National Republican., 1880-05-18
ALL Souls, CHURCH.


Rev. MIR. MaoCauiey's Letter of Resignation.
The following is the text of the letter read by the
pastor to the members OF All Souls church on sun.
day, resigning his charge:
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 1o, 1890
TO The Members Of Al SowS Church.
DEAR FRiESDs: More than three years ago March
49, lsI7 became your minister On the LIST day
OF July of the same year was invited to tho per-
manent pastornte OF this church, the call to take
effect on the second sunday Of the following Sep
tember. Amer much hesitation and at a pccuuinry
disadvantage | accepted the invitation, continued
my work among you, and in the latter part Of the
my office. To-day resign the charge then com
mitied to my care my resignation to take effect at
about the end Of my official year, the S0th day of
Several reasons lead mo to this act; prominent
among them Is my desire for n much-ueeded rest.
took charge Of this society when its place Of wor-
ship was the old chuich ut the corner of Sixth and
streets. The regular congregation was theii
quite small: the church membership almost
only ministry You had had was that of visiting
clergymen having no connection with you other
than that secured 10y the Sunday scrviues-n min
isry which, however 1t may upon occasion have
attracted the general public, had been as II always
must be, injurious toyour best interests as church.
NY first duty to you therefore, seemed to be to
thoroughly organize the society and to try TO make
the organization srlt-dcpendent. The result
was that on June 4, 1871 you adopted the cousui-
ton we now have, 10y which the first unitarian
church Of ofWashlngton was reOrganzed as All Souls
church. II required No small effort to make the
now constitution operative in It's various relations
but gradually this was accomplished, and its ad.
yanlages became apparent. f,y the division Of
labor II required and its distribution of response
bililes the interest In church work of largely in
creased number Of persons was aroused and sls-
tnined. Through the activity of the several subor
dtnato organizations which the constitution
brought into being the energy, and aims Of our
growing church were considerably extended
and multiplied. Aud during my Temporary
ministry the project for the building OF
= new church odihrc occupied my thoughts os
| followed
tiOns Of our officers with the officers Ofthe American
Unitarian as ociatlon with the deepest interest l
turned over the first spadctul of earth In preparing
| Tor the foundation of the new building. made
the address called FOR in the ceremony at the laying
Of the cornerstone, aud when IN the presence OF
| the hundreds or our fellow believers, who had
/ gathered here from all parts of our country 70
rejoice with us ana to bid us God-spccd We dcdi-
Gated this beautiful temple TO the one God, for the
service ofmau, in the faith of Jesus Christ" read
| with them ANA you Il special service Of dedica'
| ton.
ilAs your pastor installed became only the more
closely identified with and Interested in everything
| that appertaiucd to the welfare of our church.
gave TO it all exclusive service and have watched
It's career with an unusual degree Uf Solicitudc.
Ny most earnest hope and effort have been for its
prosperity espccia ~ for its success Us represent
atvc ex poneut of liberal christian faith and life
| anxiety, rs some Of you know, have awaited the
| day that has just cnmc-this day when we can say
with an unqualified meaning 70 our words that we
| at last have house OF worship fee from debt.
| our church was dedicated with the nrOcama-
/ uOn thNt II was thus ifec, but AT tuc same
| lime We knew ourselves to be under u moral obl,-
CATION TO the extent Of several thousands Of dollars
! 10 those who had contributed the sum necessary to
| complete the amount required OF this society by
! the unitarian denomination before IL wOuld trans
| fer its own contribution for the building of the
new church to our h0rds. Onc of our special
endearOrs mas been to meet this obligation, and
| have been glad to see that with each successive
! year through our increased financial prosperity
this Indebtedness has grown smaller. and now Imp
PLY. besides the one great possible embarrassment
tOyour welfare and the chief source of my anxiety
has been removed by the sale, just consumnated
OF the d church property. Thus are we as n
church finally, in every sense OF the word, free
from debt.
To-day. then. Al Souls church, well organized
with II large membership, with regular attend
ance increased many fold, with an ample income
with the respect aud confidence of this community
aud posse-sor of one of the most beautiful houses
of worship in the city has before it future clear
and free. | bid Won with all my heart God-speed
on your way, and with all my heart pray that the
past has been only promise Of the better time to
come.
But, for the reason have given, that wish tn
take a much needed rest from the labor and care
/ have borne here, think IL wise to herewith place
in your hands my resignation OF the Office have
held during these three eyentiul years
CLAY MACCAULEY.