New-York tribune., 1896-12-28
BACK TO HIS OLD FOLD.
WV THE REV. MR.. GWYLYM RETURNS
TO THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
HE HAS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BEEN fA'iO''
OF THE MACDOUGAL STREET
pApT1cT CHURCH


BAPTIST CHURCH
The Rev David V Gwym preached his rare
we'll sermon to his congregation at the Macdougai
Street Baptist Church last evening HIS res'gha-
tlon was presented about n month ago week
ago las. night he promised the congregation that
last night he would tell them In detail the rea-
sons for his resignation. and that the December
number Of THE Monthly Journal OF the Mac
dougal Street Baptist Church. which was o'-
tributed last evening. would contain letter over
his signature IN which the causes for his departure
would be fully explained
The body Of the church was we'll filed last even
ing with members OF the congregation while IN
the gallery we're many poor people OF the neghbor-
hood. among whom 1t has been customary TO DIS
tribute bread every Sunday evening. MT ""iI'm
delivered bre. sermon upon theme appropriate
to the season At It's close he said In regard 10
his resignation:
THE relation between as pastor and people
has been an ideal one. II would therefore Do
hard task for me 10 say farewell even II had
resigned your pastorate with a view to accepting
another in the same denomination. but the iact
that can neither remain at my present post nor
accept another makes Il doubly hard 10 say, sooi-
bv' The fact Is. my beloved brethren an conn
pelled In order retain conscience Voih OF
ofYenc. toward God TO return TO the bosom o. my
snr,tual mother the Episcopa. Church. Surely no
charge can be made that am resigning from this
pastoTate with view 10 pecuniary Dehe"'s' io'
reasons which are apparent
At the close OF this brief explanation OF MS posi-
ton Mr. Gwym distributed The Monthly jour
nal' to the congregation which crowded about inc
nla,rorrn and showed in many ways their appreciA-
ton OF his work and their regret a, his departure
The valedictory in this publication Is letter oi
perhaps 1000 words. the hrst part OF when is VII
tually repetition Of the address at tho close OF
the sermon. In the letter ne also says:
I committed the &C; that made IT possible ,or you
me "
OF spring tide OF religious emotion. ,,.A -
II was Just then that did things. suoh a
nrea ching on the streets etc. that caused som"
Church people TO lose confidence In nv churcnihan- an
shin Yes IL was the ardent aspirations OF my
own undisciplneG zeal coupled with my unhtness
TO bear trial, that led me 10 commit mos i'fesi
larities and to finally accept work ou,s'I' ,ans ,n
suffered in consequence. am now confident tdt
A deep spiritual life cannot be susialheu , apa,s
~ Gods holy Church. II is my coiVlcnci. as iAr
as nv own soul IL concerned. that nothlhg can
,ake tho place Of sacramen,al communion am
sn,srsniv aanxious TO save souls. but ! am con
vinred that the best service can render a human
being IL to be instrumental in preparing MN io'
the blessed eucharist.
But YOU may say. why not remain "here you arr.
ren right here 70 make a revercn; use OF that? Ny
beloved your monthly communion is merely bare
nf Gsjyary that s all You do indeed, claim any
more for H. II is thus reduced 70 the level OF an
Chnrcb are ever fresh and llfc-gvins. They do not
merely promise grace hut they convey 1t TO the soul
hd"n,iftl combnstion Of Beihehem and calvary.
peonie talk much in these days about the Historical
Christ Bur the past and the present are blssful
realifes in the Blessed Eucharist. Through the
agency OF the Holy Ghost. Calvary and bethlehem
became in the Blessed Sacrament a great eternal
now II matters not whore the Blessed Eucharsi
is celebrated. whether in magnificent cathedral
or in a log cabin in the country. in Fifthave man
The essential are dviney appointed Priest. the
dviney ordained elements and the sacramentaly
preparrd believer When the Holy Ghost is thus
honored. In regard to the ofhcator and the re-
clpent even that poor garret becomes the presence
chamber OF the King Of Kings and OF the
Lord Of lords The Blessed Eucharist thus be
comes the means through which the n.-life OF
Jesus Ia communicated TO the soul ] cannot live
spiritual mother. am sorry TO leave you. for you
have been exceedingly kind to me. am sorry 10
leave this constantly Increasing congregation but
nv soul is hungering for the Eucharistic presence
am indeed sorry to leave you, and yet am terribly
hoInc-sick on. that II were the home sickness OF
a dutiful child who having been away at school.
or on business. now turns his face homeward win
alas, nv home going IS that Of a disobedicnt. un-
grateful child who has been unmindful Of iheTfrust
Committed TO his care deserve nothing from my
spiri,ual mother but frOvns ana chilling looks
Ncveri heless with burning heart ana a bowed
head 7 am going back. and though men may
Yrown I shall receive Jesus in the fulnrss ana
sweeiness Of His sacramental presence. and having
him I shall have all
Mr. Gwilym was ordained in the Episcopal Church
in 1859 and for some time subsequent 10 that
da.e rector OF Trinity Church. in Lewiston Me.
Later he was connected with the Little Mission Of
the Church Of S.. David. IN Brooklyn. While there
he began the work 70 which he refers in his letter.
Macdougal Street Church. He has been connected
r',h .his church FOR the last years.