Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-31
CAN HE GO, NOW +?
ALI Saints Parish Trying Hard to
Keep Their Rector,
MASS MEETING AT CHURCH.
Many Earnest Tributes to the
Rev. DR.. A. H. Vinton.
No Similar Demonstration Ever Known
There Before The Rector Absent;
But the House Filled.
MASS MEETING AT CHURCH.

All Saints Church, Wednesday evening
in response to a call for mass meet
ing to express the opinion Of the parish
in regard to the call which Rev. DR.
Vinton, the rector, has received from
Christ Church, Detroit. There must have
been more than seven hundred in thu
pews The choir were in their stalls
and the rector's assistant. Rev Charles
Lancaster Short. conducted the brief ser.
vices which preceded and followed the
meeting. The Rev. John Gregson sal
in the chancel.
Hon. Edward Z. Davis, the senior war
den, who presided over the meeting,
read a statement setting forth the pur-
poss of the meeting, and the Importance
of the call which the rector had re-
ceived from the largest church
in the Michigan diocese, a church from
which three rectors have been consecra-
ted bishops, Mr.. Davis also gave the
substance of the proceedings of a meet
ing of the wardens and vestry by whom
it was unanimously decided that all hon
orabie means should be made to retain
the services of DR.. Vinton, and that a
public expression of the feelings of the
parish was desirable.
Charles NJ Bent, the junior warden,
was the first speaker, after remarks had
been called for. He was succeeded by
Frederick Pratt, who presented the ad-
dress of the parish to the rector, which
was subsequently adopted unanimously
by a rising vote. Other speakers were
Charles D. LamSon, Henry Eveleth Hill
Hon. John r. Thayer, Rev. Mr.. Short
(who spoke at the chairman's request
and confined himself chiefly to the ad-
vantages of long rectorates), George Ar
thur Smith, Representative Charles G.
Washburn, E. Francis Thompson, Geo.
t. Dewey, John w. Young, Mr.. Pryor
of the Church Temperance Society, and
Charles A. Merrill. Letters were read
from the Rev. Henry Hague, rector OF
ST Matthews Church, Hon. John D.
Washburn, one Of the vestry, and from
Mr.. and Mrs. D. H. Eames. Mr.. Da-
Wis also vouched for the loyalty of Jo-
siah H. Clarke, another vestryman who
is now in Egypt
The remarks of the speakers We're all
of one general tenor, as regards the de-
termination to persuade Hr Vinton tc
remain, if that were possible. The ex-
pressions of love, respect, trust and
even dependence, might reasonably have
filled with gratitude and pride the
heart of any man CT whom such things
could be said. Sometimes the speeches
took the form of a confession. 1t was
said by more than one speaker, that
enough had not been done for the rec
tor. There were too many vacant pews
at service for so large a congregation
the people had perhaps not been as re-
sponsive as they ought to their rector
ne had no family through whom he
might feel the pulse of the parish OF
learn its sentiments towards him; and
the parish should be frank with him
they had been backward in giving him
the opportunities for progress and the
extension of work that he desired and
deserved; the altar was in place, but the
parish house was still lacking, and the
credit of the parish might well be
pledged to provide such a building, in
which the women, the most active and
most useful portion of the congrega-
ton, could do their work properly.
These points indicate the freedom of
opinion expressed. One speaker sugges-
ted that some special method be adopt
ed aside from the address) to show
how deeply the rectors services were
appreciated, how much he was priced
personally, and how unanimous and
earnest the wish for his continued min
istrations. The Junior warden said DR..
V1nton's decision would wholly depend
upon his conviction as to which place
he could do the most good in. He put
in terse form suggestion Of the mod
orator, and said in effect that the s1lrest
way to drive DR.. Vinton away was to
offer to raise his salary. The speaker
who said that DR.. Vinton had been in
curing whether he had not reached the
end or his usefulness in All Saints, only
repeated what was common knowledge
OF the parish. The answer to that query
Is a loud, spontaneous mo-"
The address adopted by the meeting
was as follows:
To the Rev. Alex H. Vinton. D. D.
rector of All Saints Parish: Your mar.
ishioners are gathered here in All
saints Church upon an occasion
memorable in its history. AS with one
accord we nave come, impelled by a
common motive. Your recent invitation
to another parish has filled our hearts
with apprehension and brought us from
season of peaceful content to one OF
grave Solcitude.
Fourteen years have passed since you
came to US. In all this time no shadow
has been allowed to rest upon your
people, which has not been instantly
followed by sunshine. While inevitable
calls to vacant rectorates have been ex-
tended to you, no period of suspense can
be remembered during this long-con-
tinUed relation between pastor and peo-
pie, and now, after these years of per
feet confidence, a bond of union exists
stronger than ever.
Let US dwell briefly upon this relation
so nearly ideal in its mutual trustfulness
and speak unreservedly Of our feeling
toward you, our beloved minister, and
OF your attitude toward us, your united
people. From the first you have won
our gratitude by your forbearance with
our many Limitations. Never reproach.
full, meyer trying to achieve the impossi-
bic, but always stimulating our highest
| endeavors. With rare patience anc
steadfastness of purpose, you have in.
Spired in your parish a love for the
church service with such enrichments
as lend beauty and dignity to the wor-
ship of God. In your preaching we have
learned to realize the truth of the say.
ing that Feeling, not less than thought
composes the most precious sermons
Precious indeed have been the words Of
hope and cheer and counsel that have
fallen from your lips. The highest
spiritual truths of the gospel as well as
the great moral lessons, have been pre-.
sented with ,eincerest feeling
But what can we say of our persona,
relation to our rector. Who would dare
trust himself to give expression to his
sense of loss, if the worst were to come
There are few in our great congrega.
ton who nave not known the blessing
of your sympathetic nature and beer
immeasurably comforted and sustained
thereby.
But we,lstn. claim you. Here in this
parish, eyer hallowAd by sweetest memo
ries of your OVID home life. Here in
this growing con1niunity, whose citizen:
l,., Lob ,,~i1 1e.1 in