The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-09-06
To the Members of First Baptist


single break in the beautiful fellow
ship which gripped US from the be-
ginning. These years have been
filled with much of sunlight: nearly
$500 Indebtedness have been IL
quidated, improvements of great
consequence to the work have been
made at cost of nearly $1,000, be-
tween 160 and ITO have been added
to the membership, and the whole
work has made most gratifying prog
ress. As 1 look back over these
two years and two months my heart
swells with joy and with thanksgiv-
ing to God.
While some ties have been broken
by death, (ties that were strong and
beautifully and few of our dear
members have bade us farewell until
we meet in Heaven, yet the shadows
have been few compared with the
great blessings and preservations
which have been ours. Never has a
pastor had more to be thankful for
in friendships and in warm hearty
encouragements than have I. will
remember you, and your kindnesses,
which have far out-reached anything
1 had right to expect forever.
Despite these most fraternai and
endearing facts there lies in my
mind the call of duty. The voice of
evangelism echoes in my heart. I
cannot do the work which that call
forces on me and be true to this i'm
portant pastorate at the same time.
I am urged to be in Baltimore the
first two weeks in October, in Knox
vile the last two, in Gaffney the
third and fourth weeks in Novem-
Der, in Orangeburg the second and
third weeks in December. Other
calls for hel 3 comes for the winter
and spring. To these I must turn a
deaf ear or throw myself, without
reserving an ounce of spirit and
talent, into that great and command
ing work.
The World War Makes Demands
That Must Not Be Ignored. After
while the boys will come home
come home with banners Of victory
and songs of deliverance. To what
kind of church life will they come?
Most of them are getting visions of
;fe they have never had before.
The same old things will not do.
For the church to hold and command
their energies and devotion, HER
LIFE MUST BE. STRONG IN
EVANGELISM AND VITAL WITH
SINCERITY. That life is now not
thus strong and vital. Pastors, with
the help of evangelists, must throw
themselves with renewed vigor into
this work of regeneration and up
lift. believe my life will in this
real and tremendous crisis count for
more as an evangelist helping many
pastors and churches. To this per-
suasion yield my consent. I pray
God that I am making no mistake.
Guided by sincere faith in the di-
vine call to this work, I offer my re-
signation as pastor of this. church to
become effective October the first.
I have waited to this late date after
much thought to give myself time
for proper reflection and to save the
work from suffering any lengthy de-
preston therefrom.
With this beautiful plant, easily
worth $4,000 practically free from
debt, with your membership of 425,
or more, harmonious and progress
sive and including many Of the fin
est people in the world, consider
this the best town field that I have
ever known. Happy, indeed, will be
my successor. May he be the one
God will bring to lead you On and
up into a glorious future. Wherever
1 go, you can be sure of my Prayers,
and whenever I can serve you, feel
free to command.
Respectfully submitted,