St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-14
Rev. DR.. Dana Formally Closes
His LabopS in the North
west.
His Resignation of the Pas.
torate Of Plymouth Ten
dered to His Flock.
What Prominent Divines and
the DenOminatiOnal Press
Say Of Him.

address to the congregation at the morn
ing service, in which he reviewed
briefly the growth of the church since
his pastorate began ten years ago, and
spoke feelingly of the strong ties that
bound him to the people with whom he
had labored SO long. Both pastor and
people were deeply moved by the event.
His farewell was as given below, and
DR.. Dana read it after the completion of
the opening services. He said:
PASTORS FAREWELL.
Beloved Friends: For many, and to
me wise reasons, of both a general and
personal character, it seems that the
time has come for me to resign the pas
torate of this church. With a call un-
answered. ana pending OvertureS be-
fore me yet to be considered, l have
felt that | must ask for release, and
thus be more at liberty to decide as to
where the Master would have me go. 1t
was ten years ago the last Sabbath of
last January that | stood for the first
time in this pulpit and looked into the
faces of those whom l had
never seen before. Behind me,
as you recall the old arrange
ment of this end of the, church was the
long popular Plymouth choir, whose serv-
ices of song for years refreshed and
stimulated ME. Before me were the
founders and leaders of this then pio-
neer church. To-day, as | look over the
congregation, | can hardly find dozen
families that were present on that Occa-
sion; and this fact but indicates the con-
slant changefuIness which has always
characterized this church. 1t has from
the first been sort of temporary home
in which to partially traip and Introduce
to Christian work and workers those
who afterwards connected themselves,
because of change of residence, with
other Households of Faith in this city.
Il had come from the scene of my
first pastorate in Norwich, Conn.,, to
this distant place, the commercial
center of a till then COM
paratively terra mcognita, but now
pridefully called 1.-THE great North
west" The preliminary correspond
ence had been conducted chiefly by Rev.
K. Hall, whose missionary service in
this state had made him well acquainted
with its religious needs. He candidly
set forth the difficulties and promises of
this field, the then
LIMITED RESOURCES OF THE CHURCH,
while at the same time he expressed the
faith of its members in the cOnspicu-
ouSly useful future believed to be be-
fore it. One other who has been fore
most in every good work connected
with this church in its struggling years
with signal earneStneSS dwelt upon the
eXigencieS and opportunities Of its
situation.
''Attending the unanimous call OF
this church and society, promptly and
cordially extended me, came strong
letter addressed to the church [ was
leaving, cogently pressing the claims of
former for my services, and appealing
the latter to give me up with its God
speed to this fold. 1t emphasized the de-
n0minational work. local and general,
which would be required to be done,
and foreshadowed the varied scope Of
the anticipated ministry. This COM
munication was signed by Rev. r. Hall
and Messrs. Howard, Dyer, Corning,
SanbOrn and Hackett, and was read be-
fore my church at Norwich, and the
council that was summoned to dismiss
me. | began my ministry here the sec
Ond Sabbath in March, 1878. Plymouth
church was then the only Congrega-
tional church in st. Paul, having had a
long. hard struggle to reach the
position it then held. 1t had re-
Gently come into the build
ing embarrassed with large debt, and
had membership widely scattered but
active and growingly influential. There
were at that date only four Congrega-
tiOnal churches in Minneapolis. but ia
in the state. The membership of these
was 5.9l1. their Sabbath school enroll
ment 9,2S9, and their total contribution
to the cause of home missions was
$2,U2S.02.
Nov ten eventful years have passed,
with their phenomenal changes. The
city to which | came, with its 10000 in
habitantS, has now grown to metrOpOli-
ulation of 115.0OO. old Plymouth has
won the proud title of Mother of
Churches. and reiOices now in six daugh-
tiers and three missions with attractive
chapelS ready at an early day to blossom
into church organizations. She has
given literally i'll money and that which
is still more costly, in members, to these
prosperous offShOOtS. To Pacific church
she has dismissed 26; to Atlantic church,
10: to Park church, IS: and to Olivet, 9.
Meanwhile she has paid off the first
debt incurred in erecting this House of
Worship. enlarged and regtted it in 1884,
at considerable expense. and has re-
ceived during the decade under review
526 members, nearly one-thlrd OF whom
came in on profession Of faith in Christ.
The churches of the Congregational
order have in this period grown to 152
in number. with 120 pastors and men,
bership Of 10.S59. and Sabbath school
enrolment of 1890; while the con-
tributionS to the cause of home
missions have risen to S10,004.65. l
have seen all the pastors in Minneapo-
lis change, save DR.. Tuttle, whom
many outside of his own communion,
and | among them. affectionately re-
we're. In this city only Rev. MessrS.
Edwards and Pope are with the respect
i've charges they had when l came
hither in 1878. These are some of the
public phases of a ministry that you,
my people. have watched and shared in.
OF IT'S LIGHTS AND SHADOWS
in detail / will not trust myself to speak.
All pastors have shady as well as sunny
sides. Mine has had its full proportion
of Joy and fruitfulness. 1t has also
been fiecked with trials, private and
public. / have known that sorrow which
only bereayed hearts can enter into. /
have through these checkered years
tested friendships. and found the rare
charm belonging to those that alter not
with the flight of time: and of such [
can gratefully say. in those meaningful
words of the great apostle: Il thank my
God upon every remembrance of you"
| have been burdened at times to break
ing, but the Divine Burden-Bearer has
carried me through life's grievous
straits: while the personal ministering
of some of you then made the bright
spots in else arid and sad days: Mine
has been a ministry full of imperfec-
tions. and of mistakes as well, but not
before God, let me add, of intentional
errors. | could wish for your sakes
that it had been always helpfuller. L
have none of the ambitions that prompt
me in an hour like this to cOvet for it
greater brilliancy, as the world uses
that term. Its truest compensation to
me. as / review it, is found in that to
the strangers and ''transientS," who
SO largely worshiped here. it has