The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-03-13
JOHN DIS PASTOR
LEAVES new YORK
Church Crowded Sunday to
Hear the Rev. Aked
Read Resignation.

dred persons We're turned away by the
police from the Fifth Avenue Baptist
church at the morning service Sunday
because LOO of the more fortunate.
who came early. had already crowded
the editice to the doors to hear the
reading Of his resignation by Rev. DR..
Charles F. Aked
Seldom in its history has the church
been more crowded. The Rockefeller
family was represented by John ID.
Rockefeller. Jr,, and his sister Mrs.
Harold F. Mccormick of Chicago.
DR.. Aked resigned without revealing
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 an
nounced today he would accept.
The statement DR.. Aked read to his
congregation was as follows:
Or. Aked's Statement
MY Dear Brethren-I obeyed what
believed was the call of duty in &C
cepting the pastorate of this church
four years ago. l am acting with no
less sense of responsibility in obedi-
ence to what l believe to be the die
tate of duty and conscience in asking
you to accept my resignation of the
pastorate.
THE workings of my mind were full
ly revealed to you in the statement
which ! read to the congregation last
Sunday morning, a copy of which is
annexed to the letter. l desire now
only to emphasize what in the state
ment itself is already emphasized, my
unbounded and undying affection for
you. 1t is one of the joys of my life
that l know you. 1t is part of the
wealth of my life that love you. And
l glory in your affection for me.
ITO you who know the facts the
stories about dissension and quarrel
and such like are merely foolish. The
circulation Of such stories distress us
the stories cannot affect our relation
with each other. From the moment
when I landed on these shores four
years ago until the moment when
read my statement last Sunday, there
has been no quarrel between me and
any member of the church or the con
gregation, man or woman, official OF
non official, and l have not one secret
| corner of my heart which cherishes
bitterness against any living soul.
say these things not for the sake Of
sensation loving press, but out o.
regard for the future of the church.
Can Do Better Elsewhere.
Il am resigning the pastorate here
because l believe that l can do bet
ter work elsewhere. If did not think
so nothing in the world would take me
from you. l have failed to reconcile
myself to the conditions which limit
our work, and you have failed to fnd
a way of changing conditions. And 81
it is right that l should go where
can do most good; and you should
find a pastor who can do his best worl
in the gracious environment which
to tell you again that the name ant
the fame and honor of this church vii
forever be dear to me. l am, best o
comrades and dearest of friends, sin
cerely yours, Charles F. Aked.'
81 may add that it will be kind t
me to act upon this resignation al
early as possible. / do not feel fre'
to accept a call to another church un
til you have accepted my resignation
And if you are interested in my future
movements you will perhaps allow mi
to say that ! have had three sugges
tons from England. one attractive
which l debated with myself for som,
| time, but that on Friday l cabled ant
wrote definitely closing the discussion
l am going to close my mind entirel.
against any thought of returning t,
England now or at any time. Whel
you have acted upon my resignation
shall accept the call to San Francisco
l still believe, as l believed when
| life is to be done under the American
flag and in fellowship with the Ameri
can churches"
On Wednesday night the meeting o
the spiritual body of the church will
be held in the auditorium to vot,
upon the resignation. The trustee
announced that they would issue n
statement as to the probable success
sor of DR.. Aked until his resignation
has been passed upon by the churcl