The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-03
Mr.. Robe RECEDES.
Withdraws Charges.
Against Grafton
Society.
He MAKES 4 PLAIN STATEMENT.
Neighborhood Meeting Of
Unitarian Societies.
Sunday Cock Fight.

Grafton. July 2.-After the morning
sermon in the Evangelical Congrega-
{ tional church here, this morning. Rev
b. A. ROBBIE rendered to his congrega-
zion full, plain and emphatic state,
ment as regards his position in the
present resignation" squabble. AS viii
De seen below, he rescinded part OF
ms resignation. as he did not clearly
interpret the note handed him by the
committee. He furthermore stated that
ne would not have his resignation take
effect August LIST, as at first planned
but would wait until the end of tbs
present pastoral year, April /, 1890. In
p9yt, he said as follows:
l said, my friends, that l would
make q statement to you this morning
With reference to my position, in view
OF the recent action of the society in
not accepting my resignation. What
snail say is not intended as a rerly to
The society, but something which you,
my people, in view of the fact that
my resignation was read before you,
Should understand. 1t has not been an
easy thing for me to decide just what
the real motive of the society was in
passing the vote that they did TO re-
duce my salary. l was mistaken. it is
said, in my Interpretation of that vote.
The vote. because of the form IN which
IL was worded, has been so much conf
lnented upon that / interpreted 1t as
being indicative not only of dissatis-
zaction with myself as pastor, but as
total disregard for my feelings person
ally, and detrimental to my possible
Into ~, rA& n1Xt
was this Interpretation my own, hut
il was the Interpretation of the conn
Dlunity at large.
Now. many members of the society
have protested against this interpreta-
zion in the strongest terms They have
denied its truthfulness. Those members
who constructed the soeietys state
nent. have personally assured me in
the most positive manner that they
nave never entertained any feeling
against me as a pastor. They have told
me that 1T was purely question Of
finance that burdened and perpleXed
them, and therefore the problem found
its solution through vote which re-
lieved the society of its financial de-
preston and also relieved me of three
hundred dollars salary: that that vote
was not meant to denote any feeling
against me as pastor; and, my friends,
I have accepted this assurance What
these brethren have said to me, l be-
lieve. What otherwise can l do?
Though their action in some of your
minds might seem to belle it, how else
can / understand 1T?
$50, my friends, believing as l do
what these brethren have said. l de-
sire at this time to withdraw, and here
by do in total, what said in my res
ignation in regard to their action. My
Interpretation of that vose was wrong,
lit was unjust-and inasmuch Is 1t
involved the question of my personal
standing, it is therefore with the great
est pleasure that / make this state
ment. only hoping that 1t will he re-
ceived and accepted with equal pleas
IRE and satisfaction by you all.
But now ask Are you prepared for
the consequences? ! do not say the
inevitable OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
which must follow-and which are GER
tainly radical ones. The society at It's
meeting did not request me to with
draw my resignation, but it voted not
to accept II. The form of the vote,
however, is of no account. A society
which desires its pastor to withdraw
his resignation often puts 1t in the form
adopted by this society, Ny resignation
contained something obnoxious to the
it unworthy the church and character
of the community, and to accept the
resignation would be the society's ac-
acknowledgement that my charge was
true. The charge must first be elm
mated. Whether the society would
vote as unanimously to accept my
resignation with this done, as it has
now done not to accept it, is not for
me to say.
aaThis I can say: What the society
desires is done, and done most willing
ly and cheerfully. l withdraw the
charge. wish to call your especial at
tention to the withdrawment thereof.
The vote to reduce my salary was an
tagonistic to me and now stands as the
only reason that had in resigning
The resignation, as 1t were, falls to
pieces. 1t has no basis to rest upon;
so that, had the society wished by its
vote to request me to withdraw my
resignation, it could not have presented
that vote in more emphatic form than
it has.
Now, my friends, let my resignation
stand just as 1t is. l do not withdraw
it. I'wish to make one condition, how
ever, that the time be fixed for it to
take effect April !. 1900, instead of
August l OF this year. I believe that
such postponement is absolutely neces-
SdTy 10 The TeCOBHiIOu On the part OF
the public and yourselves Of my state
ment that was mistaken in my inter-
probation of the society's meeting.
Should / go August /. there is not a
person in this community but who
would feel. in spite of what I have
said, that went because of what
many of them and a good many of you
have called the unkindly treatment OF
the society toward me- and II should
60 at the close of this month, half
believe ! should feel so myself 1t is
for this purpose that desire to have
the, resignation take effect the LIST OF
nAxt April.
I'm the meantime, much can be done
<2Y our mutual confidence and forbear-
szice toward one another to please our
common Master and add to and
strengthen those kindly feelings which
have characterized this passionate ur
to almost the present hour. The best
time for minister to go is not wher
there is q feeling of misunderstanding
between his people and himself, but
when there is a time OF kindness and
love. Such is q good time for pastor
to stay. but It is a better time for him
to go. Nothing but o spirit Of mutua
kindness, appreciation and love should
mark the closing period thereof.