The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-26
Or. ALIsoN,s FAREWELL.

Seattle. Wash, Nov. 3. 1S6
To The Editor: IN ycar issue OF THIS
morning containing the report Of my clos
ing service in the Seattle thsatsr on Sab
hath evening there appears the following
sentence: The session Of the First Pres
hyter.an church offered DR.. Alison the use
OF the chgrch for his farewell service. but
he declined"
As these words might be Somewhat mis-
leading. I take the liberty Of requesting
the use or you- columns 20 explain
l ID not decline % accept the offer. 50
handsomely given by the session, OF the
church auditorium for my parting words
because l was n any sense aFerse 70
preaching there. Ny reason. as given 20
the committee Of session, which called up
on ne, was that I did not feel hat would
be able 70 control my feelings sufficiently
TO preach a farewell sermon there. / was
afraid l would be overcome by emotion
and break down II I attempted 10 deliver
parting words from the sacred platform
so precious 70 me- by tender associations.
The church was erected under my minis
Try. I saw Il go up almost brick by brick.
/ beheld the stately outlines take form and
shape. Us magnificent interior. as fine. /
believe, as there is in the United States,
burst into living reality under my personal
gaze and supervision. ] was IN close touch
all the time Il was under construction with
the building committee, between whom and
the pastor ] was proud to say on the OPEN
ing day there had not occurred the slight
est friction or difference Of opinion from
first 10 last. No work was ever conceived
and carried through with greater harmony
and satisfaction. Il was my privilege to
commend that building committee. on the
day OF dedication, in unqualified terms of
praise, particularly DR.. Ramsey. the chair
man; Capt. w. r. Ballard. whose refined
taste found lis fitting expression in the
pews and their arrangement. the captain
acting for several months as chairman dur
ing Dr. Ramsey's absence in the East;
and also Mr.. Charles E. Crane.
Then. the pulpit and chairs were the gift
OF a personal friend in the East: the pulpit
Bible was given by one OF my faithful ell
ders IN my church in Philadelphia, and
the magnificent baptisnal font, of pure
marble, that stands on the pulpit platform.
was presented as a token OF regard for me
by one OF my Philadelphia Pensioners in
memory Of his now sainted wife, who was
one OF my most devoted Christian work
ers In the same church.
Last. but not least. is the elegant COM
munion table. the gift of Mr.. Byron d.
Smalley. Of this city. as a token of regard
very largely for his pastor. a gentleman
whose loyalty and devotion to your hum
bic scribe In all his trying experiences can
only be rewarded. with that OF the more
than 600' in the church referred to in your
ANt1 VI A0AdA LII titEAIAN.
With such suggestive scenes before me.
and the consciousness that / had well
coined into the church so mani hundreds
OF precious souls during my pastorate be-
fore that verv altar. how could 1 trust
myself TO speak. without trembling, on
grounds so holy and sacredP
/ had been pleased to nave had the serv-
Ice in the church but for such considera-
lions. The session of the church that is
sued the invitation is composed of nine
elders. with Rev. DR.. Whitworth as the
moderator. They are a noble band Of men.
Every one of them is my devoted friend.
A nastor who ~retires from a church may
we'll be proud to know that such an expe-
rience is his. Every one of his elders so
devoted to him that they can hardly be
~reconciled to his departure.
DR.. Whitworth. who organized the
church in 1869. and has watched its devel-
opnent 10 its present large proportions,
and has known my every experience in
this field. is. l am more than proud to
state. as warm a friend as / ever had. I
value the friendship confidence and es-
TEEN OF such a saint of God as that which
anguage may not express. Taking every
thing into account. / felt I would be far
more in control of my faculties IL / should
address nv warm-hearted people in an
other building. The theater, because of
its great size. although 1t proved too small
for those who desired to attend. was Sc
lected. ! feel IL is proper that your read
ers. as well as the people of the church,
should know that no feeling against the
church had induced my declination to
preach there. 1t was only because OF the
peculiar character attaching to the fare
well service that ! felt unequal TO the or
deal. II | shall visit the city again, as I
hope to do before so very long, l shall
hope TO appear In the old pulpit, to which
/ am sure I shall ALWAYS have a cordial
welcome. 1t is that the good people who
might misunderstood the matter, and con-
clude that / declined ever again to preach
In the pulpit OF the First church, may not
do so that / send YOU this epistle, and at
the same time embrace the opportunity of
making the extended remarks l nave.
With highest respect. l am. etc.
ALEXANDER ALISON.
1912 Marion street. Seattle. November ..
1895.