The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-04
SOUTH BAPTIST
PASTOR QUITS
CHARGE
Rev. DR.. William G. Fennell
Going to Wealthy Hart
ford Church.


After the morning service in The
South Baptist Church yesterday, the
Rev. DR.. William George Fennell, the
pastor for seven years, presented his
resignation and asked that it be acted
upon at once and that the vote to ac-
cept It be unanimous. His request was
granted, though he will not leave the
church until June next, when he will
become pastor of the Asylum Avenue
Baptist Church. of Hartford. Conn,
succeeding the Rev. DR.. George NJ.
Stone, who retires after being in
charge of that church twenty-nine
years. Tie Hartford church is in the
most select residential section of Hart
ford, and the Rev. DR.. Stone is one of
the ablest and most influential min
listers in Connecticut.
When the Rev. DIR. Fennell asked the
n embers of the South Baptist Church
yesterday hat there be no divided vote
in accepting his resignation he re-
minded them that they expected he
would accept the call to the Hartford
church, and then he expressed his re-
gret at severing his connection with
the loyal and kindly people of the New
ark church.
Sayre o. Nichols, clerk of h parish,
then read to the congregation The ap
pended letter from DR.. Fennell:
ITO the South Baptist Church, Newark,
Dear Brothers and Sisters-Eight years
ago you placed in my hands a commits
sion to serve you as your pastor; From
that time TO this we have labored together
in perfect harmony fer the Kingdom OF
God. No church ever gave a pastor more
genuine loyalty than You have given me
during all this time. With a relation of
such love and fellowship and with a COM
mon devotion to one purpose, we nope
something has been accomplished.
THE time has now, come to commit
again to your hands this pastoral commits
sion. A cali to another field has come,
which is so evidently a door of opportu-
nifty that many of you, hearing the con-
dit.ons, have said I could not lightly dis
Hooking at the matter broadly, all in
dications point in one direction, except
the ponds of fellowship with the people of
this church. But these bonds In q true
sense of the word need never be broken
l shall continue to cherish for you the
warmest love and esteem. and l have con-
fdence In you that this feeling Is mutual.
All t1is, or my part. makes 1t difficult to
write the words looking 10 a severance OF
our immediate fellowship; yet. feeling as
sured that the decision is right. | resign
the passionate, to take effect not later than
June l. 1905.
There are still several months before
we need talk of departure. / present the
resignation at this time because definite
ness ia better thai uncertainty and be-
cause the church which has called me
must not be embarrassed by indecision:
I would hereby request that 1t be accepted
at once-at this session. 1t will set at rest
all question and enable us TO proceed
without interruption with our Christian
work. Such action is not sudden. for the
press gave notice and | took you into con
hdence three weeks ago. My decision is
made and this word Is final, so nothing
can be gained by delay.
once the resignation Is accepted,
would request that we all let the subjec
rest for the present. Those who are ap
pointed for the purpose have ample TIM
to quietly seek for a successor. l request
also, that there be no interim allowed
between pastorates, !. e. out of respec
for the retiring pastor,
with all regard for the kindness whic
often prompts such a suggestion, 1t seem
to me a weak sentiment, unworthy of tn
highest interests OF the church. The sor
row IF our separation will be very mucI
pastor can follow Immediately.
Another reason why we should let tn
matter rest for some months lies in tn
responsibility of the new season of servic
upon which we have Just entered. From
now until April 1 is the best opportunity o
the church in a large city. Let us ente
upon its duties with all conservation. TIL
occasion calls our thought to the highe
pastoral leadership of our Master. whtcl
we sometimes overlook; the Holy Spiri
is the great evangelist. Let this divin
call appeal to each one of us and in thii
we may still work together.
Once more. commencing you to Goo
and the word Of His grace and praying
that the next few years may bring you
larger service and a truer success tina.
you nave ever known, ! am,
Ever yours in the fellowship Of the
Kingdom w. G. FBNNELL.'
November 1. 1907.
Jerome Taylor, an Old member of thu
church. said it was due 10 the pastor tina
his resignation be accepted, as the change
would be for his interests, for he would 81
back to his native place, where he was
educated and ordained and had his frs
charge as a pastor.
The Rev. w. II. Bergfels seconded thu
motion to accept the resignation, and thel
he spoke in commentator of DIR. Fenpelll
work for seven years in the old Soutf
Baptist Church, of the regret the peopl'
of the church that he was to go away, AM
he said this regret was softened by thu
feeling that DR.. Fennell was going wheri
he and Mrs. Fennell would meet oil
friends.
The resignation was then accepted b.
a unanimous vote.
DR.. Fennell was born in Litchheld Coun
ty. Conn, in 1859. and received his primarl
education in a "deestriet school, He thei
took an academic course in Suffield, wa
graduated from the Colgate College AM
University at Hamilton. N. Y, in 1855
and was ordained a minister In Middle
town. Conn, where he was pastor OF tn
Baptist church five years. He was mar
rfed in Sufleld and owns a home there
He had charge of the church at Maridai
for eight years, and came to Newark AM
took charge of the South Baptist Churcl
on January !. 1900.
DR.. Fennell is a member Of the Baptis
State convention board Of New Jersey
and last Tuesday made an address befor'
that board In Camden. He is also n mem
Der Of the Ministerial Association of New
ark and vicinity, and he has been activi
in charitable work and In movements 70
the betterment of the condition of tn
people.