The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-26
TO STAY;
PRAYERS DID It,
HIS FLOCK SAYS
North Reformed Church Congre-
CATION Believe They Had Divine
Aid in Their Efforts.
GREAT REJOICING AT
DECISION OF PASTOR
Parish House viii Probably Be
Erected Now to Broaden
Minister'S Field.

e. $50 AHAa. MA8s=4.EEA n+ HF
Many prominent members of the
North Reformed Church. the largest
and most influential OF It's denomination
In the city. were certain today that
their system of simultaneous and united
prayers at 4 o'clock each afternoon for
the last two weeks had resulted in the
Rev. DR.. James I. vance's
ment at the Christmas services that he
would refuse the call to the Central
Presbyterian Church at Atlanta, Ga.
and remain with the old North Church.
When 1t was first ~nnounce hat DR..
lanta church, with an offer of larger
salary and other inducements, the
members of the North Church decided
to pray each afternoon at 4 O'Clock, no
matter where each member happened to
be, that DR.. Vance would remain in
Newark.
Consequently. when DR.. Vance an
nounced yesterday that he had refused
the Atlanta call and would remain
with the North Church the members of
the congregation were certain that this
was the result of their daily united and
simultaneous prayers, that these pray
ers had been answered.
1t was DR.. Vanc who originated thai
system of prayer. Each member of the
church is supposed to pray for the
church interests each afternoon at 4
o'clock, no matter where they are or
what they are doing at hat time.
In THE EVENING STAR on Thurs
day DR.. Vance had declared that on
Christmas he would announce, during
his sermon what decision he had
reached In the matter of the call from
Atlanta, which he had been considering
for more tina two weeks.
This announcement, with the fact
that 1t was the first time n Reformed
Church had held services on Christmas
day, brought out a very large represen-
tation of the congregation and many
notable persons.
When DR.. Vance had finished his
sermon on the text, Behold, l bring
you good tidings of great joy. which
shall be to all people," he said:
/ when. l came to Newark eight years
ago from Nashville / came because it
seemed to me to be d call from God.
Since then from time to time churches
in the South have invited me back. but
l did not experience the feeling of a
divine call Until this one from Atlanta.
This call has been pressed so persua-
sively and so earnestly that sometimes
+ wished that / were two men so hat
i could be in Atlanta and In Newark.
During this Christmas season I have
fSlt that there Is much work to be done
here n l have decided to remain with
you"
AS DR.. Vance concluded the congre-
cation clapped. It's appreciation and the
hymn that followed was sung with an
enthusiasm that this announcement
evidently had ~engendered.
The services and the music were es-
pecially appropriate. On the platform
with DIR. Vance, were the Rev. Stuart
NJ. Hutchinson, of the First Reformed
Church; the Rev. William w. Conner,
of Belleville; the Rev. George Davis, of
East Orange; the Rev. T.. K. Hegman,
assistant pastor of the North Reformed
, Church; the Rev. A. T. Brock, of the
+ Clinton Avenue Reformed Church, and
his brother, the Rev. John Y. Brock,
OF Plainfield.
The determination of DR.. Vance to
remain in Newark will mean the erec-
ton, as soon as possible, of a parish
house adjoining the church OF the
property bought for that purpose two
years ago. DR.. Vance has desired a
parish house for institutional work, and
1t Is believed that he has now received
assurances nat 1t would be built. This
will greatly broaden the work of the
church.
Dr. Vance was kept busy after the
services and today by prominent per-
X sQps, who wished to thank him for de-
ltdlding ito remain in Newark. The
North Reformed Church has the largest
congregation of any Reformed church
in this country and Is considered the
most influential.