The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-01-18
REV. BARTON RESIGNS.

He has Accepted Call to the shawmut
Congregational Church In Boston.
To the First Congregational Church OF
Wellington;
Dear Brethren:-I have received from
the Shawmut Congregational church, OF
Boston, Mass, a unanimous call to become
their pastor. In that call, the society OF |
that church has concurred by unanimous
vote. have not sought this call and did |
not desire it, but in 1t believe that l see
the will Of God. and am constrained to
accept it, | therefore tender to you my
resignation as pastor of this church TO
take effect on the last day Of February.
II was on the first Sunday in March now
nearly three years ago that first preached
to you, and month later l began my lab
ors among you. Although | had been ln
the work of the ministry for five years,
one half of that time had been in mission
ary work and the remainder in preaching
| in Litch6eld while was in attendance at
the theological seminary; and this is my
first settled pastorate. From the time OF
j my coming among you until this day, my
relations with you have been of the most
pleasant character and you need no as
surance that the step which now take
does not spring from the slightest dlssatls-
faction with this church or any OF its
t members; for ] am, as l always have
been, very happy here, and have learned
g to love you all, as a church and as indi
9 yiduals. go simply because l believe
I. ought to 90, and because l ought an
. clad to 20 to my new field; but am sorr!
, and only sorry to part with you. You re
ceived with rare kindness my family AM
myself when we first came to you and yo
10 have endeared yourselves 10 US by unnum
" bered acts of kindness since. You hay
paid my salary promptly and l believ
cheerIully and have added to the sum o
iginally promised a generous increas
on You responded readily 10 my appeal i'
as- the payment Of the church debt. Ye
all have added, a, my request, extensive In
on provements TO the parsonage propert
ed AT the same time your contributions I
ii. benes olence and for the societies copne'
air ed with this church haye not diminlshe
an but have increased year by ye'
he You have co-operated heartily in
be work Of the regular church services al
d. the special seasons Of revival. You ha
'ett listened week by week 70 the thin
ce- new and old" as they have been present
age to you, holding fast to the old truths a
iie' giving hospitable reception TO the
'rd' that seemed new, You have borne
orS' tiently with my mistakes and have app
ing ciated fully whatever of merit there
eid been in my efforts. For all this thank
"a most heartily. shall never forget It
cease to love you for H. The ties h'
no, loosened: to sever them Is as pain
to me as it can be to you. l pray God
nKs send you soon pastor, and for him
''eu speak the same kindness which you hi
o 10 always shown to me. More than thi'
! F" cannot ask and you cannot perform.
ne'' have now to ask that you accept
resignation and appoint committee
s"s' act with like committee from the so
ty in calling council Of dismission.
SEH' "Finally, brethren, farewell. be peif
be Of good comfort, be Of one mind,
in peace. And the God OF love and pc
'raS' shall be with you" Yours in Chris
- a. 9 affection, WILLIAM b. bAKroi