New-York tribune., 1899-06-12
DIR. w. Fl P. FAUNCE ACCEPTS
HE WILL TAKE THE PRESIDENCY OF
BROWN UNIVERSITY.
FORMAL LETTER OF RESIGNATION READ
BEFORE THE CONGREGATION OF
THE FIFTH AVENUE BAP-
TIST CHITRCH.

TIST CHURCH.
The Rev DR.. w H. p Faunce pastor Of the
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. has decided TO ac-
cept the presidency OF Brown University 1mme-
dately after preaching the sermon at yesterday
mornings service In his church he read formal
resignation of the pastorate pointing out at the
same time that the call which came from Brown
University a summons which he could not
conscieItiously refuse. In expectation that he
would make known yesterday the course he
would follow the morning service was attended
by an unusually large congregation for this time
OF the year. Although many OF the women pres
ent could not refrain from tears when DR..
Faunce announced his intention to retire from
the church the members were not unprepared
for the step he had resolved to take It has been
generally believed from the time that the presi-
dency OF Brown was offered to him that he
would accept the offer The following is the let
ter Of resignation which he read:
To the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. ..
My Dear Friends: According TO my cearesL rie IA r
pastoral leadership which YOU summoned me zen
cision has cost me more than any other that nave
faced. 49,
had expected TO spend the rema nder of my life
in this city. content with the steady growth OF our
work and the expanding opportunities OF tne
those visits to various Institutions OF learning
which your kindness has permitted me TO make
But you have perceived, perhaps more clearly than
!, that for years an invisible tide has oeen
bearing me onward toward the educational world
From OF the oldest seats of learning In TINS
country a summons has now come which cannot
conscentiously refuse It is the call of venerable
and noble college. the call OF my alma mater. the
call of thousand students and II seems 10 me the
far less risk and toll than accept It, but life Is
not pleasant thing to a man who has avoided MS
No words can express my gratitude for the loyal
support and affection with which you nay nave an an
formed friendships which nd change OF place can
of young men and women come into this church.
whose strength and devotion make your future
secure nave SSn from TO cbap
the one side and from frigid rationaism on the
Jesus to the social conditions OF to-day. and en-;
deavored to make every Christian ver1tabe social
plans have only begun to be realized. You will
carry them out. and shall confidently watch and
rejoice
For the work on which I enter bespeak your
deep interest and cooperation. go 10 the college
they are studying to-day. ! shall still he working
with you for the making Of men and women, for
spiritual freedom, for the coming Of the kingdom
OF righteousness truth and peace -
This resignation Is TO take effect at such time as
the officers Of the church shall advise. Yours in
unbroken bonds. WILLIAM II. r. FAUNCE.
After reading the letter Or. Faunce spoke in
praise OF his assistant. the Rev. Samuel Rich
ardson, and commended him to the congrega-
ton as an indispensable blessing at this time.
When asked when he would preach his farewell
sermon Dr. Faunce said he thought he would
avoid any formal leave taking, because he hated
farewels He explained however, that he would
continue to preach in the church for the rernf<n-
ing Sundays of this month, and added that he
hoped to return in October and preach two SER
mons In celebration of what would have been
the completion OF a ministry In the Fifth Avenue
Baptist Church Of ten years had he remained in
the pastorate until that time.