Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19
REV. CHESSMAN TO.
GIVE UP PASTORATE.
Of OTTAWA Church.
BAPTIST CLERGYMAN INFORMS
CONGREGATiON he HAS AC-
CEPTED CALL TO ADMINS
TRATE CONGREGATION IN
PITTSBURGH SUBERs.

Rumors that he intended to leave
his Ottawa pas.orate for larger fields
were formerly verified yesterday morn
ing al the Baptist church. when Rev
George Washington Chessman ten
dered his resignation as leader OF the
local flock with the announcement
that on October he would 20 10 Bell
View, a Pittsburg, Pa, suburb, where
he had accepted a call
Frequent reports were given out
by friends OF Rev Chessman that h
contemplated seyering his connections
with the First Baptist church, OF this
city, to take more remuneratiye
pastOrate in the east. None of these
rumols were from sources consider
ed authentic however, and little cred
ence was placed upon hem by iren1s
close to the Baptist clergyman
When he read his resignation to his
sunday morning cOngres cation a hush
passed over the audience Gloom per
Yaded the editlce thruout The remain
ing Of the morning But there were
none among his followers who were
not elated at Rev. Chessman's eleya-
tion to one of the finest pulpits in
Pennsylvania, even tho they them
selves felt regret al his decision To
leave his local congregation 10 take
up his work in larger fields
Success OF the Baptist church under
Rev CHEESEMAN'S regime is historical.
When he took over the pastorate
five years ago the church was in
need of new and vigorous life. Rer.
Chessman possessed OF those quail
ticatons, soon began his upbnilding
process and under his careful guild
ance and with the aid OF a congre
cation that backed him to the la Il
man, he doubled the membership OF
the church in a few short years. Hi.
sunday evening services became ex
ceedngly popular among people Of all
creeds. His sermons as printed Mon
day alter Monday in the Free Trader
Journal were read by thousands, who
hlosely followed the pastors argu-
ments for better and cleaner living
Now and then he supplemented hi
appeals for faith with earnest prayer
lur pure Americanism during these
trying times.
Bell View from where Rev Chess
man received his call, is the home o.
many Pittsburgh and Allegheny mil
lionaires one Of whom heard Mr.
Chessman preach sermon at a
Baptist gathering in the east a short
time ago. So faYorably impressed was
he with the sermon and with Mr.
Chessman's personality that later he
came west TO Ottawa and attended
the Baptist church to listen to an
other sermon sy Mr.. Chessman. Be
fore leaving Ottawa, he had confer
ence with Mr.. Chessman and urged
him t oaccept the pastorate OF the
Bell view church at a hansome sal.
ary Later the church board extend.
ed a call to the Ottawa pastor
One Of the members of the Official
board of the Baptist church, said to-
day, in discussing Rev Chessman )
resgnatioR
1T was with deep regret that we
learned a few days ago of our pastors
decision to tender his resignation
We recognize in Rev Chessman a
great preacher and many of our peo
/ pie have felt for some time that he
was too big man to remain much
/ longer in this field. Other churches
have desired his services, but he ma
turned deaf ear to them until the
/ present call came from pittsburp.
If we were to consider the welfare OF
our church and our personal feelings
there would not be a single vote to
accept Mr.. CHEESEMAN'S reorganization.
We must, however, be actuated by the
best interests Of he denomination at
large as well, as well as by our pas.
tors personal welfare. Action upon
the resignation will be taken next
Sunday.
The removal Of Rev. Chessman and
his family will be a great loss to our
church. The city of Ottawa will lose
a christian gentleman, who has lab
ored increasingly for the spiritual and
moral uplilt OF the community The
forty eight young men, whose stars
adorn the service flag OF our church
d and who were sent away to camp with
a smile and CHEEKY word from Pas
tor Chessman. will feel when they
, return home II God spares them, thai
true friend has left Ottawa