. There have
|sbeen from $50 to 800 add tions,f and tina
cealsre,gat Ion now B Numbers 4 about aid
people,. fa]
Second Presbyterian Church. Of which
DIR, Moses y. FIoge was "a long time the
pastor. The cor tlonkis made UP Of
Istho poorer class of people but It Is q
great and growing field for work, which
MIR. Cook has developed In y most sue
csssful manner. Ills pastorate ma 3 peen
O really notable one--n long, earnest,
difficult struggle against almost impos-
sible conditions. but withal n y struggle
crowned with success II 3 Is conceded
amcng his fellow.mnisters here that It
viii he very difficult to secure another
WHO will perform The task 80 well Nlr..
Cook has also done considerable eyange-'
lIstic work on Church Till. where. with
the Rev. G.. III. Wiley, Of the Methodist
institute. lsa conducted two or three tent
campaigns. He is secretary and treas
;urfer. OF the Minister.al Union OF Rich
mond. 3Ss v 81 Nh -. ss e, ~ N
;lTha Clifton Forge church, to which