Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-04-26
REV. DIR. BUTTON.

1t is with great regret, and one which we are
sure will be heartily shared by our readers,
thai we announce a dissolution Of the pastoral
relations. which heretofore subsisted between
this eminent divine aud the congregation ofthe
Presbyterian Church Of this place.
The continued i'll health of DR.. D. which had
rendered him too feeble to discharge, as effect
lively as he desired the increasing duties of his
position, induced him to ask the Congregation
to unite with him in his application to the
Presbytery to grant the separation. The re-
luctance with which the consent was given by
the congregation was manifested in the fact that
at the meeting, called to take the subject into
consideration, large majority dissented, and
it was not until after an earnest and affection
ate appeal by Dr. D. that they would relieve
him from his post, and appoint some one with
strength sufficient to meet its demands, were
his wishes acceded to. In explanation Of the
necessity which impelled him to the course
which he had adopted DR.. D., in some touch
ing remarks, expressed the great pain which he
felt, after so many years of happy and harmo-
NOUS association with them, to dissolve his Of
fetal connection with them; but, at the same
time, he was greatly consolcd by the prospect
of spending the remainder Of his days among
them. In the future as in the last quarter of
century of the past, bis home would be in
their midst. His dearest affections, his most
ardent attachments and his warmest friend
ships were here. Under the favor of Provi-
dence, he would still seek, to the full measure
of the ability that might be afforded him, to
minister to their spiritual wants. and to pro-
claim the promises and dispense the comforts
of the Gospel he had been called to preach.
In response to these remarks of the Pastor,
Mr.. d. HUMPHREYS, one of the Elders of the
Church, said that tie ties, that were about to
be sundered, were of the tenderest character
They had been formed in the childhood of ma
ny of those present, aud had been multiplied
and strengthened by the associations and events
of memorable years He deplored the affection
which required the sacrifice they must make,
and nothing, he said, but the paramount inter-
ests of the church, under the mournful circum-
stances that surrounded them, could have in
duced them to consent to the separation.
At the close of Mr.. Hs remarks, the congre-
CATION united with DR.. Dutton in asking that
his connection with them, as PASTOR should
cease.
The Presbytery, on the succeeding day, ac-
quiesccd in the application, and the Rev. DR..
HAMMER was appointed to declare, on Sunday
last, the pulpit of the Presbyterian Church, at
| Charlcstown, to be vacant.
! We feel that il is difficult to realize the fact
that we have just recorded. Chiefly through
the earnest and untiring efforts of DR.. Dutton
the comfortable and commodious buildings
! Church and Parsonage-now the property Of
the congregation, were constructed; and we
cannot think of the one or the other without
associating him with it.
He seemed to have become part and par
eel of them to have become incorporated with
|
too, the constant superintendent which it was
observed he always had over them, protecting
them from danger and preserving them from
ruin in the midst of the general desolation
that recently saddened the land, had so con-
nected his name with them that we had accus-
toned ourselves to regard them as almost spe-
cially and exclusively committed to his faithful
: guardianship.
But more fragrant than all this will be the
memory of the quet. and uuobtrusive acts of
charity scattered along the path Of his daily
life. We use that term, not in the narrow and
contracted sense in whichit is usualyemployed,
but with reference to that broader, Scriptural
significance which denominates it LOVE, and
which manifeSts itself in succoring the weak
and counSelling the crring, and which always
failures to brighter worlds and leads the way.