The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-11-24
WOULD GO TO
WILLIAMSPORT
Rev. Oliver c. Horsman Re.
signs the Pastorate Of the
FIRST Baptist Church
ACCEPTANCE VOTED AGAINST

the First Baptist church, of Williams
port, Pa, the officers and members Of
the First Baptist church were not sur
prised on Sunday morning to have pre-
sented to them the resignation of the
pastor. During the service the pastor
announced that there would be a busi-
ness meeting at the close Of theNser-
vice, and that he had asked the Rev.
/. NJ B. Thompson, president of the
board of trustees, to act as moderator.
When the meeting was called to or
der Mr.. Thompson, after some remarks
concerning ability, sincerity and earn
estness of the pastor and the good
work he had done in Morristown, said
it was his painful duty to read to the
meeting the resignation Of the pastor,
which he proceeded to do, as follows:
November 21st. 1908.
To the Members of the First Baptist
Church, Morristown, N. j.
Dear Brethren After very earnest
and very thorough deliberation it be-
comes my painful duty to tender to
you my resignation second time. /
do this with exceeding reluctance. l
had hoped that we might continue our
work for much longer period than
that which now terminates, but con-
siderationS that / need not specify
have convinced me that for your own
| good and my own it is wise for me to
accept the larger opportunity offered
me in another field. | believe l may
say humbly, but with all the sincerii y
of the great apostle, that throhgout
my ministry here s. shrank not from
declaring unto you the whole counsel
of-God." / trust without fear to tie
coming years to attest the substantial
truth and value of my teaching. For
the past, / thank you heartily for
every mark of kindness and solicitude
| you have shown my family and myself.
For the future, hope you may speed
lily find pastor after your own heart
who will lead you as church into in
creasing peace, strength and useful
ness. May the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ surround us with
His tender mercies now and always.
Your brother and servant in the
kingdom of God,
| OLlNEH ". AORSMAN.
P. S. If it meets with your sanction
| should like my paStorate here to ter
inmate December 18TH
After the resignation was read the
following resolution was offered:
:" That we have listened with great
regret to the resignation of our pastor
the Rev. o. G. HorSman, and hereby
before final action is taken, express
our sorrow that he has felt constrained
i to take this step, and our strong desire
that he might remain with us ano
direct that this expression of regret
land desire be communicated to him. =
A rising vote was taken on this reso
Ilution, and while all present did moi
stand there was no vote in the mega
tive.
The following resolution was ther
offered:
"That the resignation be not &C
ceDted, and that this action be com
municated to the pastor"
Although the moderator stated thai
Mr.. Horsman had accepted the Viii
Transport call, and it was suggested by
others that the resignation woulc
have to be accepted ultimately, there
was large majority vote when those
in favor were asked to stand, while
but one arose in the negative gooC
percentage remaining seated, the feel
ing generally being that the actor
was of complimentary nature.
AS nothing was done to change the
situation OF affairs, and as Mr.. Hors
man has accepted the call to the othel
church, the matter will doubtless
come up again at an early day and the
resignation be accepted.
Rev. Mr.. Horsman came to the
church from Grocer Theological Sem
mary in 1904, and in April, 1905, ac
cepted a call to the Walmer roat
church, of Toronto, Canada. He re
signed there and came back to Morris
town church in April, 1906. Since hi
return he has been in the eye of th'
public to an unusual extent, not onll
because Of his acknowledged ability al
a preacher, but also for his activity il
the Local Option movement year ago
and laterly because of his espousai o
socialistic views. His genial manner
and sincerity of purpose have mad
him many friends and he has the bes
wishes Of all for a successful future.
From the Williamsport News, 0
November 1lth, we quote:
At the business meeting held a
the First Baptist church last evenin
it was decided to extend a call to tn
Rev. Oliver o. Horsman, of Morris
town, N. ]. Rev. Mr.. HorSman ha
preached in the local church on tw
separate Sundays this summer an,
gave universal satisfaction. He is
very learned and eloquent speaker,
graduate of Brown university an
! Crozier Theological seminary. TIL
local church offers salary Of 81, 30
and moving expenses.
Mr. HOrSman was In the city las
, evening and was at once notified of tn
call He said he would take the mat
ter under consideration and give al
answer in couple OF weeks.
: The Williamsport church number
over 700 members, but has no parsoI
age. The church edifice is incomplete
having been started some ten year