The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-03
MONUMENTAL CHURCH,
ARRIVAL OF THE NEW PASTOR, REV. J. G.
ARMSTRoNG-HIs RECEPTION-LETTERs
OF RESIGNATION AND ACCEPTANCE
BIOGRAPHICAL LsKETCH-PERsoNAL, &C.

thew's parish. Wheeling, West Virginia,
recently elected to fill the pulpit of the
Monumental church OF this citys reached
here on Saturday morning shortly after 0
O'Clock, by the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac route, from Washington, hay-
ing left Wheeling on Thursday evening.
at the der0t he was met by the Junior
warden OF the church (AIr. John Fl. Tyler,
and Messrs. Charles Il. Skinker and Thomas
Potts, members OF the vestry. Dir. Arm
| strong was then escorted to Mr.. ii. D.
| Whitcomb's residence, No. 1910 Marshall
street. whose guest he Will be for the
present.
Mr.. Armstrong left Wheeling Immediately
after the conservation of Bishop Peterkin,
and was accompanied as far as Washington
by Rev. Mr. Randolph, OF Baltimore; Bishop
Whittle, OF the Diocese Of Virginia !;
Rev. Kinloch Nelson, Of the Theological
Seminary; and Rev. mfr. Hubbard, Of
Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Bishop
| Whittie was en- route to Hampton where he
was to administer the solemn rite.of con-
tirmation yesterday.
Mr.. ARMsTR0NG's RESIGNATION.
The following is Mr.. Armstrong; letter
of resignation to the vestry Of St. Matthew's
parish:
| WHEELING, 9th April, A. D. 1878.
To the Vestry of st. Matthew's Church.:
Dear Brethren,-I have come to the con-
cluson that it is my duty to accept the call
recently rendered me by the vestry OF
Monumental church OF Richmond, Va, and
as q preliminary to the acceptance to place
| in your hands my resignation OF the rector
ship of St. Matthew's. You will therefore
please accept this as performance OF the
| latter act.
| You are aware that on the first receipt of
this call / very promptly declined it. 1t has
since, however, been renewed and the con-
siderations which have been urged upon
1ce to reconsider the matter and to reverse
| my decision have been such as to weigh
| heavily upon my mind and to leave little II
any room to doubt what is the clear line OF
! my duty in the premises. You will believe
me, am quite sure, when say that the
matter has given me much distraction and
pain. 1t has been no ordinary conflict
through which my mind has passed in ar
irving OF this decision. 1t is no disrespect
of the people to whom / shall go, but as
an expression OF my sincere and deep affec-
tion for you when I shall leave, compared
with whom they are almost as strangers to
me, that say that the conflict has been be-
tween a sense Of duty and deep, warm love.
For you and the good people you represent,
/ can truthfuly say that my love, especially
during the past two years, has been "groW-
ing stronger and stronger" and the con-
scousness Of its strength has never been
more distinctly asserted in my heart than
now when l contemplate the not far distant
prospect Of the severance OF our present
relations. You will therefore not blame
but sympathize with me in coming to the
conclusion that have now made known to
you. 1 shall, as far rs possible, consult
your convenience and the welfare OF the
parish as to when this resignation shall take
place. Meantime may Gods good spirit
guide you in the path Of duty to the choice
of another rector who shall be In all re-
spects worthy of the office and OF the full
love of the people of st. Matthew's.
lam, in the bonds OF true affection, yours,
j. G. ARMSTRONG.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE RESIGNATION.
WHEELING, May2, 1878.
At meeting Of the yestry OF st. Mat.
thew's church held on the 18th Of April,
1878, the following action was had:
The resignation OF Rev. j. G. Armstrong
rs rector OF the parish was read, and the
following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That the resignation OF Rev. j..
G.. Armstrong be accepted, to take effect at
such time as may be agreed upon between
Rev. Mr.. Armstrong and the vestry.
Reso!ved, That Messrs. Brady, Lorins,
and Rogers be appointed committee to
frame a suitable reply to the resignation.
S. p. uILDRETH, Secretary.
ANSWER OF THE vEsTRT.
WHEELING, May 7, 1878.
Reu. j. &. Armstrong:
Reverend and Dear Sir,-The duty de-
yolyed upon us by the resolution Of the
vestry OF St. Matthew's church, which you
will find enclosed, is at once painful and
pleasurable-painful because it accom-
plishes severance of the ties which have so
happily subsisted between the people OF st.
Matthew's and yourself, and pleasant as az
fording fitting opportunity to respond in
some degree to your letter Of the 4th ln-
slant. You have always commanded, by
deserving it, the at,ectonate regard OF the
congregation. The various duties devolying
upon you rs rector have always been dis
charged with entire satisfaction to those
among whom you have mlnlstered, ana with
eminent credit to yourself. In the nature
OF things there would have been no inn
pelling motive to your action, but high
sense OF duty. The resignation OF so much
that is attractive to you in behalf OF the peo-
of the " Monumental" cannot fail to COM
mana ITOtu tucul SCuSAOto
hearty support in your new relations. Ihat
YOU will have these we do not entertain
doubt, and the conviction reconcllcs us
somewhat to the acceptance OF your reslgna-
tion. At the same time we cannot refrain
from saying that it was received with SIN
cere and accepted with unaffected regret.
You will carry with you to your new home
the hearty goodwill OF our people, and
there doubtless will be many prayers for
YOUR entire success in your new field OF
labor. We earnestly hope that it may please
a good Providence to pour upon you and
YOURS rich temporal blessings, and that He
NAV add to these abundantly the richest
blessings Of His grace.
In the bond of affection we are cordially
yours, ;. BRADY:
ALoNZo LoRING,
JAMES ?. ROGERS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
To give our readers an idea OF the estima.
ton in which Mr.. Armstrong is held in
Wheeling we publish from the Register OF
that city the following biographical sketch
and tribute to Richmond's new minister:
"Few gentlemen who have taken up their
residence in Wheeling have made them
selves as respected as the subject OF this
little sketch, and none has ever been more
popular. For nearly four years MIR. Arm
strong has been rector OF st. Matthew's
church and parish, and his departure has
been a source Of keen regret to all who have
ever been brought into contact; with him or
u xloIsx gnnv