Los Angeles Herald, Volume XXX, Number 355, 21 September 1903 — Has Resigned Pastorate of First Presbyterian Church [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Has Resigned Pastorate of First Presbyterian Church

The Rev. Aquilla Webb Is Soon to Take Up Religious Duties in the East

After three years of pleasant work as pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this city, .the Rev. Aquilla Webb has determined to leave his duties here, he having accepted the pastorate of an eastern house of worship, the exact location of which >Ir. Webb does not care to make public until later. For some weeks past the pastor has been urged to make the change, yet he agTeed to do so only after most flattering Inducements were held out to I him. At the last meeting of the trustees of the church with which Mr Webb is connected notification of the coming fhange was made. The salary i of the pastor had been S-409 a year, yet, sj anxio.s were the trustees to retain j their minister, that an offer of J3500 ! was made. Because of the fact that an agreement had been arrived at between i Mr. Webb and the officers of the eastern churih it was necessary that the offer should not be accepted. As a consequence the following resignation was read by Mr. Webb at the morning service yesterday: Los Angeles. Cal., Sept. 20. 1903. To the Congregation of the First Presbyterian Church: Dearly Beloved: Almost three years ago I received through the l»s Angeles Presbytery your call to the pastorate of this church. The call was a unanimous one, and the spirit of that call has been unchanged toward me through my ministry. The member.* of the Presbytery were most cordial in placing the call in my hands. The brethren of other denominations and the newspapers of the city Joined heartily In the weloome. I am happy to say that the friendships thus begun continue to the present. My faith in this church as a great spiritual force in the life of this city is firmer today than on the day on which I accepted the call to the pastorate. My desire has been to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified. and I have endeavored at all times to present the truth as It Is revealed through him. You have been loyal to me and-1 have | tried to help you. We have worked harmoniously and God has honored the church with large accessions.

This last spring Mrs. Webb and I were called , upon to pass through th-2 most trying experience of our lives, when our little daughter, Ruth, was called to that home not made with hands. Heaven has never been so real and precious to us as now. But since our loss the desire to return to home and friends of youth has Increased on the part of Mrs. Webb and myself. Therefore 1 desire that you Join with me In asking the Presbytery to dissolve the relation that exists between us as pastor and people. My wish is to be released on the last Sabbath of this month. My prayer for you is that you will remain true and loyal to this church and that you will be divinely guided In tho speedy selection of my successor. "Now our Ijcrd Jesus Christ himself, and God. our Father, which loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them In every good work and word." , The retiring pastor, not only because of much good done his congregation : and the church in general, has attained lan enviable reputat.on by his literary i know eg\ He is the author of a widely 'ead book, entitled, "The Christian Athl.'te," and has but completed the manuscript for a volume to be I called "The Institutional Church Problem." j The congrpgration of the First PresI byte- an church takes the resignation lof i s pastor much to heart. Since j his arrival from Boston three years ago many radical charges have been made In the affa rs of the church. Within the last the choir his been enlarged to a pleasing and noticeable extent and so attractive have been vocal and instrumental numbers and the 8 mions delivered by the retiring minister that the congregation has rapidly enlarged. One hundred and seven new church members have been enrolled within the past twelve months, a percentage of increase far beyond that heretofore shown by any other chu ch of its size in the Presbyterian cor.fererce. Mr. Webb will preach hia farewell sermon next Sunday.

00000000 000000000 REV. AQUILLA WEBB.