St. Paul daily globe., 1884-09-14
ST. PAUL. Sent. Q, 1884

Paul church:
ST. PAUL. Sept. Q, 1884.
The Rt Rev. Henry B. Whipple, Bishop OF Min
nesota and President OF tine Seabury mission
Dear Bishop: The undersigned, the vestry Of
st. Paul's church parish, have had under CON
sideration a communication from the Rev. Z. 5.
Thomas, our rector, advising us that he had been
unanimously elected as warden OF Seabury Hail,
By the trustees OF the SeaOury mission, at Fsri
bault and submitting 20 the determination OF his
vestry the question OF his acceptance Of the Of
fee.
We have listened with much interest TO your
arguments in favor OF his acceptance. and 10 the
information therein contained, in relation TO the
nature and importance Of the ONCE to which Mr.
Thomas has been called, aud il is with great
difidence and with due Difference 10 your wishes
that We feel called upon TO assert our claim upon
his continued professional relations with our
parish, aad to respectfully urge upon him our
very urgent and unanimous request that he will
decline the honor conferred upon him by the vote
OF the trustees of SeGbury mission,
We desire, however, to put on record our APP
probation OF the high compliment conferred upon
Mr Thomas, and at the same time we take occa-
sion 10 congratulate you and your associate In
the Seabary mission upon the prosperous condi-
tion OF the church educational institutions AZ
Faribault, which have been brought
to such state Of excellence
through your personal persevering en-
ersy and zeal. Shatinck school, 81. Mary's Hall
and the Seabugy Divinity school are lasting mon
umeuts OF your noble and self sacrificing work
in the cause OF Christ, and In their grand sue
cess lie seems to have placed thereon His seal Of
approval.
In the organization Of these schools, your
board mas had the benefit Of the counsel OF Mr.
Thomas, as one Of its board of trustees. As
such he has devoted conside rable time aud atten-
tion 10 the work, both before and since his
pastoral connection with our parish, and always,
sa.I -, Tr,m
harmonious cooperation with you and
with the other trustees, in the management OF
this important church trust. We shall
always be - glad TO have him
continue such cooperation knowing that
the work is congenial 10 his professional
and personal tastes, and of benefit to the church.
But when we arc called upon TO consent TO
severance oths pastoral relations with parish,
we feel compelled to protest that in our humble
Judgment, the best interests Of the church will
not Le subserved by the proposed change.
St Paui's church parish, under the guidance
OF the Rev Mr.. Thomas. as its rector, has be-
come an inhueLtial factor in the maintenance of
morality, sound Catholic doctrine. and ell con-
servative material that appeEtsins TO the Pro-
testant Episcopal church. To sever these ties,
so long and 80 closely cemented, Is matter OF
serious consideration; and when the PROPOSE
ton becomes question OF self preservation. our
refusal to consent to the change loses ali sem
blancc 10 selfshness.
We, as a vestry, cannot contemplate without
serious apprehension. an event which We regard
so frauCht with uncertainty and probable disAs-
ter We recall the condition Of Affairs in our
parish. when the cohesion Of absolute duty but
sparsey filed our church pews; when religions
enthusiasm was comparatively dead, and the
I body corporate alone existed. We remember
the travail and soicitude 10 which. after the de-
I cease OF a beloved pastor. the parish was sub-
/ jected-ihe shoals and quieksands escaped. the
/ haven provideutiaily reached
/ We are appTeheEsiye that such . change may
result in the d.s!nteErat;OE Of what Is now .
! large and united congregation, and that the ac-
I tive interest now felt in the work Of
/ the church, in our parish, may not eontinue.
/ The same qualifications, Of sound churchnaa-
/ ship s1d executive ability, which would Il Mr.
/ Thomas for the position OF warden OF Seabury
/ hall. are just a. necessary IN the Office he now
occupies as the rector of one Of the oldest par-
/ ishes in the diocese.
| We feel constrained, therefore, 20 advise Mr.
/ Thomas TO decline the Office 10 which he has
been elected, as Ve cannot voluntarily consent %
release him from his pastoral charge, OF from his
duties sc a citizen Of s.. Paul, where his useful
ness is so generally recognized and appreciated.
very respectfully,
tSigRsdl HARVEY OFFICER, -r.-,.
RICHARDS GoHDOx, "afaens'
GEO. A HAMILTON,
| II. II. SIBLET.
| WTLLIAM z MERRIAM
HEKNAN TE0TT.
II. VI. SzTTHE
jas H. WHITMAN,
s. :. BREED,
= II. WuDER-
VIZ. RHODES
| The board thereaPOn referred the question o
the selection OF = warden . the clerical member
CT the board, 20 FeP0r; 70 the fan board al ! H.
turs meeting.