library > special collections > digital archives > presidents
 
Green, Lewis W. Letter to Officers of Second Presbyterian Church (March 27, 1860)

[page 1] [view page image]

March 27th, 1860

Dear Brethren

The death of Dr. [Alfred] Ryors, having rendered it impossible to complete the desired arrangement for a "Joint Pastorate" of the Second Presbyterian Church in connexion with the College, I have interpreted my relation to the congregation as that of a "Stated Supply", under the first invitation by the Session. The loss of our Church, & the failure to secure any place of [illegible word] worship, seem to render the continuance of that relation, at least, superfluous, & I have felt it proper to say to my Brethren, that I consider it as having, virtually, ceased, from the period of the fire, which consumed our building, & dispersed our congregation. While, therefore, I can never cease to feel the deepest interest in the welfare of the people to whom, in the Providence of God, I have been called to minister; the interests of the congregation are, in my judge-

[page 2] [view page image]

ment, exclusively, & appropriated, committed to their own chosen officers, under the great head of the church. Any services that I can render, hereafter, will be cheerfully, & gladly, performed – without any expectation, or desire of pecuniary reward, & simply as a Christian minister interested in the cause of our Common Master.

With a grateful acknowledgement of your uniform kindness, during our brief connexion, I remain,
Very affectionately and truly
L.W. Green [Lewis Warner Green]

Notes
1. Lewis W. Green became president of Centre College in 1857 following the sudden death of John C. Young.
2. Rev. Alfred Ryors, D.D., served as professor of mathematics at Centre College from 1854 until his death in 1858.
3. Danville's Second Presbyterian Church was formed in 1853. Lewis W. Green became pastor of the church in 1857. The February 22, 1860, fire that destroyed much of downtown Danville, also burned the church's sanctuary. Throughout the 1860's, the congregations of the First and Second churches worshipped together in the older church.