Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-09-12
NUMBER g..
A Voice from the Pulpit. 'e7,
The following letter from retiring min

The following letter from retiring MIN
lister in New York has been publised :: - rs
New YoRK, August, Is, 1861. - n
To the Trustees and Stewards ofMe Bed
ford Street H. e.. Church:} n So se q5.i
DEAR BRErHERN: I herby tender my z
Resignation as pastor of the Bedford Street :
Methodist Episcopal church. 49," 80
It is alike due to the congregation as we'll I.
as to myself that should give statement
of the reasons which have impelled me to-
take this step. From the fact Of having
been born on the South side of certain
mysterious parallel of latitude, it was very II
natural to suppose that 1 should feel de-t'
gree of sympathy for my kindred and coun-eI
trymeu. 1t was not unreasonable to CON-
lecture that had no heart, either as mane&t
or Christian, for policy which, ifprose.iV
cuted with vigor and determination felt and u
cherished by the North towards the South,ah
must inevitably result in the horrors of civ-ssi
il war between the two sections ItnHasas
in view of these circumstances that I Franks
ly told you before the meeting of the New
York Annual Conference, in May last, that
if my position would occasion any embarssa
rassment to the church, would at once
vacate the charge. L have acted in good a
faith with my flock and the record of.myss
whole ministerial life. o-,-sgG nj s7ads
Iuthe bitter feeling of alienation andd
almost incurable hate now existing n'the 81
public mind, I have found it required tar
more courage to preach peace than 'aoar.sa
And you will bear me witness that / haveya
steadfastly adhered to my purpose, whilst q
almost every other pulpit in New. York wasp6
Illuminating the most terrible anathemsos
agsinst the South. csa4-J eI4dtRS2
Believing, as do, that the conditioned 4
the world cannot be made better by ocon.sv
verting the Christian pulpit into political
arena, I have never, in this city or else la
where, introduced politics or war into thsd,
sacred desk. acknowledge no allegiance "a
to New England Puritanism in Church, or q
State. But in maintaining my consistencyfs
and the reotitude Of my principles, / hayeas
been assailed by an abolition press; my p
character and motives have been traduct So
the worse than midnight assassin, who lad.
not the courage to meet me face: to aface,sss
has clandestinely pursued me, and even the
question Of personal safety, and that off,
the "parsonage aud church," has beenrasa
subject of animadversion among partisans,:s
and excited men. 5s--r ..rg - g. =
Finding, therefore, that can no longer q
be spiritually profitable to you, / have con- 81
cluded to give place to another pastor who, q
in your judgment, may be better adaptsds Z
to the popularity Of the times.
No earthly motive could ever induce me
to thrust myself upon an unwilling pee-
pie. I shall gladly return to the Confer,
euce of my home, and link my destiny with ,,
her fortunes, for veal or woe, in peace or
war. . ... ... - zjeg ~
In dissolviug my relations with you ! aa-s
reminded of the separation also from many
dear friends of other pastoral charges whom
I have served in this city, and children ins.
the Gospel to whom I am bound by the
strongest ties of affection. With sincere
thanks to those friends from whom I have
received many evidences of kindness and
sympathy, ,.... a.s S5......A. -
am, very faithfully, yours, H 9-eg
...... 20, JOHN. POSTAL. gs,r