Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-08-17

RESIGNS HIS PAST0RATE.
Rev. Mr.. Eaton after Ministry of Thirty-ilve
Years Tenders His Resignation.

At the close of the service at the Con-
church, in this city last
Sunday morning, the pastor, Rev. 5. W.
Eaton. produced and read the following
letter to his congregation.
70 The people of nly charge.
DEAR FRIENDS:
Nearly thirty-six years agoI preached
in Lancaster for the first time, and re-
ceived the invitation to become your |
minister. As | came fresh from my |
theological studies, and when the church |
was yet in its infancy. 1t was the be-
ginning of things with both pastor and
people. These Intervening years which |
have wrought vast changes in our state
and country. and in other lands, have
made of the hamlet of 1916 prosperous
and beautiful town. In the year 1891
was erected our first house of worship,
which was subsequently enlarged; in
1868 that structure gave place to the
present more ample and attractive edi-
flee, and both these sacred buildings
have witnessed scenes of revival which
memory will always cherish, and whose
record is on high. During this time |
have preached the gospel of salvation
from God through Christ more than three
thousand times. / have personally well
coined to church fellowship all the pres
ent communicates with scarcely an eX-
ception. | have received to member
ship parents and in after years their
children, and have also performed the
marriage ceremony for the children of
those who had been married by me.
My own children were born and reared
here, and have all protested the. faith of
Christ in our solemn assembly, and it
has been our JOY to hear two of them
preach the Gospel from this pulpit. To-
gether we have mingled in the stirring
and tragic scenes of war, and have
shared its common fruits of peace.
Change has been ever busy, SO that only
one remains of the members who were
connected with the church when | be-
came your pastor, my good friend
Hon. j. L. Mills. In the entire COM
munity, while many have come. many
have gone by immigration, or inevitable
death, till only two men are left who
were with me here at first.
Speaking both for myself and my wife,
who has had an abundant share in these
labors, | may say that it is in our hearts
to live and die with you. Our attach
ment to the scenery and the very soil
of Lancaster has become from long as
sociation very strong, and far more is
this true of our love for the church and
people whom wehave borne in our hearts
all these years. Thus for many reasons
we should prefer to live out the rest of
our days here. But on the other hand
| have felt for some time that the strain
of this passionate was becoming too pro-
tracted and severe for my physical en-
durance, which at best is nore limited
than with some men, and which must of
necessity decline as the years advance.
| anticipate that a change will bring
much neededreliefand refreshment after
nearly continuous labor which covers
more than the full period of genera
ton, and that | shall thereby be enabled
to continue somewhat longer in the
work to which my life has been devoted
and,I trust that new voice will reach
and persuade some here whom my eff
orts have failed to win For these
reasons | have decided after mature
and prayerful consideration of the sub
iect to tender my resignation of the pas
toral office, to take effect the 18th dav
of October next
The retrospect suggests many grateful
recollectionS, and likewise brings to
view reasons for humility on account of
imperfect service rendered to the great
cause. May we '.all find mercy Of the
Lord in that day" ''Now the God of
hope fill YOU with all Joy and peace in
believing" Being filled with the fruits
of righteousness, which are by Jesus
Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God" Faithfully and atlectionately,
Your pastor,
S. w. EATON.
Lancaster, August 18th, 1882.
A very decided sensation was pro-
duced by this announcement. Few had
suspected anything Of the kind and even
then they had hardly believed the truth
of their own suspicious. The eyes of
the older members were dimmed with
tears as they heard from the lips of their
beloved pastor that the ties of nearly
forty years were to DO broken; that. he
who had been mourner with them in
their deepest sorrow and reioiccd with
them when they reioiced was to disap-
pear from among them, and it is safe to
say that the same number of words pro-
nounced from that pulpit had never be-
fore brought such feeling of sorrow
and sadness
During the past few days HERALD
representative has interviewed many of
the leading members of the church, in
Guiding the board of trustees, and in
every instance much regret has been ex-
pressed ut Mr., Eaton action, although
some would not have been surprised TO
have had it come before. From what
was said to the news seeker it appears
that the question of salary cut something
of figure, at least if such thoughts
were far from Mr. Eaton S mind, the
church conscience was by 10 means at
ease in the matter. At one time the
salary paid the pastor was 900 but
owing to the removal of some of the
principal members and other causes
this fixed salary was changed to u Slid
ing one, based on the pew rents. So
far as can be learned the sliding has
been down hill with no reycrting ac-
ton until the present year and even now
the advance is due more to the payment
of past dues rather to an increase in tie
tents 1t was suggested by some that
the difficulty might be brdged by pro
viding an assistant pastor, but it was
pointed ont that if one man could not
be given fair salary doubling up on the
responsibilities would not solve the
problem.
Having obtained the views of the
church members the searcher after news
took his way TO Mr. Eatons pleasant
home in the south part Of the city. That
gentleman was in and kindly consented
to talk or the subject near to the G.
portal heart. In answer to inquiries
he said that although his resignation
was a surprise to the friends here it was
a matter he had had under advisement
for some time That even so long as a
ypnI auo he had pontpn1nlatad hapd;por