The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-27
REV. DR.. MERRILL RESIGNS,
Differences of Opinion as to Methods the
Cause of His Leaving the Second
parrish

differences OF opinion as TO HethooS 'ho
Cause of His Leaving the Second
Parish.
AT the Sunday morning service at
Second Parish Church, Rev. E.
P. Wilson of Woodfords, who occupied
thee pulpit, read the following letter,
which explains itself:
To the Second Parish Church and So
ciety:
Dear Friends / have reluctantly come
to the conclusion that | cannot longer
attempt the solution of our church prob
lem. Reluctantly, [ say, for during my
passionate of more than four years. your
welcome to me on my parish rounds and
your greetings by the way have been
most cordial and no one OF our church
or parish has expressed to me his dissat-
isfaction with my ministry. L do not
infer from this that you have all APPROX
ed of my methods or accepted my teach
ings or fancied my preaching, but do
inter that we ought to part as good
friends
There are two reasons for the decision
which [ have reached. The first is the
arrangement of services and the ag1ta-
tion connected with the attempt to adjust
the services. | know that nearly all OF
you devoutly wish that this agitation
might end by settling down upon one
day service, as all other city Congrega-
tional churches have done, but the 1ndl.
cations that a satisfactory settlement OF
the matter will be reached are not at
all favorable, and having deferred tax
ing this present step for many monIhs
in the hope that long before TINS tlme
the question would have been setGied
right. | cannot think it wise to spend
any more of the best years of my lie I'M
ffot which fms maGCer
occasions. The present arrangement
tends to negative the preaching of the
minister.
We're our church twice as large as it is,
as large as I supposed it was when l ac-
cepted your call it might possibly an
swer to divide it into two separate con-
gregations as we are now doing, but for
a church of less than 300 active mem
hers in an audience room of 1000
sittings, TO thus deprive itself OF the
esprit de corps which large congregations
induce and insist upon meeting in sec
tions is to attempt the lifting OF bur-
den, by using one hand at time, which
it is all that the two hands together
can lift, while your minister compelled
to meet his church in relays during the
day is debarred from doing in the even
ing the work which our vincinage makes
imperative. This last matter men TONED
suggests my second and chief reason for
leaving my present position. Constituted
as l am, l can on longer face the oppor-
tunity, which in my Judgment this
church has before it, an opportunity I'M
surpassed in Maine, and be unable to
meet it, / am convinced that there is
not sufficient unanimity of opinion
among our constituency in regard to this
opportunity to justify me in longer urg-
ing the only methods of work which 1T
seems to me can make our church truly
prosperous. For this reason must take
asfiefd which can be cultivated on the
basis of its conditions and opportunities.
am very glad that in the face OF per-
plexities that have abounded no root OF
bitterness has sprung up; that although
fifty of our church have moved to more
strictly residence section. we have lost
but three from our roll; that our pew
rentals have held their own; and above
all, that our prayer meetings, Sunday
school and missionary organizations are
in most excellent condition, and but
one communion has passed without ad-
dition to our mem bership. 1t is with
no little pain that I ask to be relieved
from the passionate of a church Ill which
| have found an unusual number OF
devout souls, and one by whose mem ber-
ship I lave, IN a manner that has
touched me deeply, been remembered
at the throne of grace. But it must
be done Will you therefore, appoint
committee who in conference with me
shall decide upon the time at which this
resignation shall take effect, with due
regard for the interests of all concerned?
Sincerely your friend and pastor,
j. G. MERRILL.