Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-01-31
RESIGNATION OF MIR. BuRNIE.
win Leave Central Union Church H"d
Return to MaSSa chusetts.

At the morning service In Cen.
trail Mon church Yesterday, Rev.
u. =. Biruie read his resignation
from the pastorate Of the church.
The resignation was a surprise to
the congregation. and is deeply
regretted by the community at
large. Following Is the tuIl text
of the resignation:
"HONOLULU, Hawaiian Islands.
"TO THE CENTRAL UNION Church
Three years ago at your call, |
turned aside from my work IN
Boston, resigned my pastorate Of
the Allston Church, and accepted
your invitation to be your minis
ter.
"On March Il, 1898, | began
my work with YOU. \ few weeks
later / was + FINALLY installed by
couuciI.
"The charge which WAS com
mjttei 10 me | now return.
"NO term Of service was mention
ed either in your call or in my
acceptance, therefore, the initia-
tive rests with the pastor.
Ia ord + that the work of the
church may receive the least pos
sibIe iut Eruption. and that you
may have ample time to secure my
successor, | Will name Monday,
July %. 1898, as the date on
which my resignation shall take
effect.
This | do not under the intu-
ence of hasty impulse, bot after
careful thought and earnest prayer.
&" In view of all the circum-
stances, | do not feel that it is my
duty logger to bear the res pousl-
bilIty of leadership in the work of
this church.
am mindful of the kind help
and courtesy which members of
the church have manifested to me
and mine. | deeply appreciate
the cheer and aid which have come
to me from the members of this
congregation. whose presence here
is proof of their interest in spirit
ual life. Nor do | lose sight of
the confidence and cooperation
which | have invariably received
from all classes and parties in the
city.
"Greatly have | enjoyed the in
telligent sympathy shown by the
young men in my efforts to carry
the spirit Of Christ into the cur
rent life and thought of the com
mainly.
In this pulpit there has been
neither personal nor political dis
cussion, and in my pastoral work
my purpose has been to serve the
people without regard to their
differences.
My sincere prayer is that our
Father who has guided us in our
work for Him, may keep you III
unicy and harmony, that He may
Increase your strength and add to
your numbers, aud that the com
ing year under other leadership
may bring spiritual blessings
hitherto unknown to these Isl.
and- aud this church.
"GOur Minister in Chri-t,
"DOUGLAs PUTNAM BRINE.
Il hereby ask that a meeting Of
the church be called as soon as
the rules will permit, to take ac-
ton upon this letter and also to
appoint committee to co operate
with the pastor in calling II coun-
ell ard to request the council to
formally dissolve the pastoral re
(atiop.n
Mr.. Birnie, in conversation with
II representative Of the BULLETIN
this morning, said that his rea
sons for resi- Cning were all con.
tanned in the letter. Any ampliti
cation of these or any new rca.
sons, he desired especially to say,
would not come from him. He
had come to the decision with the
most careful deliberation as init.
mated, and having done
so would not discuss it even with
the church committee.
One Of the chief reasons for his
taking the pastorate three years
ago was to promote harmony i'll
the church. In retiring it WAS his
resolve to do or say nothing that
might introduce controversy OF
disunion. He wanted in brief to
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