The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-09
RESIGNATION OF REV. H. c. MABIE.
The Step Induced by IIl-Health and Wish
to Live in the Country.

Rev. Henry c. Mabie, for five years past pas
tor of the First Baptist Church. and a minister
whose work and talents have commended them
selves most highly to the community, last night
resigned his charge, and announced his inten-
ton to remove to Belvidere, H., where he will
live on a farm and officiate in the church there.
The resignation was a decided surprise to the
congregations inasmuch as it was totally uneX-
pected. For several weeks DR.. Mabie's health
has been failing and he has been taking va
cation. He returned recently, but announced
to nobody that he thought of resignirg. AT the
prayer meeting last night, after the usual de-
votional exercises, he went home, leaving the
following letter which was read to the congre-
cation;
To the Members of the Baptist Church, Indianapolis
Beloved Brethren-Five years ago the present
month by invitation of your official members hrst
visited you with reference to settling among
lowing 1 received and accepted your hearty
call and began my labors among you in October follow
oget her with perfect concord and large measure OF
the divine blessing. You have been kind and patent
people and have accorded me corporation For
all this L heartily thank you Considerations OF
health, however land those only now compel me to
recommt to you the weighty trust in order that you
may secure successor better able to you the
plete change and the tightening of abors to ind such
recuperation as may be needful.
providentia opportunity for such reeuperaton
seems Just open before me in the call extended to
me by the First Baptist Church. of Belviders, H.,
smaller county church, where my abors Will be much
lighter and the opportunities for much outot-door
life by residence with my father on the farm are
offered me.
Accordingly. here and now offer you my resgna-
ton for the purpose of accepting this call,
trusting that you will unanimously aequesce in it,
and desiring that my time of service here may expire
ali TatI
Of your manifold kindnesses and love for you all
am, Your affectionate pastor,
HENRY G. MABIE
No action was taken in the matter, but it will
be considered at an early day The leading
members of the church all unite in expressions Of
regret that they are to lose their PASTOR to whom
Their are much attached.
WHAT DIR. MABIE SAYS.
To Journal reporter, last night, DIR. Mabie
said that he had been thinking of resigning for
several months, as all along he realized that his
health was failing and that he could not stand
the work that was necessary to be done here.
Upon his recent visit to Belvidere, His, he
had been strongly urged to come there and take
charge of the church, and had agreed to do So
This change, he thought. would be very benef-
eia to him, nasmuch as he could live onand cult
vate a small farm, which he owned there, and at
the same time preach once week in the church,
which needed regular pastor. 1.-The salary, OF
COurS6. Sdlu MI. 10 ihuCH SiisfiLeI bilClC
than here, not half so large in fact; so you see
a minister doesn't always go to the place where
he get the most money. Belvidere is my
old home and my people live there have been
pastor of the church here for five years, and my
relations with the congregation and people have
been very pleasant and cordial and can com
plain of nothing. The church is in prosperous
condition, the work of the past winter having
been universally satisfactory. l don't want it
understood that my health is broken down, but
want too prevent such a misfortune The work
here is to heavy for me, and feel that l am fail
ing under it. L think that my health will i'm
prove after get on the farm and am engaged, at
least part of the time, in out door work. The
church at Belvidere has a membership of about
200, mostly farmers intelligent
people" -~