Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-14


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The resignation II the reetorshlp OF
ss Marks church BY Rss. Ds. Campbell
Fair Is the most Important ECCLESIASTICAL
event thAs bas occurred snes The
osgsnisaslon OF the diocese OF Western
Michigan. The resignst,en sAs pre-
sented last week. and quite recently
the Rev. doctor has received call 70
81. chIysostom. Brooklyn, Long Island.
OF course tbs one event must b
assumed 70 have direct connection With
the other. The vsstry Of 81. Marks
church have been rejecting over the
resignation since the moment oil ~
presentation, but ss yet no conclusion
has bsen reached. The vestry are;
wardsns. w. r. Shelby and Edwin =.
uhl, vessrymen, G. w. cslkins, J. w.
champlin. r. c. Fuller, =. A. Gorham,
A. @. Hodenpyi. T. j. o'Brien, Frank
Letsllier, w. r. Shelby, 4. y. uhl. {.
G. A. Weight. The whole matter OF
the doctors departure rests with these
gentlemen. because, under the law OF
the church, . rectorship 10 permanent
unless dissolved by natural consent OF
rector and vestry. A. far - the TELE-
GRAM. HERALD can learn the sentiments
Of the yestry and congregation, there Is
rot desire in any heart 10 have the
pastoral relation dissolved. On the
contrary, there is al attitude OF tear
fulness among the people Of Sc. Marks
over the bare suggestion of the sever
ance of the sacred tic. While the
parish has the legal right TO hold the
doctor If it choose not 70 let him 60, It
will not oppose his wishes beyond
the limit OF delicacy. The prevail
ing sentiment in the parish new
is that both pastor and people
bs left with perfect freedom TO
act. The doctor will not press his
resignation beyond proper limits, and
the parish will not seek to become
barrier in the way OF deserving mans
promotion to better and larger fields OF
pastoral endeavor.
1t Is difficult to measure great man
ut close contact. But when DIR. Fairs
career is held at arms length, 1t will
be found to compare fayorably with
many another that has received more
substantial recognition. The doctor
himself is fond of notices, and it is
safe to say that not q person IN Grand
Rapids will protest If the TELEGRAM
HERALD designate as the motto Of
Scripture best applicable to the rector
Of St. Marks that which was first ap-
piled to his Great Master, "He went
about doing good"
Campbell Fair was born in county
Mayo, Ireland, on April %, l443. He
will be, consequently. As years old on
his coming birthday. His father was .
large landed proprietor IN Ireland, and
the son, Campbell, was ut first designed
for the pursuit Of civil engineer. but at
the age Of Is the determination was
taken to educate him for the sacred
ministry. After highly honorable
career in the colleges and parishes OF
England, he came to the United
States ON q tour In search of health
He had been the victim of terrible
railroad accident in Wales, in Septem-
Der, 1868. While travelling TO recover
his shattered health, he became so i'm
pressed With the country, thai he
determined to remain here. His first
ecclesiastical connection in this coun-
try was that of assistant rectorship of
Christ Church, New Orleans, in 1871,
where he remained until 1870. At that
time he became rector of st. Ambrose
Church, New York. In the same year,
he became rector of the Church OF the
Ascension, Baltimore. The Pensioners
of st. Marks Church we'll know the
affection in which he was held in that
parish, because they wooed him from
there with bats which they only can
know who have persuaded oteers to do
great things. DR.. Fairs administration
of the Church of the Ascension is a
proverb in Maryland. DIR. Fairs sweet
influence in Grand Rapids and Western
Michigan will be proyerb in the West
If he go back to the East. He was
twice elected by the lay vote of Eston
to the bishoprick of that diocese,
and only failed of full election
by one dIsentient clerical vote. The
church to which he has been called is
. majestic stone Gothic structure, with
high and MASSIVE tower. The parish is
one of the most important in the large
diocese in which it is located. but there
is no doubt that its administration I'm.
der DR.. Fair will be "a successful as any
which has followed him throughout his
successful career.
The matter of DR.. Fairs acceptance
of this call is as yet wholly in allegiance.
Nothing can be known of the future
until the vestry shall have acted upon
his resignation. While no member OF
the vestry has been found who desires
to see the doctor 60, 1t 10 not likely
that his wishes will be seriously opposed
when those wishes become fully re-
vealed.