Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-09
PASTOR RESIGNS;
SCORES FLOCK
Rev. James A. SGIandt Declares
Members of Congregation
Are UnprOgr essiye.
SAYS YOUNGER MAN IS
NEEDED TO FILL PULPIT
BeIIeviIIe Avenue congrega-
tionaI Church Aroused by
Unexpected Resignation.

church. has resigned from his charge,
the resiynatiosa to take effect Maren
nexf At the close of his sermon op
abraham Lincoln, yesterday morn
ing. the preacher stunned his hearers
with the following announcement oil
his determination to quit:
Il feel that the time has come wnen
II - best for the church and myself
Ia sever my pastoral relations with
the Bealeville Avenue congregational
church NV resignation is to take ef-
fact on March l. There are several
business and clerical opportunities
which have been considering for
some time. and when March arrives
7 xv3ll have decided which field I am
to work in.
an leaving YOU recommend that
the members display more interest IN
church affairs, If you would have 1t
succeed You ought to have more
..,ef-up-and-do' methods in working
for voT1r church When my successor
arrsves hope and trust that you Will
eo-onerate with him in that spirit ana
make BeIleville Avenue Church the
success it should be-.
While the resignation was d COM
nlete surprise to most OF the congfe-
cation, the officers OF the cnurch Knew ,
81 n since last Tuesday. The annual
.,,aat;ng Of the church was held on
that date. when Mr.. Solandt ana a
few others sought to have adopted
mons progressive method of adVanc-
ire the church work. This suggestion
was reiected by the congregation and
. few moments later the church treas
,,rer resigned. Mr.. Solandt then an
nof5nced his intention to quit on
March 1.
these two designations threw tn
meeting into disorder and the annua
reports and other matters wnlcn were
scheduled for consideration were
dropped for the more important PROD
lem Of finding a new treasurer and
pastor.
The meeting was adjourned until
February IL. when the annual reports
will be read and other routine bust
ness attended to. The church Of
flcials will also take up the PROPOSE
tion of selecting a pastor to succeed
Mr.. Solandt.
Many members of the congregation,
who were taken by surprise yester-
day. have recovered sufficiently to
start a concerted movement to have
Mr.. Solandt reconsider his resfgna
ton. At the home Of the pastor 1t
was stated today that he had gone to
New York, but that his determination
to cult was not announced until the
matter had been given months of
careful thought There is no posi-
hiiity of Mr.. Solandt remaining, said
a member of the family.
Mr.. Sorandt expressed the belief
that a younger pastor might be able
TO inject new life into the church af-
fairs and arouse the required en-
tbusiasna. The efforts of the pastor
and Mrs. SoEandt to show the congre-
gation at large the need of progress
sive church work are said to have
been dismal failure. The small
circle of the most faithful members
were ready to meet the new demands,
declared a member today, but this
small army was not strong enough,
numerically, to do the work required.
The large church was never more
quiet than it was at the services yes
ferday morning. A large number at
tended. the word having been passed
around that the official meeting last
Tuesday night was not altogether
harmonious. When the pastor finished
his Lincoln sermon he announced his
resignation in a quiet, forceful man.
ner. There was an evident note of
deep regret in his tone when he re-
preached his flock for the lack of in
terest shown in past years.
Resignation a Surprise.
The congregation consists of about
200 members many of whom are said
to manifest their interest merely by
attending church service on Sunday.
hoi a cf cl N1rhn NJ
Solandt announced his resignation
and laid the blame at their own doors
was indicated by the manner in which
most of them beat retreat to their
homes without the customary waiting
in the church to greet friends and
discuss church work. Mrs. Solandt,
the wife Of the pastor herself an
ardent church worker, was not pres
ent at the service. 1t was said that
she was at home nursing her son, who
is i'll, and her absence was felt.
The last pastor of the Bellevillt
Avenue Church left there to be sue.
ceeded by Rev. Mr.. Solandt in g
somewhat similar manner. He was
Rev. Theodore NJ. Shipherd and hs
had been in the pulpit of that church
FOR six years when, in 1909 he an,
nounced that he would have to resign
He also complained that there wa.
not enough of the go-ahead spirit il
the church.
The history of the church is pecu
liar to itself. One of the creates
charges on the congregation is the up
keep and heating of the big edifice
That edifice, constructed to accom-
modate 1000 worshipers, is too larg
for the present congregation of zoe
who never make a large showing b,
their attendance in full numbers, be
ing lost in the big edifiee. The build
ing was planned and erected whel
Rev Hepworth, a celebrated preacher
was pastor He used to fill tn
church with auditors of his preaching
He served two years after the churc
at great expense was built.
When he left the crowds fell of
for they were only Sunday attendant
who followed the crowds to the new
left TO pay for the big church 70
which they no longer had any us'
This was accomplished and tn
church today is free Of debt. In tn
struggle the buoyant interest
church affairs seemed to evaporat'
Rev Mr.. Loomis followed Rev. Her
worth, and the Rev DR.. Rice was tn
next incumbent. Then came Re-
Theodore M. Shipherd, who left be
cause lHt CnulSl hAo NY az GA
and then Rev. James A. Solandt, VIII
is about to leave for the sam
reason.
Rev. James A. Solandt came to tn
pulpit of the Belleville Avenue Cor
EDUCATIONAL Church from chars
near Worcester. Mass. He was rec
commended by Rev. DIR. Rice, and til
rhurch was recommended to him b
thar clergyman as having possibil
ties If 1t could be galvanized into
new life.
When M. Solandt decided to r.
sign he was eager to have II