The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-08-08
REV. THOMAS
SIMS RETIRES

Sims RETIRES
Rev. Thomas Sims, D. D., was the
respected and talented pastor of the
Congregational church Of Valley City
for five ears, viz. from 1883 to the
spring of 1889. >s.. +,
Rev. DR.. Sims enjoyed to a high
degree the warm esteem of the early
settlers of Valley City and Barnes
county, and had the reputation of be-
ing one of the strong preachers of
Dakota territory. -. ,...a.
The eliminating action was taken
last week Thursday by the Woburn
Council of Churches, by which the re-
lations existing between Rev. DR..
Thomas Sims as pastor and the First
Congregational church of Melrose, his
people was severed. This relation has
existed for the past twenty-one years
and has been Of a most harmonious
nature. It has been the good fortune
of the editor to have known personally
four of the predecessors of Rev. Dr..
Sims in this ministry, Rev. Alexander
J. Session, from 1852 to 1858; Rev.
Edward H. Buck, whose passionate was
short, extending from 1859 to his
death in 1861, but who left behind him
a memory that endeared him almost
as saint to the young members Of
his flock; Rev. Henry A. Stevens, from
1861 to 1868, who is still living at a
ripe old age in Brighton; Rev. Albert
u. Bale, his successor, and predeces-
sor of DR.. Sims, having for these
many years thus been closely cog
infant of the history of this church, he
can we'll bear testimony to the labors
of these faithful servants of the Mas
ter, with the added testimony that
Rev. DR.. Sims has earnestly carried
on the work so we'll performed by
those. who began the upbuilding of
this church and that now he retires
with the assurance that his influence,
his work, his prayers have contribut-
ed greatly to the material and spir-
itual prosperity this church now en-
joys. Rev. DR.. Sims has not only
been a pillar of strength to his own
church, but he has been foremost in
all the grand enterprises this city
has carried on in these years. He is
in truth the Dean of our Protestant
churches in Melrose. 1t is pleasant
to know he is still to remain as pas
tor-Emeritus of this church and with
US as a citizen and a friend and we
all tender him a warm "God Bless
You and Keep You with Us for Many
ears!"-Melrose (Mass.) Free Press.
The following are the resolutions
adopted by Woburn Associations of
Churches at the Congregational Coun-
Gil Held at Melrose, Thursday, June
Recommendation of Rev: Dr.. Sims
as Pastor-Also his work nthe Wo-
burn Association - Unanimously
adopted. ..... ...,.' ~
Whereas: The Reverend Thomas
Sims, D. D., has rendered his resigna.
ton to the First Congregational
church in Melrose after more THAN
tWenty-one years of service, we, the
members of the Woburn Association
of Churches in council assembled, be-
sire to express our appreciation of
his work as faithful shepherd over his
flock, Of his sincerity and sympathy
and the wisdom of his counsel and of
the soundness of his judgment as adj
visor and pastor. For over twenty
one years he has interpreted by his
life. and words the gospel of Jesus
Christ. He has proved himself a
scholar, who, by his arduous labor,
has kept himself abreast of the times;
prophet who, in all the events and
crises ha scaught the spiritual mean
ing of life, and with breadth of Wis.,
ion and liberal spirit yet with a pro-
found sense of his responsibilities as
minister, has led his people into
the truth that makes men free.
We desire also to place on record
our great appreciation of Doctor
Sims services to the Congregational
churches of this district. He has
shown himself true Congregation
alist in his devotion to UNCONVENTIONAL
interests, by his faithful attendance
upon meetings, by his wise counsel in
the deliberations of the Association,
and by. his generous service to the
churches in their times of need. He
has been not only a pastor of the Mel
rose church, but of all the churches
of this Association. We would also
recall with gratitude at this time his
true and warm-hearted friendliness
for the other ministers of this Asso-
citation. We have found in him a dis
corning critic, wise leader and ten
der brother in Christ. ..,-.,
We appreciate and commend most
heartily the Christian courtesy and
generous sentiment of this church in
making him pastor emeritus and re-
joice that by it's so doing, he will still
be associated with us and continue his
influence among US. Our fullest SYM
pathy is extended to the people Of this
church in the loss sustained by the
withdrawal Of Doctor. Sims from ac-
the fact that he is still to remain as
a friend and helper. .s,,....., q
Howard J. Chidley,
Thomas e. Ashby, =.
Frederick L Brown