Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1911-03-17
WANTS BROADER POWER |
DOCTOR AKED TELLS coNGREeA.
TIoN WHY HE RESIGNED.
Says Stories In Circulation About
Dlssenslon and Quarrel In Gotham
Church Are Merely Foolish.

New York City.-Several hundred
persons were turned away by the
police from the Fifth avenue Baptist
church at the morning service Sunday
because 1900 of the more fortunate,
who came early, had already crowded
the edifice to the doors to hear the
reading of his resignation by the Rev.
DR.. Charles F. Aked. Seldom in its
history has the church been more
crowded. The Rockefeller family was
represented by John d. Rockefeller,
jr., and his sister, Mrs. Harold F. Nc
Cormick of Chicago.
Doctor Aked resigned without re-
vealing the vast scheme" upon which
he had based the hope of a great
ministry in New York" 1t was the
failure Of the realization of this vast
scheme" which is said to be the real
reason for his decision to leave New
York for the San Francisco pastorate
he announce Sunday he would accept.
The statement Doctor Aked read to
his congregation was as follows:
DR.. Aked's Statement.
My dear brethren: 1 obeyed what be-
lieved was the call of duty in accepting
the pastorate of this church four years
ago. 1 am acting with no less sense of
responsibility, in obedience to what /
believe to be the dictate of duty and con-
science in asking you to accept my res
ignation of the pastorate. The workings
of my mind were fully revealed to you in
the statement which 1 read to the con-
gregation last Sunday morning, copy of
which is annexed to this letter. 1 desire
now only to emphasize what in the state
ment itself is already emphasized, my un-
bounded and undying affection for you.
1t is one of the joys of my life that I
know you. 1t is part of the wealth
of my life that love you. And I glory
In your affection for me. To you who
know the facts. the stories about dissen-
sion and quarrel and such like are mere
ly foolish The circulation Of such stories
may distress us; the stories cannot af-
feet our relations with each other. From
the moment when 1 landed on these
shores four years ago until the moment
when l read my statement last Sunday
there has been no quarrel between me
and any member of the church the
congregation, man or woman official or
non- official, and I have not one secret
corner of my heart which cherishes bit
terness against any living soul. / say
these things not for the sake of n sensa-
tion-loving press, but out of regard for
the future of the church. am resigning
the pastorate here because believe that
L can do better work elsewhere. II did
not think so nothing in the world would
take me from you. I have failed to rec
oncile myself to the conditions which
limit our work and you have failed to find
a way of changing conditions and so 1t is
right that 1 should go where / can do
most good; and you should find a pastor
who can do his best work in the gracious
environment which you can provide. That
is all-except to tell you again that the
name and fame and honor of this church
will forever be dear to me. / am, best OF
comrades and dearest of friends. sin
cerely yours. CHARLES F. AKED."
1T may add that 1t will be kind to me
to act upon this resignation as early as
possible. l do not feel free to accept a
call to another church until you have
accepted my resignation. And II you are
interested in my future movements you
will perhaps allow me to say that I have
had three suggestions from England one
attractive, which I debated with myself
for some little time. but that on Friday I
cabled and wrote definitely closing the
discussion. l am going to close my mind
entirely against any thought of returning
to England now or at any time. When
you have acted upon my resigna tion l
shall accept the call to San Francisco. I
still believe, as l believed when I came
here, that the best work of my life is to
be done under the American flag and In
fellowship with the American churches"