The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-08-20
NUMBER 9-WHOLE No. 4ls
Dr. Lords Letter of Resignation.
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, July "a.


F, To the Trustees of yarmouth College:
In making this communication 10 the
Hon. and Rev Board Of Trustees, | take
the liberty respectfully to protest agains.
their right to impose any religious, ethical,
or political test upon any member Of their
own body, or of the College Faculty, be-
yond what is recognized by the charter OF
of the institution or express statutes or
5tipulations contormed TO that instrument,
however urged or suggested by individuals
or public bodies assuming to be visitors
of the College Or advisers of the Trustees.
The action OF the trustees on certain
resolutions Of the Merrimack County Con-
ference of churches virtually imposes such
a test, inasmuch as it implicitly represents
ani censures me as having become inju-
rious 10 the college, not on account Of
any official malfeasance or delinquency,
for, on the contrary, its Communications OF
my personal and official character and
coduct, during my long term Of service,
far exceed my merits; but for my opinions
and publications on questions Of biblical
ethics and Interpretation supposed TO heas
unfavorably upon one branch fthe policy
pursued by the present administration Of
the government and the country.
For my opinions and expressions OF op-
inions on such subjects, | hold myself
responsible only to God and the const;-
tutional tribunals of my country, inasmuch
as they are not touched by the char;e. Of
the college, or any express statutes or s;ip.
ulations. And while my answering and
never-partisan loyalty to the governmen:
ofmy fathers, proved and tested by more
than seventy years of devotion to It's true
and fundamental principles, cannot be per
manently discredited by the excited pas
sions of the hour, / DO not feel at liberty.
when Its exercise is called into question,
. resign my moral and constitutional right
and Christian liberty, in this respect, noT
submit to any censure, nor congen. -
any conditions such as implied in the
Aforesaid action Of the board, which action
is made more impressive upon me in view
of the private communications ofseTeral os
its members.
But not choosing to place myself in auy
unkind relations to a body having the re-
sponsiple guardianship of the college
body from which have received so many
tokens of confidence and regard-and be-
leving it to be inconsistent with Christians
charity and propriety to carry On my ad-
ministration while holding and expressing
opinions injurious, as they may imagine,
to the interests Of the college, and often
sive to the party in the country which they
here protessedly represent, hereby resign
my oiice ss a. President. l also resign my
Office as trustee.
In taking leave Of the college with which
l have been connected as Trustee. or "a
President, more than forty years. very
happily to myself, and, as the Trustees
have often given me TO understand, not
without benefit to the college, beg to as.
sure them that shall ever entertsin
grateful sense of the favorable considerc.
tion shown to me by themselves and their
predecessors in office, for so long term.
and that shall never cease TO desire tie
peace and prosperity of the college. and
that it may be kept trne to the principles
Of its foundation
am, very respectfully, your obedient
servant.
" LORD.