The Portland daily press., 1867-02-04
Second PariaIa.

IL Will De recOllected that in the latter part
of December Rev. DR.. Carruthers sent in to
the Second Parish the resignation of his pas
toral charge of that Society, to take effect at
the expiration of the 21st year of his settle
ment over them, which will be in September
next, or earlier, if the parish thought it best
The congregation after receiving his resigna-
ton, by the unanimous vote of all present, re-
quested him to reconsider and withdraw his
resignation. The church, by the unanimous
vote OF all its members present, at meeting
subsequent to that of the parish, concurred in
the resolutions adopted by the parish, and DR..
Carruthers agreeably to their wish reconsider
ed his resignation, but informed the people of
his charge that he would communicate to
them, after prayerful consideration of the SUBJ.
ject, his decision in the matter Ia
On Sunday afternoon at the meeting of his
Society in the LIST Parish Church, which, not
withstanding the extremely bad state of the
streets and sidewalks was very largely attend
ed. DIR. Carruthers, after the sermon, read to
them the following letter: V
To the Church and Society of the Second
l III Parish. ael aGl 1.ii
BetO0ed Brethren and Frsends:-After a sus-
POAoO NJ iCoo ptlHiul 10 lie IMAM to Yourselves
and after prayertul reconsideration of the sinh,
Ject OF my former communication, again ask
my dismissal as Pastor and Minister of the Sec
ond Parish Church and Society, subject, howev-
er, to the action of a Council summoned in the
usual form, before the close of my twenty-frst
pastoral year. ' ~ ''0f =
l abstain, as formerly, from the expression of
feelings naturally excited by the prospective
disruption of ties strengthened by the inter-
course OF SO many years. Such expression
couid convey no information to you who know
me, and to others might seem an exacgeration
y sE d ys VII n; amRs
nor desire to have, any interests apart from or
opposed to those of the Church Of Christ, and
that my present movement is dictated by re-
gard to the welfare of the Congregational com
munity. t.tts-- tAH = Ci -.
Ever since the calamity which laid two of our
denomlnational sanctuaries in ashes, have
made no secret of my strong conviction that
for the present, the re-ereetion of more than
one such sanctuary would be inexpedient and
most injurious to the interests of practical god
illness. = iIfl
Inc conviction has been equally strong, and
has gained Increased strength from extended
intercourse and correspondence with ministers
and churches, that the Second Parish Church
must neither be abolished nor absorbed It has
history peculiar to itself 1t is the nucleus of
associations dear to thousands who have gone to
heaven, and to thousands more who are yet on
whose sanctuary, like it's own, has been CON
sumed. What, then, more natural, and more
accordant with christian principles and congre-
yational propriety, than that the Second Par
ish Church and Society should still have name
and place in this community? y-i.,ii uU q b.. q
Yet christian principle and congregational
propriety equally require that, in such circum-
stances, the Second Church should welcome to
its communion and fel ow ship, all who still adj
acre TO ITS 1alth and polity. Let the heart and
hand OF Christian brotherhood be freely ex-
tended to all such. Let the divine Injunction
De faithfully obeyed: Receive We one another.
as Christ also received us to the glory of God /"
Let all personal predictions and preiudces be
absorbed in the desire to maintain the truth as
t is In Jesus; to exemplify the benignant in
to concentrate all moral and circumstantial
power on the conservation and propagation of
the glorious gospel of the blessed God.
Beloved brethren and friends, this, for YOU
ana others OF like precious faith, has, for many
months, been the warm and earnest aspiration
OF my heart; and during all these months. it
has been my purpose, should such an issue ever
appear to be attainable, to relinquish nv posi-
ton SO as to leave you and all acceding fellow
christians at liberty to choose future pastor
In my view, this issue can now be attained, and
as the proxlmate result, a sanctuary be rear
ed-substantial, commodiOus, central, and east
ly accessible to such congregationalists of our
city as are not yet identified with other churches
OF tneSame denomination. @ %. -ll n
Whatever counsel or aid God may enable me
20 render towards such contamination, shall
be cheerfully accorded ,lal ) -.-EII UT
Excuse, dear brethren and friends, the pro
hxity OF this document Your unanimity in
asking. the wirhdrawment of my resignation.
mas induced this candid and full expression of
my views. - :
May the God of all grace bless and prosper
you, making each partaker OF His Astounding
mercy, and all collectively blessing to our
city, our country, and the world!
Your faithful friend and Pastor.
j. j. CARRUTHERs.
Portland, Feb. 8, 1867 o.a -. '--.