Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-04
Called Meeting Of Lexington Presbytery.

slider the request of Rev. Samuel McCune
to be dismissed to the Dublin Presbytery,
of the Irish General Assembly. MI. NC
Cune came to this country from Ireland
some five years ago in company with rev.
McDuff simpson. Both ministers were
received into Lexington Presbytery. MI.
Simpson became pastor of the Second
PRESBYTERIAN church here, and Mr.. NC
Cune took charge in Highland county.
The former afterwards accepted a call 20
Philadelphia; the latter worked with SUCH
unflagging zeal in Highland, that he broke
down his health by over exertion and>ex-
posture. About year ago Presbytery
granted him leave of absence to return
home. but his health did not improve by
the change. He was great favorite Id
Staunton as we'll as in Highland, and tue
following letter from him to Presbytery
will be read with deep regret:
TANDRAGA,
COUNTY ARMAGH,
IRELAND, February SIN. III.
To the Members Of Lexington PresbyterV in
tie Synod of V'rgsn'a. Un'tea states oJ
'AYneracQ:
My Dear Brethren
Nearly twelve months have
gone since asked, and you generously
granted me. leave OF absence that might
visit not only the Ia Of my birth and th+
home of my childhood, but also recruit
my health, enfeeDled as it WAS aud ID by
the severity Of a southern cline as Well as
by the severe pressure thae taxed my pays
zeal and mental energies in what m gut b
called u great missionary field. THIS W'rk
was rapture to me as saw from time t.,
lime that my work and feeble efforts vert
not altogether without effect under tn,
Divine blessing even in those par.s where
I, at first, had but little reason to hope to,
any measure Of success
Now dear brethren, as l have alrtads
SAID, you generously granted me- leave Vi
ABSENCE to visit my native land wi b III
b, % thai might be aDlo to return u
virginia improved in health and ready |
prosecute in your midst the W TX Whlc
YOU, in the Providence Of God, might ar
sign me; but alas in the case Ut my heait
l am doomed to be disappointed. Duilns
the summer felt that l Was imprOvliI-
and gaining strength, but this winter bas
knocked me back and am now sufferib-
no little from general weakness and NIL
vous debility. Need l say that my phys.
clan has .dviSed me on no account TO TT
turn to Virginia; nor to preach any TO
some time to come. This being 80 hum
bly, and respectfully ask from you 2 lette'
Of dsmission to the Dublin Presbytery Il
the Irish Presbyterian Church. In max
ing this request, dear brethren, feel tina
/ am in some measure against my ow
wishes, asking TO be severed from the PEG
BE of Virginia, whom l love, and from .
Presbytery where have spent some OF the
Ehappiest and hottest moments OF my mlh-
lsterial life; where on all sides experien
eed tina greatest courtesy and kindness
and from which, Say in all sincerity OF
heart, deeply regret to be dismissed. BuI
in thus submitting to what Is Inevitable
cannot but feel that while we may be sep
arated from each other by the broad At
lantic that lies between US, we are Still
united In Faith and Hope This is to mt
a blessed thOught-that we have ole AIM
to show mans weakness and Christ
willingness and .omnipotence to save u
the uttermost of time and to the utter
most of human woe, all who come unit.
God by him. I rejoice that we believe il.
theology that can never be success.
fully overthrown. because it is built on the
indestructible foundation of ri dis Blessed
Word. In addition to all this, it has berr
confirmed and attested by a long and gl"-
rlOus line of martyrs who assembled t"
heaven in chaIiots OF fire.
regret, dear brethren, that have t.
put you to the trouble and inconvenience
of meeting on my account, but the tru'
Is 1 thought, Until lately, could retur
to Virginia, and now see clea' ly that II
co suit my own health such step would
be very injudicious and ex remedy unwise;
therefore I humbly and respectfully ask
you to grant me a letter OF dismissal t.
the Presbytery of Dublin in tile Irish Pre- :
byterlan General Assembly, and rs TIL
Doctor has advised me to 20 to Scotia (:
on account of its clearer sky and drye'
climate, would ask you still further to
put in these words ''To the Presbytery g,
Dublin or any otf.er Orthodox PresbyteI.
in the Three Kingdoms" so that should /
ultimately decide to connect myself wit
the Free I hurch If Scotland the Wa,
would be clear.
Dear bre. hren, am urgent to have IT,
letter Of dismission presented as soOn a
possible in order that may be connectt.
with Dublin Presbytery at its next meet
ing, early in April of this year. Dear brett!
rem, cannot close without saying that
feel truly sad in asking a request OF thi
nature-that my Connection with Lexing-
ton Presbytery should be dissolved. 1t is
sad to think that may never again grasl
the hands nor see the faces of many mill
listers aud people endeared to me by ties
that cannot break, nor the s,ock of dealt
snap asunder. Oil dear brethren! I shall
ever cherish in my heart the pleasant re-
collections of our past friendship and inter-
course and by faith try to anticipate that
day when we all hope to be united in q
land where ''the inhabitants never grow
sick, where the cheek is never. Redeemed
by consumption's hectic flush, nor the
heart touched by the mournful ring OF
that word which on earth is the saddest
of all, Farewell" And now with my
good wishes for the temporal and eternal
happiness of every member of Lexington
Presbytery am, in the bonds of Christian
fellowship,
Yours very fraternally,
SAMUEL MCCUNE.