The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-03-06
DR.. AKED READY TO GO WEST
t\LESS 4 BiGGER CHURCH ~
BCILT ron HIN HERE.

f\iESN Y BSOOEH CHtKCH ~
BtILT ron HIN HERE.
Rockefeller Church Have Lived In 10
H,s Expectations Cant wait More
Than Two Weeks for an Answer.
Or. Charles F. Aked told his parish.
ioners Of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church
Yesterday morning that his high hopes
when he left Pembroke Chapel in Liver
pccl four years ago to come to this city
had turned to ashes and that unless some
member OF his congregation can give him
A reason why he should remain pastor
Of the church here he will accept call
from the First Congregational Church
M San Francisco. The final decision.
he said. must be made within two weeks
The failure OF his plans for big institu-
,ional church and his present "meagre
ministry" we're set out in his statement
Ne can discover only reasons why he
there is no future for this church and
ior nv ministry he said.
A special meeting OF the trustees will
te held within day or two and the men
responsible. for the financial management
Of the church will look for a reason"
,ogent enough to retain their pastor.
We all agree that DR.. Aked is the finest
preacher in New York" said Trustee
Frank l.. Froment. "and we will make
another effort to satisfy his ambitions.
Whether or not We can build the grand
church he desires must depend on the
support OF the congregation"
News that DR.. Aked would make state
ment yesterday had been spread broad
cast and brought almost every member
cf the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church to the
morning service. The ushers admitted
only members OF the congregation to the
body OF the church and at that men and
women stood in the rear and along the
sides OF the church. Others were seated
on the steps Of the pulpit platform. The
sunday school rooms were opened, but
many were not able to gain admission
to the church at all.
No mention was made OF the call
in the morning discourse. which DR.. Aked
adapted from . sermon previously deliv-
cred in Pembroke Chapel on THE Gospel
Of Sorrow and Gospel Of Hope At the
conclusion Of the sermon he read this
statement:
II 10 my duty to announce to you that
have received the una aimous and enthusi-
astic Invitation to the pastorate Of the First
congregational Church OF San Francisco.
An iutimation that the call would be given
! telegraph to the trustees OF this church
nearly fortnight ago. as soon a. had been
Q pproached by the trustees and deacons
OF the San Francisco church. Our trustees
therefore have had some ten days or there
a bouts In which to consult you and learn
your views. ! assume that they have done
40 and that ! shall be made acquainted
With your wishes in due course. ! only
rea ched homo yesterday. SO that il has not
heen p0esible for me to confer with the
Official leaders Of the church before making
a statement TO you.
II 10 with . heavy heart that I go on to
say that thus far l have not been able to
Hnd any sumcient reason why I should
not accept the San Francisco invitation.
! have been with you barely four years.
YET into this period ] seem to have crowded
lifetime Of friendship and affection. The
thought Of severing the ties that bind me
TO you brings me unspeakable pain. There
are friendships that have become a part
o. ny life. and the contemplation of a
rtin H-,A L.. l.
thrust In the affection OF some of the
men and women OF this church have known
10Y a. deep - ever falls to the lot OF mortal
man. And you will readily believe that
nothing in the world but an imperious
.ense OF duty could take me away from you
We are not compelled TO act hastily. We
rsn wait . week or even two weeks, pom
derlng the situation, taking heed to our
selves praying tho areat Head of the
Church to make plain our path before u.s.
II any man or woman among you knows
any reason why ] should remain the pastor
Of this church and can say anything to
enlighten and encourage me. you are the
one who has come to the Kingdom for such
church 10 waiting.
] can discover-it almost breaks my
heart to say it-only one reason why
should go. And II 10 due to you and to nfy
esteem for you that Won should be told
at once how the matter takes shape in my
mind Vet there IL nothing new TO tell
you. From the very first you have known
mat could not contemplate a permanent
ministry under prs.cut conditions. That
Vas made perfectly clear by me before !
accepted the invitation to become your
minister lthas been affirmed and reaf1irmed
ny me with an EN- mphasis which at times |
lea'ed might become offensive.
~ the corporate meeting OF tho church
On November Is. 1910. ! said In plain words
'hst did not come from England TO be the
minister OF small community of Bs ptists.
meeting in such a building as this, and ]
added-these are my exact words-thst l
Nolld not expect yon 70 be satisfied with
meii could be satisfied by any such meagre
Ministry came with great hopes, hopes
which at that time ! thought YOU shared.
oeleved that YOU were ready for vast
Enterprises. ] fear now that these enter
rii,es are such stun as dreams are made Of
ne hfs' step is TO erect a great church
t''ldins worthy the name and of our min
''fr IN this city. Other things will follow
" thelr proper order. The FIRST step we
nave no, taken. cannot take. II would
''sn and see no prospect that We should
Nf be able to take II. Up TO the present
moment Ne have found the difficulties
LsupeHble. Up 10 the present moment
,on hs' found the problem insoluble.
Ne span OF one human life IL short. NV
,Ia's are passing. cannot afford 10 wait.
nav" work TO do in the world, IL not here,
t.eNhere