The San Francisco call., 1896-12-28
REV. E. B. PAYNE'S ADIEU,
Farewell Sermon Preached to
His Congregation in
Berkeley.
He Tells Why He Retired From the
Congregational Church-The Uni.
versity Comes In for Notice.

BERKELEY, CAL, Dec. 27.-The Rev.
Edward r. Payne bid farewell to his con-
gregation of the Unitarian church this
morning, preaching long sermon of re-
view of his ministerial la bors, tracing the
mental development by which he was
impeiled to leave orthodox ministry fol
Unitarianism.
Mr.. Payne showed how his early life
and environments led HIM to orthodox
Congregationalism and how conversion at
the age of II caused him to study for the
pulpit.
"The call to Berkeley came while was
at Oberlin College," said Mr.. Payne. "a
Congregational church had been organ
lied here TO counteract the irreligions and
rational influence of the State University,
as it was stated, and the leaders wrote to
the president of Oberlin asking for man
OF firm theology, earnest convictions and
evangelical temperament.
"When reached the new field of labor
l thought myself placed for life and
looked to a career OF practical Christian
labor in an important and promising field
But in the university town encountered
influences that had never approached me
in the old home of orthodoxy.
81 attended university courses under
LIE Conte and other professors, became q
member of the Berkeley Club and met
men with whom l must discuss topics
whose vastness had not fairly appealed to
me before. | learned that the universe is
larger than / had ever been taught"
Mr.. Payne then gave an interesting re-
view of his long battle against unorthodox
influences. "For a long time pondered
whether to accept the fight or put it
awav," ne said, "and at last decided that
as a man | must go to the bottom of the
difficulties. And SO I got the necessary
books and brought out all the old notes of
the theological lectures at college and
entered for mvself into the problems of
what as a boy had acce opted from Chris
tan parentage. At the end of two years,
during which / preached regularly, avoid
ing the moot questions, | found that
had to resign. The story of that resigna-
tion has never before been told.
"On the evening after I had declared
my intentions l was waited upon by thir-
teen prominent men of the church, who
wanted to know what my decision meant
I decided to tell all, and explained my
doubts about the authority of the Scrip
lures, the nature and person of Jesus
Christ and the eternal punishment of the
wicked. Out of the thirteen men twelve
confessed on the spot that they were in
the same condition. One, stanch and true,
held out"
DR.. Payne then told how he had be en-
persuaded to remain in the Congrega-
tional pulpit. how ne had resigned sec
ond time, as more doctrinal difficulties
crowded upon him, and how at last, in
the fifth year OF his pastorate at Berkeley,
he had peremptorlly withdrawn from the
church in 1880.
"a council of Congregational churches
was Called" said he 'and / left, followed
by the prayers and tears of friends. They
follow me even yet for only three months
ago / received a letter from the widow OF
me Der of that council beseeching me
to come back to Jesus and the early faith.
"In all this it seemed to me, and does