The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-24
Gives In Equivocal Terms Rea-
sons for Leaving First Baptist
Charge
WOULD STAND In OWN
LIGHT BY REMAINING
2eitcrates Action Taken Last
Sunday AS Final-ln,erest
Lacking in Sunday-school
Work

My life is too short to spend It
where ] can secure no better CO.
nperation" declared DIR. George w.
Mcdaniel in equivocal terms yester-
day morning before hts congregation
in First Baptist Church, in explaining
why he was severing his connection
with his present charge While the
pastor did not say positively that he
would not recon slider his resignation,
which was rendered following the
morning services last Sunday, his &C
ton !s believed TO be final. despite the
repeated requests from his members
TO remain in his present charge
While he has not once intimated
just where he contemplates going IN
the event he leaves First Baptist
Church August /, as was his original
plan, it is being whispered around
that the call he received to Waco.
Texas. some time ago has been revived
and that he is strongly considering the
sdvisahility Of accepting. 1t Is said
that he has been rendered a combin
alton position as pastor and professor
OF theology in Bailey University.
Waco DR. Mcdaniel will not COM
nit himself regarding the matter.
Dr McDaniels talk yesterday at
The congregational meeting, which
lar morning services. was brief nat
straight 10 the point, He said that
one of the principal reasons for his
leaving il the lack of enthusiasm in
both the Sunday School and church
work. and declared that to remain as
pastor Of the church he would be
standing in his own light and in the
way Of the Kingdom OF God.
Looking at this church. asserted
TN 81 he
largsd and permanent usefulness for
the next ten years IF my ministry Is
NOT very bright. The arguments that,
/ remain Ms pastor confirm my views
that the church is contented, and is
AZ ease in Zion You are satisfied,
bat / am not Goodness and formal
ism chill nay heart
He declared that the sunday Scnooi
Is the most important department OF
the church. bat that he has been IN
q HE 10 enlist some OF the most i'm
portant members in this phase Of the
r work
During the carly years of this pas
torate some were enthusiastic who are
now Indifferent Another pastor may
awaken them
The congregational meeting was
presided over by Dr T, e. Ray. Fol
loving pr MeDaniers brief talk he
retired. and the members Of the con-
rregatiun instructed the committee ap-
pointed a. tho laSt meeting to again
request the pastor to remain with
the church The committee will
doubtless wait on him again this week.
DIR. McDanicIs statement.
Following is the statement made ny
pr Mcdaniel before the congreea-
ton
~ hope that my resignation. tender
% last Sunday. would he accepted a.
final Courtesy demanded that care
~ consideration be given the wishes
oY the church and that has ben done.
florence with the committee
am still unable 10 change my mind
Brethren have suggested that IL is due
top church that 1 tell them more fully
why I am leaving, The resignation
stated the reason generally and !
doubt the wisdom OF going into par
ticulars, However. | have no objec-
ton to the congregation knowing what
was said 10 the committee.
\ good part o fmy life has been
devoted 10 this pastorate. ] should
like 10 spend the next decade in ore
place. ne the last one has been spent
here Looking at this church, the
prospect for enlarged and perman-
,pnt usefulness for the next ten years
of my ministry is not bright. The
argument that remain as pastor con-
firm my views that the church is con-
tented. is at ease in Zion. You are
satisfied but / am not. Goodness and
Journalism chill my heart
The Sunday School is the most
important department OF the church.
hut have been unable to enlist many
NJ our most prominent members In
this phase of the work. The prayer
meeting is the spiritual Thermometer
Of church life. and / have tried In
- IA nF
many of YOU Our evangelistic OPP
portunity is the evening service. but
many men and women whose pres
ence would be an inspiration to the
pastor and a powerful example TO
the unsaved never attend this SER
vice In short these my good
friends. nlply attend church sun
day morning That Is only making
religiou respectable. Ny life Is too
short 10 spend 1t where + can secure
no better cooperation. This | say
frankly. bat in We, for' I DO love
every one OF you.
''DIriu9 the earl" YEAR, - this pas.
iorate some were erthdsiastic who ara
now iaditerer, Another pastor rray
awaken them. ~ fret. when yeu d:
not hrcr me. adlhuced cautiously.
sut nov Ta~ Ought 20 believe In me
enough t. follow E;y leadership I'M
haatsatfaels On tte contrary, some OF
soa have Zee. willing for me to spend
and ne srent SMILE you looked on or
look little part. Religion with me Is
serious ard service is sublime obi |
ration. I cannot wait upon your con-
s4ryatista The Kings business re-
nnlres Aas'e
1T would De standing in nv own
,ixht and In the way of the klnxdom |
81 God fer me to stay here simply be |
cause you want me TO and because II |