The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-01-22
PASTORAL
RELATIONS
OF Dr.. Erdman and South
Street Church Dissolved
By Presbytery.
MANY EXPRESSIONS OF REGARD

Orange, which met in Morristown last
Tuesday morning, dissolved the pas
toral relations existing between the
Rev. Albert Erdman, d. D., and the
South Street Presbyterian Church of
this town. DR.. Erdman appeared be-
fore the body and requested that it re-
lease him from his charge after the
first Sunday in April, which would
conclude at that time thirty-eight |
years of service as pastor of that
church. He told of the action of the |
church taken at several meetings and |
said that no hint or suggestion on the |
part of the church or any member of !
it had been made to him that his res
ignation was desired, but on the other |
hand he knew of the loyalty Of the !,
people to him. He thought the best !
interests Of the church, he said, de- |
manded that a new pastor, a new
voice, be put in his place. Several
suggestions had been made to him
that an assistant be secured, but he
did not think that a wise action.
Frederick G. Burnham, one of COM
mission of three members acting in
the interests of the church, appeared
before the Presbytery and told it of
the official action of the church and Of
DIR. Erdman's election as pastor emer-
titus of the church. He called the
Presbytery's attention to the fact
that the action of the church in ask
ing for ratification of its acceptance
of Dr. Erdman's resignation came
without desire on its part to part
with him, but because DR.. Erdman
seemed to think it was best. He said
that the resignation came to the ses-
sion Of the church like a bolt out of a
clear sky as no one had dreamed OF
such a thing The session had at once
asked DR.. Erdman to reconsider his
action. The asking of their pastors
release was not a haSty action but
month of prayer and thought had been
given to it. When Dr.. Erdman turns
his back on the church, said Mr.. Burn
ham, he will take with him its atfec-
tion and regard and respect. Philip
Fl. Hoffman and William L. r. Haven,
the other members OF the commission
endorsed Mr.. Burnham S remarks, and
Mr.. Haven said that any action by the
Presbytery would not diminish the
Iova nf fDp np0O1n tO their OaStOr Or
tpre ~ ,oostor ~ prn e., bis noonIn
o'iv pa pt'' NJ TndInw moved that
m, Erdnoap ha ralaaSed from t,ha naso
torota 70 On nr;i 1dth and said he kpev
TSr nr 'TS Erdn,an;s ~, a. sincerity and good iudg-
r,1a,,t tard IL eeenoed to ha dne to DT
l11el,u Wrdn,a a,,N 70 - ' tane what W action he
thonmot mot With the annrovai Of hiS
WaSier ,o.o ' '0 49,
D. p.+torson of Oranoa said that
No M Nan could he more missed and If
,uos ,-.''el n eiGnai honor for a man RI serve
as ""a q nos9or of a cbnrch for thirtv-eioht
%oarl ,So - p in thesa dayS of restiessness and
cban1o
PaT Tobp Macnauohtan n n fold
the 0 PreShvterv thai, much Of the
hr;abt neSS and sweetnesS of his min
;Sterisi si life was dne to m Erdman
DC had known no manlier man and
faSy wing the courage of their CON
victions VII" nn IN m the meaSure Of DR. Erd.
NON He considered the action Of Dr
Ed, Erdn,an nm another evidence of this
trait ~f his character for a man to
break tha bonds If mntuaI sacrifice
nd sorrow of over q onarter of a CEN
tnrv in the noak1ng
Tbn Rev WiIliam n. Pannel smoke
of how he came to Morristown sixfeen
voarS 400 a STRANGER and how Dr Erd-
1,sn 5Cun'' had taSen him nv the hand and
,n%'r nTer since cir" then he said throngh his
encoiraSement noble character and
haclling he had heen urged on to do
better work
Rev w w HALFWAY d. u of
never was the next. sneaker to OK.
nreSS his regard far Dr Erdnan He
aid n was one of tho saddest duties
the Preshvterv has had to nerform
and anv minister is honored hv snch
record as Dr Erdman's He was the
navt oldest settled nastor in This Pres
hvfe and ar Erdnoan had delivered
Tho cbarua to hin, and ever since in
tin,e of tronhla or nneded snirituaI
cnnSolatinn he went r. him
Rev n p Gardner of Ghester told
of knowing Dr Erd,oan for fiftv.two
Years and In that time he alwavs hon.
1red hin, for hiS nohi,itv ~ chsractar
and said that in oanv trials he had
hnen a great ha,n to hin,
nr FranElin Dwi0ht Maid biS
80 - t"tuNA'! - A"'S'c PNot~ AiH