The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-21
STATE STREET CHURCH.
Rev DR.. Jenkins Letter Accepting the
Charge.

The following letter has been received
from Rev. DR.. Jenkins, accepting the
call to State Street church:
ia PrrTsFIELD, Mass, March 16, 1913.
| Woodbury. S. Dana, Warren sparrow, ".
w. BroaDn, Prentiss Loring, Franklin
| j. Rollins, Clarence Hale, Committee
| of State Street Church and Parish:
Conference.-The invitation to the pas
torate of the State Street church and
parish presented by you have had I'M
| der consideration. I hereby announce
| my acceptance of it, have been lnf1u-
| enced in the decision by the following
| facts:
I. By my desire to preach Christian
| truth. Years with their experience con-
firm nv faith in the Gospel as the pow
er and wisdom of God unto salvation,
unto full and sound health, unto eter-
nal life I wish to have a part in diff
| fusing so excellent truth. l am willing
therefore to preach the Gospel in Port
land.
| III. With this desire comes a greater
willingness to preach in Portland, because
of the peculiar and pleasing sentiment
there is in returning to my birth place, in
continuing and in some sense completing
what to human eyes seems the unfinished
| ministry of my father. Could do this
| in way and to degree worthy of his
earnest devotion should satisfy all lea
sonable claims, win for myself a rare
satisfaction, and possibly give
| pleasure to one in that cloud
| of witnesses who having passed beyond
and above still look down upon friends
| below.
II-Neither of the motives named
l ind RI
| ter. / accept as most determining the
expression of interest in me and of de-
sire to have me come to you. feel that
| so genuine and unlocked for and warm
desire. brought into being by no pur-
posed act of mine, springing up among
you without design, must be divine, l
seem to hear voice saying, This is the
| way. walk We in it, / could not be dis
| obedient to the heavenly vision.
There is no ne d that say more. You
have, trust, satisfied yourselves that
can be of service to you as Christian
minister. I have no methods, no arts,
| do but seek to unfold the message given
me to proclaim. / shall not, cannot
startle, amuse, can but honor moro and
more the truth by believing it most eff
feotive when freeest from human en-
largements and distortions. | come to
| YOU not as a novice in the Christian
ministry. I know it's unceasing labors,
| its high demands. / know its trials, I
| know its most abundant reeompense.
come to you not in the enthusiasm of
youth but in that clearer and stronger
enthusiasm which prolonged contact
with truth inspires and supports.
| come not as doubter, not wholly as
a seeker after truth, but as one who be-
| iieves and therefore speaks.
| / come to be more than preacher, to be
| your friend and helper, to share with you
in your joy, to be like you in sorrow. My
ambition and purpose will be met it |
am among you as one that serveth. l
have said what would be. I trust you
to give me. as prove worthy of it, your
confidence and your constant and gener-
Gus support in every wise effort / make
for the good of this people. You will
not, I am sure, deny me your prayers.
Should it accord with your wishes, l
am prepared to begin my work among
you at once, preaching upon the Sabbath
and locating myself and family among
| you as soon as possible.
| The date Of public installation may be
1 left to be determined by future confer
ence.
Your friend and servant,
jill. JENKINS.