The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-06

Tabernacle came alta time when there
was no reason so far as my church
In Bal imore or l could see for sucn
. change; but, after much PRAYER anu
waiting upon God for The guidance OF
he Holy Spirit, / had deep ana
permanent conviction that it was my
duty TO come to YOU. And now, at the
eno OF more than thirteen years,
nave Stronger conviction that no
mistake was made when ] decided TO
come A. briof- rey!cw- of the work We
have done during the years OF our
work together will be convincing ana
reasuring. 1 think to anyone who may
have been doubtful as to- the wisdom
or my decision either at that time OF
later.
Membership Grows.
The membership of the Tabernacle
has grown from $50 to LOO and the
Bible school enrolment. including all
departments, from about 800 to mora
1than l,4oo. The annual budget for
all objects fostered by the church has
increased from $500 to an average
OF $4,000 A modern and average
dious Bible school house has been
erected and paid for at cost Of $780,
coo, and the total gif $ to all objects
within the period of the present pas
torate will reach $4,000. The
December 81, 1918, with all debts
and obligations paid in full and. for
the f1rst time within my memory, has
a substa ntial balance on hand for cur
rent expenses. The building commit
tee has In hand about $4,000 In SUBJ
and cash for the proposed
auditorium. Truly our God has
blessed this union of pastor and peo-
pie. and unto Him shall be all the
ls,~ . r. a
honor, forever and forever.
Furthermore. 1t is said by religious
leaders of our own and other denomi-
nations that the tabernacle stands
second to no other church in this city
IN its fine spirit of fellowship. in or
Eanization. In evangelism, in liberaltty
of giving to all worthy objects. and
In its missionary and spiritual life. 1t
seems all the more strange, therefore.
that just at the time of our greatest
prosperity there should come to me
call to another field of service which
have felt strangely compelled to pause
and consider. 1t is the frst time
within the entire period OF our work
together that have been willing to
listen to proposition from another
church.
Asks Concurrence.
There have been numerous oppoYtu-
mites to go into other pastorateg. into
g n G q anu also Qenomtnatl0nAl
evangelism, as well as into religious
secretary ships, but In no one OF these
cases was I led to feel that twas OF
God. In the present instance, how
ever, the manner of approach: the cir
cumstances OF the call; the opportuni-
ties for large service in the church and
also In the community and state where
the church is located: the counsel of
some OF the most consecrsted denomi-
national leaders In our own city. as
well as in the vicinity OF the church
seeking my services: but above all the
deep and abiding conviction of my own
heart and mind. which believe is OF
God. have led to the conclusion that
the time has come fer ne to ask you to
concur with me in what / believe to
be the can of God to go into another
part Of His vineyard.
II come before you today. therefore.
to tender my resignation as pastor of
the Tabernacle Baptist church. Of Rich
mond. a church exceedingly dear to
me and TO nv wife--for she no less
than myself is devoted to you and all
Your interests--that may accent the
unan imcus and enthusiastic call to
become pastor Of the Elrst BAPTIST
church of Spartanhurg, s. c.. the same
to become effective on the FIRST day OF
February, 1919.
"on behalf OF your sister church OF
there has been no disposition to rob
YOU of your pastor and hts family.
There has been the finest sairit of con-
sidcrat!on for your feelings. your
needs and the future Of this great and
growing church The brethren there
have been urgent in their request of
me TO consider the opportunities Of
fered nv their church, bnt always with
due rerara for my relationship and
oh'iration TO you. I earnestly hone and
believe that your thought and con-
sideration of them and their needs will
be in the Same Christian spirit Of love
and fellowship Yon are rot sepa-
rated III vnn- work and am bfffsns 'and
hopes. Yo,a4 are members of the same
great family located IL is true in
widely separated communities. hut VII
tally concerned in. and intimately re-
lated TO. all the interests of the king
dom of God.
You will permit me to say. am