The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-16
RESIGNATION OF
REV. F. U. GIFT
PRESENTED TO HIS CoNGRE.
CATION LAST NIGHT.
He Has Been in Charge of Grace
Lutheran Church for Four Years,
During That Time Has Placed 1t
on a Solid, Substantial Founda-
tion-The Great Amount of Work
He Has Been Called Upon to
Perform Has Injured His Health
and Necessitated His Resignation.

After the sermon last evening at
Grace Lutheran church, the pastor,
Rev. Foster l.. Gift, rendered his re-
signation. 1t was not entirely uneX-
pected, as 1t was well known to his
many friends that the many arduous
duties had been telling on his vigorous
constitution, and that for the past SIX
months he has not enjoyed his usual
strength and could not attend to his
duties with the great enthusiasm so
characteristic of him and which ne
thrust into everything he undertook.
He considered it his duty to continue
until certain departments of the church
work were more thoroughly organized
and till another matter which was un-
der correspondence was decided, viz,
the pledge of the Women's Home and
Foreign Missionary society of the gen.
eral synod of the Lutheran church or
$4,000 to assist in the erection of a
church building.
This Icing accomplished. after con-
sultation with medical advice, he de-
cided to offer his resignation.
He intends to take rest and has re-
fused to entertain a call to another
field of labor for the present, though
he has been asked to allow his name
to be presented to several of the best
pulpits in his church.
Rev. Mr.. Gift came here about four
years ago, and in cooperation with a
band of earnest workers established
the Grace Lutheran church, which is
today a church of influence and stand
ing in the city.
IN SPLENDID CONDITION.
The church was never better organ
| lied in the various departments and
| the last quarterly report was one of the
| best.
| The attendance during the fall and
winter has been steadily increasing
and the prospects never were brighter
| Rev. Gift has always held the highest
confidence of his congregation and OF
the community. He Is unassuming, ha!
strong personality and is especially
forceful in his pulpit. The resignation
will not likely take effect until a sue.
cessor has been secured. Following is
part of the letter of resignation.
Scranton, Pa, Jan. Is. 1899.
To the Officers and Members OF Grace
Evangelical Lutheran Church:
| Dearly Beloved-Our beloved church II
which we have labored together during
its organization, and even before-ha!
certainly been wondrously blessed Of God
honored and owned by Him. He has per
mitted us to make constant, steady anC
| unhndered progress-without single
| step backward, without a single compro
mise of the truth-relying solely upoI
the strength of Him who is the belieV
ers fortress, and of His Zion until we cal
gratefully say, viewed from all sides
Grace church was never better organ
lied in its several lines of activity; ant
noting the recent pledge of $4,000 from
the Womans' Home and Foreign Mis-
sionary society to assist in the erection
| of a suitable house of worship-itS futur
was never brighter
This hopeful condition of things ha
hastened a duty which God clearly point
out to me to be His will. After prayer
ful thought therefore, in obedience f
his divine behest, | desire to make al
announcement which l assure you it cost
me an intense struggle to make.
GREAT DEMANDS UPON HIM.
Most of you are aware that the eX
| acting laborS of these four years haV
been making inroads upon my nerve vi
tality-so much so that for some time
have frequently been prevented from per
forming my full duties as your pastor
This, should it continue, would be a
injustice both to myself and to our dea
church whose welfare l love sincerel
at heart, as you know
After consulting medical advice [ al
convinced that either a prolonged res
or a change of the scene of labor,
best.
Nearly four years ago you called m
| to the pastorate of Grace church-whe
the church was just organized and l d
believe it was Gods voice calling ms
Now l again hear that voice saying tina
| can best serve Him and His church an
; contribute most to my future uSefulnes
by submitting my resignation as pastor
therefore offer my resignation, prayin
you to accept It, requesting that it ma
take effect when, in your judgment,
is best for the welfare of the church W
all so deeply love. preferably March
t or not later than April l.
{ May the grace of the Triune God l
with us all.
Sinnara1v N.our friend and DnStOr