Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-05
Rev. DIR. whaIing's Resignation
Accepted Sunday

Rev. DR.. whaling's Resignation
Accepted Sunday
At a congregational meeting
held last Sunday after the morn
ing service at the Lexington Pres
byt ,rian church, the congregation
united with DR.. Thornton Whaling
in requesting the Presbytery OF
Lexington to dissolve his pastoral
relations with the Lexington
church in order to accept the call
to the First Presbyterian church
of Dallas, Texas. This action
was taken with great, reluctance
and only after it became known
that DR.. Whaling's decision to
accept the Dallas call was final.
The meeting was called to order
by Elder A. L. Nelson, Elder j.
D. H. Ross was elected modera-
tor, and Mr.. j. Med. Adair perma-
nent secretary of the church.
The object Of the meeting was
stated by the moderator and
letter to the congregation was
read by DR.. Whaling, asking for
unanimous action with reference
to his request to dissolve his pas
toral relations. Mr.. NJ. w. Pax
tor offered a resolution compli-
mentary to DR.. Whaling's services
as pastor and asked for the concur
renee of the congregation with
their pastors request. A substi-
tute was offered by Prof. d. G,
Humphreys requesting that the
congregation withhold their con
sent to dissolve the pastoral re-
lations of DIR. Whaling. The sub
stitute was lost and Mr.. Paxton's
resolution was adopted. DR.,
Whaling's letter follows:
DEAR PRErHERN hereby
annonce to you that at called
meeting Of Lexington Presbytery,
to be held on April 9th, l shall
declare my acceptance of the call
to Dallas. AID / beg that you will
by a unanimous vote today signify
your consent to the dissolution OF
my present pastoral relation with
you. 1t is impossible for me to
give in detail the reasons which
have led me to the conviction that
the call to Dallas is the call OF duty
representing the will of God; but
after much perplexity l have been
led into the light, and the path OF
duty is now plain before me.
Let me assure you that this
decision is not reached because OF
any lack of love for you and the
church 1 have been privileged to
serve for nine years. My heart
will always be with you, and my
prayers shall be many that Gods
blessings may ever abide upon
every one of you. Nor is this de-
cislon based upon any doubt of the
loyalty and affection of this people
for me as their pastor. Your ex-
pressions have been too well-nigh
universal to leave me ahy room
for doubt. But painful as it is
to sunder the ties which bind me
to this beloved church, there has
been opened to me "great door
and effectual" into another field of
service, and with all candor ond
earnestness, must 60. beseech
you, therefore, that with one voice
and without single dissenting
vote, you this day give your
earnest consent that your pastor
may enter that "oper door" which
He who holds the stars in his right
hand has directed his servant to
enter.
With love which will last for
~,oi,
Your pastor and fellow-laborer
in the Kingdom,
THoRSToN WHALING.
Following is tbs resolution offer
ed by Mr.. Paxton. which was
adopted, though not unanimously t;
"This congregation having been
informed, deeply to its reg ct,
through letter read before it
this day by its pastor, Rev.
Thornton Whaling, d. D., of his
wish to accept a call rendered him
by the First Presbyterian church
Of Dallas, Texas and having
been asked to concur with him in
request to Lexington Presbytery
to dissolve his pastoral relations
with this church. declares:
GIN view of the firmness OF pur-
pose of DR.. Whaling, az set forth
in his letter; and in view OF his
declaration that q sense of duty
controls his actions and impelled
by close and loving relations that
have always existed between US,
to act in accord with his desires,
we do now, reluctantly, accede to
his wish, and, painful as it 10 to
us, concur in his request.
1--WE desire to testify that dur
ing his passionate Of this church,
covering nearly nine years, he has
manifested, along with sterling
character, prudence and wisdom,
an equanimity Of temper, an