The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
DR.. STEBBINS SENDS
IN HIS RESIGNATION
he WAS THE SUCCESSOR OF
THOMAS STARR KING.
gregation of the First Unita-
rian Church.

DR.. Stebbins yesterday bade farewell to
the congregation and the church in which
he has labored faithfully for so many
years, in the following tender words:
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. %, 1899,
To Mr.. Frank j. Symmes, Moderator of the
Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian
Church of San Francisco. and to the Trustees
and people of the church-Dearly Beloved: 1
am admonished by time and events that the
hour is come for me to resign the trust which
l have held as your minister into your hands;
and l do hereby resign it, that you may be
free to act according to the dictates of your
discretion and the welfare of the church
demands. And come to this decision by
methods dictated alike by nature and heaven.
God hath so ordered the generations of man
kind that one generation goeth and another
generation cometh, and thus is kept the bond
that binds mankind to the throne of God
Originally unknown to you. was chosen
through your confidence to be the successor of
the beloved Thomas Starr King With what
ever faithfulness or defect that trust has been
discharged you are the most fit Judges. and l
submit Ii all to your candid and true feeling.
! will not dwell upon its imperfections. nor in
dulge in any enthusiasms of self-depreciation
or honorable pride of self-respect These all
with YOU and are safe.
may say. perhaps. with grateful satisfac-
tion as under the guidance of a Divine Prov-
dence, that this ministry has been devoted to
those great human interests that belong to
man as man. and to human nature in it's great
common experiences and events rather than
to a provincial ecclesiasticism parochial
policy. The church of God Is coordinate with
universal man. and human progress is but
other name for the increasing splendor of that
light that lighteth every man that cometh into
the world For this every human interest is
dear and religion consecrates, confirms and
establishes all forever and ever.
/ thank God through Jesus Christ and the
common daily life of men that this minstrys
has reckoned human nature and the divine ma
ture of kindred blood and has despised
any because he rich poor or igno-
rant black. but has esteemed IIim as hold
ing some mysterious and eternal relation to
the father of all, and in my heart of hearts I
can ask greater blessing you all than
that the ministry that shall succeed me may
have wide grace and as free love as the
best that is in suggest of God or man.
And may love and blessing and honor
and power be upon you from on high evermore
Amen
(Sgned) HORATIO STEBBINS.
BY Roderick Stebbins
AS this resignation was given at the
morning service, the trustees as yet have
had no time to consider 1t in its business
relations to the church. There is little
doubt, however, that they will be un-
willing to accept his resignation so long
as DR.. Stebbins is alive and improving in
health, but they feel that he desires rest
The people of the First Unitarian Church
is loath to part with their beloved pastor,
whose long service in that pulpit has en-
deared him to their hearts The matter
will be considered at an early date by the
trustees.