The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-02
GkeGatelIiaenter.
Mr.. Latane's Resignation Accepted
blythe Vestry Of st. Matthew's
ChuPch.

mIs LHtuuG'b hosIbhHsASA
blythe YeStry Of st. Matthew's
Church.
It Is oil course understood by all our
readers that at the time Mr., LATANE sub.
mI,ted to the Vestry Of st. Matthew's
Church bis letter Of withdrawal from the
Ministry OI the Episcopal Church he like.
wise rendered them his resignation Of the
pastorship Of their parish. At the re-
quest Of the Vestry he oticisted in the
services Of the Church in the usual man.
ner on the following Sunday, but since
that time has taken no part in his former
duties. Pending advices from the Bishop
Of the Diocese, the Vestry thought It
prudent to take no action whatever on
the resignatlon Of Mr.. LATANE, and &C.
cOrdingly nothing was done until the ar
rival Of Bishop WHITTIE on Friday last.
On Saturday meeting OF the Vcstry was
held, at which II was decided to accept
the resignation rendered by Mr. LATANE
on the 10th inst. Wepresume that there
was 10 division OF opinion among the
Yestrymeu as to the advisability of dong
SO under all the circumstances, although
We are not informed on this point. The
acceptance fthe resignation does not, we
lnIer, carry with 1t any expression Of
opinion whatever on the part Of the
Vcstry touching Mr. LATANE's views.
As TO those views we bat state what Is
probably generally understood, among
those who are best posted on the subject,
when we express the opinion that the ma.
jority Of the Vestry hold views in SYM
pathy with Mr.. LATANE. Still, inasmuch
as Mr.. LATANE has actually and formal
ly withdrawn from the Episcopal Church,
the VeStry could not without also
Withdrawing from Its organization, as 1t
were, continue him as their pastor.
There was no doubt all the more unani.
nifty in deciding to accept his
resignation from the fact that a Dio-
cesar Council will be held in
Virginia next fall, at which it
is possible some important steps will be
taken by the whole body Of the Virginia
Church on the issues raised by Mr.. La
TANE's letter. Prior to the meeting OF
this Council there would naturally be a
reluctance to take any steps that might
embarrass It's action, especially by those
who hope and anticipate that its action
will be such as to substantially endorse
the views Of MIR. LATANE. II we under
stand the position Of both the Bishops Of
this Diocese and also that of the Church
organ, 1t is that they still regard Mr.. La
TAME as canoniCally qualified to discharge
the duties of an Episcopal Minister tor
six months to come. In other words,
they do not choose to throw the great
influence Of their positions against him
but rather in favor Of him. This we pre-.
sumo is all that they could do were their
views expressed word for word in Mr.
LATANE's letter.
The language oflthe Southern Cturch-
man, in the article published from it on
Saturday, is certainly significant not only
of sympathy with the views held by Mr..
LATANE, but also of q determination ere
long to call for a more general expression
ofopinion from the Virginia Church on
the question Of Reform. Prior to such an
expression, and especially on the eve Of 1t,
as IT were, the well known conservative
feeling Of the Church would naturally
manifest itself on such an occasion as that
presented by Mr.. LATANE's letter. 1t Is
not therefore surprising that the Vestry OF
st. Matthew's decided to accept the resig.
nation that had been rendered to them.
The following is the letter rendering said
resignation;