The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-13
Resignation of Rev. DIR. Carruther..

AhO sOhSiopO 1eCfs a. OdtIubuCAss VIM h&o
been pastor of the Second Parish church for
the last 81 years, rendered his resignation yes
terday morning. There was a very large con-
gregation present at the morning service, and
the pastor preached very able discou rse, tax
ing his text from Philippians LIST, 81, "Only let
your conversation be as it becometh the gospel
of Christ" AT the close of the sermon DR..
Carruthers presented his. resignstion in the fol-
lowing words:
Beloved Brethren and FriendS,-For the last
thirty one years, according, to the ability which
God has given me- l have preached the gospel
to this church and society-doubtless with
much mperfection, but with conscious fidelity
and with constant desire for the salvation of
sinners and the sanctlicatiOn of such as have
believed through grace. These results have
been realized to an extent which on the retro
spection of my heightened ministry fills my
neart with grateful gladness. That some of
you through all these years, have received the
| grace of God in vain is to me matter of pro-
foundest grief, but this griefis shared with many
of God servants who.are unto God a sweet
| SAVIOR of Christ in them that are saved and
| in them that perish. God grant that my sue
cessor may win the souls that have survived,
| till now, all entreaty and expostulaton. You
are all aware of the long affection which it has
pleased God to visit me, and from which as yet
have but partially recovered For the SYM
pathy of all, and the practcle kindness
shown by many of you during this protracted
illness, l am deeply grateful, as also for the
interest felt and manifested by many of my re-
spected fellow citizens on whom L had no
claim beyond those of local nearness and Off
cial publicity. On the appearance of the ear
liest symptoms of convalescence relinquished
one quarters salary for the purpose OF aiding
the parish committee in supplying my lack of
pulpit service, hoping that at the close of July
might be able to assume my appropriate
work. This hope has not been realized and it
is now certain that several months must elapse
before such resumption would be practicable
Such being the case, communicated to some
my rising sense of seeming obligation to my
people. A few days afterwards our local pa
pers announced my intended resignation, and
the Congregationalist and Christian Mirror
were uDaccouptably informed and therefore
explicitly affirmed that the resignation had been
already rendered" thus unwittingly forestall-
ing by several weeks a transaction which in my
own mind was still invironed by uncertainty,
perplexty and doubt.
After many conflicting feelings have been
brought to the conclusion that under ex-
isting circumstances should for the present
retire from the pastoral office and use all avail
able means for the restoration of my health.
have not yet finished my course, and hope
with Divine permission to proclaim till death
the unsearchable riches of Christ whenever and
wherever the best of masters may direct. My ply
steal strength however is now unequal to those
domcilary visits on which SO much of the
comfort and usefulness of this pastOrate de-
ponds. AS have no design and no desire to
leave Portland as place of residence, you
will not expect at this time anything in the
form of a farewell address. 1t would be gross,
affectatiop, however, to deny that the antici-
peted disruption of official ties is exceedingly
painful, although relieved by the expectation
of continued intercourse and the assurance of
your endearing friendship spd affectionatc re-
gard.
To very large number of you as my spirit
ual children, must ever be tenderly attached,
and nothing will afford me more real delight
than to aid and stimulate your progress heav-
onward. cannot exaggerate the satisfaction
given me for these many years in witnessing
the progress and prosperity of our Sabbath
school, The succession of earnest, wise and
| devoted OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES noble band of
| teachers who havesso zealously and harmon
iously labored for the spiritual welfare of their
pupils-the numerous conversions that have
followed their DISTINGUISHED and self-denying
efforts and the consequent accessions to the
church. furnish abundant matter of thankful
ness to Him who has SO largely blessed their
work of faith and labor of love. May these
yet be more abundantly succeeded by the plen-
tiful effusion and gracious operation of the
Holy Spirit. Though officially disioined
from the church aud the Sabbath school, l
shall according to the measure of vouchsafed
ability embrace whatever opportunities of use
fitness to either may be granted 1t is my
hearts desire and prayer to God that He may
graciously send you pastor and teacher who
shall go in and out before you feeding you with
knowledge and understanding, not handling
the word of God deceitfully but by manifesto
tion of the truth commenting himself to every
mans conscience in the sight of God.
Yielding to what now appeals to be the will
of Him whom L have served, and still hope to
serve in the gospel of His Son, l hereby resign
the twofold Office L have SO long sustained
among you-the resignation to take effect on
the settlement of my successor, and my regu-
lar dismissal according to Congregational or
der by the advice and vote of the installing or
ordainipg council