The morning call., 1893-09-18
REV. K. j. DUNCAN.
Tenders His Resignation
as Pastor.
His Last Sermon i'm Howard PreSby-
terian ChurCh-The GoOd-by
From the Pulpit.

The resignation of the Rev. Kenneth j.
Duncan from the pastorate of the Howard
Presbyterian Church was presented TO his
congregation Immediately after the con-
clusion of yesterday mornings services.
Mr.. Duncan himself occupied the pulpit
and preached very excellent and thought
full but strictly impersoDal sermon.
His text was the tenth verse of Psalm
XLVI, "Be still. and know that | am
God; l will be exalted among the heathen.
l will be exalted In the earth," and his
discourse was an eloquent plea for the
love that thinketh no evil" and for more
charity toward our fellow-creatures, and
more complete dependence on and trust in
God than is evidenced by humanity in
general.
Only once or twice in the course of his
remarks did Mr.. Duncan say anything
which could be thought to refer, even in
directly, to the events of the past two
weeks and his present position before his
flock.
AT the conclusion of the sermon, how
ever. he closed bis Bible and said, without
preface of any kind:
MY friends, l must now bid you good
by. l thank you for your great kindness
10 Inc since l have been with you. and l
promise those who still have faith in me
that they shall never in the future have
cause to be ashamed of that faith nor Of
me-"
There were audible sobs in the congre-
cation as the clergyman sat down and COW
cred his face with bis hands.
He soon recovered his self-cOntrol how
ever, and signaled to Mr. Palmer, one of
the elders. to come forward and read
aloud his written resignation. 1t was very
brief and business-like. "Ill-bealth and
the present financial condition of the
church" were given as reasons for Mr..
Duncan's retirement from his charge, and
the document was received without COM
meni, to be acted upon in due form.
After the benedlctlOn Mr. and Mrs.
Duncan granted a brief interview 10
CALL reporter. Mr.. Duncan is "a slender
man with a face which, though a trihe
weak about the mouth and chin, is Ie-
deemed and made almost stTikins By re-
markably broad and full forehead. He
was greatly shocked and Grieved at the
accusation which had been made against
HIM OF leading astray the youths who
accom- panied him on Iris tour of explora-
ton among the pusliSus OF The city.
Far from leading them astray," he said,
Il found them stTayng. All that has
been said about my drinking and carous-
ing with them is absolutely false. 1t is
true that | visited the dives. but | have
done so before and made no secret of ii.
1 mentioned the fact in 10Y address before
the Ministerial Association some two
months ago, referring TO the case of man
whom L had met IN such a place. More
over have spoken to several Of my con-
gregation on the subject and told them of
incidents occurring during my visits to
such resorts.
Il fail to see why | should be so severely
criticized for doing what other ciergymen
have done and for the same reasons
what the Salvation Army does constantly
without incurring blame or SANDER. AT
no time during these investiga tons Of
mine have l forgotten my position as
man and minister, and no one who has
ever accompanied me can truthfully make
that assertion"
When questioned as to young Heyden-
feldts alleged confession MIR. Duncan eX-
pressed his disbelief that the boy had
made many of the statements attributed to
him.
81 cannot believe that he could or would
say such things concerning me-" he de-
clared. Il have always liked The boy and
have tried in many ways 10 influence him
for good. l mnst feel. until know TO the
contrary, that he has been misrepresented,
as he could have no motive in trying to in
Jure me by making a confession of things
which he knows to be without foundaaon
in fact.
Now that it is all over, Irealize that it
was great mistake on my part to do as |
dld. In making my Investigations l should
nave invited some one older than myself
TO accompany me-perhaps one of the
members of the session might have been
induced to do so, and in that case no one
could have questioned my motives"
In reply 10 an inquiry as 10 the tiual dis
position OF the matter. Mr.. Duncan said
that 1t would have TO come before the
Presbytery. and that before that body he
would present his side of the case fully
and freely and abide bv its decision.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Duncan spoke feel
lngly of the warm friendship evinced by
majority of the church members, and it is
quite evident, judging from the scene
after service, when nearly all present
went forward to express their sympathy
Tor and confidence in their pastor, that
the meeting TO consider his resignation
will develop strong differences of opinion
in regard to it.