The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-08-07
A PAINFUL DUTY.


REV. nr. j. =. usndy Finds 1t Necessary
to Ask for q DtssolutiOn Of the Pastoral
Relation Between Himself and His
People OF the First PreObYterian
Church.
The following Communication was
read Sunday at. the First Presbyterian
church, by Rev. A. 8. Riggs, al the close
of the morning sermon:
To the Congregation Of the First Presby-
terrain Church, Emporia, Kansas:
BELOVED IN THE LORD: A painful
duty is imposed upon your pastor which
he reluctantly shrinks from performing.
That duty Is none other than to request
you, the people to whom for more than
three years past he has ministered in
sacred things, TO unite with him in ask
ing the Presbytery al EmpOTia to dis
solve the relation now existing between
US as pastor and people.
The reasons for this request are doubt
less known TO all. The gTeatenteFprise
of founding and sustaining Christian
college of the highest rank in this i'm
mediate locality has enlisted my warm
est sTmpathies and commanded my
most cheerful labors during the past two
years. The demand Tor such an instltu.
ton seemed to me imperative; the
time for planting it seemed aus
picious: its prospects for
growth and its capacities for usefulness
appeared TO the eye of faith simply be-
yond the power off1uman measurement.
Inspired with these views have labor
ed with other gentlemen of like mind 10
the endeaYor TO make real that which
doomed up so grandly in the vision OF
faith.
II is not necessary to rehearse the sto-
ry OF success which has attended the
movement thus far. The College of
EmpOris, by the solemn and prayerful
act OF the synod of Kansas, is planted
IN the midst of this people, and commit
TED forever to your fostering care and
sympathy. 1t is a great-a sublime
trust; and my earnest hope and conVIc-
ton is that the people of this favored
city will ever prove themselves worthy
of 1t.
Unsought and undesired on my part
the honorable but exceedingly RESPONSE,
BILE position of president Of the new in
stitution has been rendered to me by thu
cordial and unanimous vote of thu
board of trustees. Men in whose Judg
ment 1 place great confidence hay
patiently considered with me the whole
question in all Its aspects-and all ex
press their concurrence in the conviction
that the path of duty for your pastor i
providentially Indicated as being in tn
closest possible connection with the col
lege. With q sincere desire to have thI
question of duty resolved, have sough
, reverentIy to ask the Master: what vii
, thou have me to do? And so far as
have been able to interpret the reepons
am led to believe that my most effet
tive service for some years TO com
r may be rendered In connection with TIL
Christian college.
o To serve the church as pastor and tn
l college as president would Overtax tt
strength OF any man. A choice betwee
4 Tic tnO 10 Aho0
Either Justly claims II
whole time and the best thought of II
ablest man. And so it comes to pas
dear brethren, that the painful du
arises first spoken of, the request tn
i you unite with me IN askiE
the PresbVtery to dissolve Of
, relations as pastor and people, to u
= end that may be free to doYote all n
energies to the vast work of es.ablishiI
on broad and enduring basis the Co
Iege of Emporia.
, Certainly it mitigstes the sorrow c
stoned in sunderlng these holy ties
remember that in the future shall u
% be entirely separated from this poop
expect by the blessing of God to mi
gle often in your services, and shi
eyer look upon your sanctuary as t.
u spiritual home of myself and my famll
3 In all that concerns you shall ever Ia
S' the profoundest interest, and my earne
III hope is that may still contribute in
10 good degree to strengthen and enlarG
u this congregation.
ie l shall have an opportunity OF addre
u ing you at least once more before o
y relations are finally dissolved, and
this reason 1 forbear for the present
lg refer TO topics tender, comforting a
ds sacred, and that cannot be overlook
IT. with propriety.
~ Fervently invoking Gods rich
blessings upon you IN your persons,
your families and in your church fl
80 lowship, 1 am, dear fellow believe
your servant In Christ,
JOHN F. HENDY
- EmporIa, Kan, Aug. 2, 1884.
- A meeting of the session of the chur
will be held next Sabbath at the Gle
of the morning services TO consider
IN important question which has be
ks brought before the members OF I
church by reason OF the request of the p
tor to be relieved from the charge viii
ID he has filed with such great accep
gs bilIty for three years.
|
HIGHWAY Robbery.