The herald., 1898-02-07

There can be but one right solution to any
problem. To find that solution and apply
1t to the question that confrontS us should
be our sole and serious business. No price
is too great to pay for peace-save the pros
titution of conscience and the degradation
of self-respect. In the balancing of prop
erty over against spiritual efficiency,
there can be but one choice. Seek We first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto
you
"It is as needless, as 1t would be un-
profitable, to review the experiences of the
past two years, but am sure that you will
pardon word or two of personal state
ment In the beginning of the difficulty,
when the controversy between the pres
bytery and this church arose, / could have
forsaken this people and, by accepting a
call to a strong pulpit, have avoided the
subsequent pain and at the same time have
profited nightly from a financial stand
point. But because / have loved this
church, and because 1 have believed-and
do now believe that it was actuated in
this unhappy contention by motives of
principle and not by interests of property,
l could not play the hireling shepherd and
leave this flock in the hour of its peril.
1t has been possible within the past few
months to leave you to my own betterment.
both as to money and ambition. | am not
using my ministry in order to build up
fortune or to secure place. So long as you
have desired my ministry, and our rela-
tions have been maintained without jeop-
ardizing our larger interests, / have been
more than content, | have been glad to re-
main your pastor. But from the very out
set of the controversy l have declared
over and over again that whenever it
seemed even family possible that the dis
solution of the pastoral relation might
Al - H..
ficulty my resignation would be immedi-
ately Forthcoming. l mention these things
30 personal to myself, not for the sake of
exploiting any egotism, but in order that
the action which l am about to take may
not be subjected to the slightest misun-
derstandng.
/ have been willing to sacrifice for this
church. I am still willing to do So In
these years of companionship you have
had my heart and my love for you has
grown with the days of our pilgrimage
You are dearer to me now than at any
time since we first looked into each others
eyes and clasped hands in mutual service
for the Master. And because l love you
and am not willing for moment to stand
in the way of happy and final settlement
of this miserable business, l now tender
you my resignation as pastor of this
church. 1 do not propose to leave you
shepherdless. This resignation will take
effect when, at a meeting of this congre-
cation, you shall accept 1t. Until then I
will most gladly minister to you and
preach to you 10 the best of my poor abil-
ity. only step aside in order that l may
rot be an obstacle in the solution of the
difficulties before you. The interests of
tho church take precedence of the interests
Of any individual. In your consideration
Of this matter YOU must be governed only
by the desire to secure the greatest good
for the cause Of righteousness. l shall be
deeply grieved If, in determining your
course you are influenced in any degree
by your personal regard for me. Pastors
pomc and go. The church remains. need
no proof Of your affection. The past years