Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-21
THE CHURCH UNlTES.
CONSENTS DIR. GUTHRIE's PAsToh-
AL RELATIONS DE DISSOLVED.
HIS LETTER TO HIS PEOPLE.
He writes Most TenderIy to Ihch''
INT SAYS He Feels II to he His Duty
90 IN I'm unItImorc-His Farewell
Sermon Next sunday.

church. Baltimore, the Sunday follo"ihs'
The Second church. at a congregational
meeting held on Sunday after the morn
ing service, almost unanimously adopted
resolution uniting in DR.. Guthrie's re-
quest TO East Hanover Presbytery that
his pastoral relations be dissolved in or
der that he may accept the call to Baitl-
more, and presbytery will meet this morn
ing to pass upon the matter. Ihere
is no doubt about the favorable action
Of the body.
The meeting on Sunday was a very
large one Rev. Or. G. Il. Hersman, VINO
had preached a fine sermon from inc
words. Jesus Christ the same yester-
day. to-day. and forever presided over
the congregational meeting.
DIR. GUTHRIEs LETTER.
Mr. NJ. NJ. Gillian. clerk Of the session
read the following letter from Dr' pu'h-
RE;
"Afv Relieved People,--Were I TO be pres
ont with Won lu your meeting, 1 would
not be able to say the things Whlch are
uppermost i'm my mind nor express 10
YOU the feelings Of my heart. 1t -, there
fore. better that 1 should take TINS
method OF telling you what | feel you
should know in regard to the action when
j am about TO take before the Presby cry
of East Hanover. whereby II IS probable
the ties between US as pastor and people
Will be severed. IL Is my desire 10 ten
you I'm a spirit Of candor and auectlon
the steps that have led 10 this acton,
and state To you the reasons OF my reslg-
nation, in order that ! may nave your
quiescence I'm ,Ae dissolution Of the pas
toral relationship, as this dissolution
means much TO all Of us.
HISTORY OF HIS PASTORATE.
1T will soon be two years since
came among you as stranger ana Iouhu
such "a kind friend In your late beloved
pastor. ] was engaged by him az ms as
sistant for "a period of three months. ana
/ need hardly refer 10 the cordial Iela-
tionship between us. At the end OF TINS
short Term two calls were i'm my hands
az the same time, one % De pastor ol
the First Presbyterian church of Balu-
more the other 20 be CO-DaStOr with li.
HOge. of the second Presbyterian church.
Richmond / lelt that at that time. and
under the then conditions. there could De
no question az 10 what constituted my
duty. and / remained with him and with
you. / felt that there were obligations
above those of my formal agreement ana
that. while I'm one sense / mad iulnued
my three months labor, and was lree 10
20 or stay, there was an obligation when
could be repaid only by hearty co-opera-
ton with your beloved pastor IN the work
of this church. To remember that during
a severe illness he leaned upon me; that
on his return 10 health he spoke klnd
words about me; that be trusted mo win
the work which was ever so dear 20 MS
heart-these are memories that will be
precious TO me Wheresoever may De. MY
duties then were not hard ones. De cause
they were duties of love. and now much
/ owe to YOUR beloved pastor Of mt: four
years will only be known when we no
longer see through glass dafkly. put
face 10 face: and my trust is that my
service during his last Illness and since
then. faulty at best. has been PROOF 10
you and, to him of my earnest desire 10
meet the highest expectations of this con-
grcgation. which he so deeply loved. by
preaching Christ and Him cruciitco. am
deeply conscious that upon more tHan
one occasion / have proved uniaiihlul 10
my highest conceptions of duty. and tnat
nv service has often been fun of crudi-
ties and imperfections; but noiwith stand-
ing these things. I have ever done the
best that I'm me lay 10 be faithful and TO
do my work perfectly.
MONTHS OF PLEASANT LABOR.
81 need not go over i'm detail the months
i'm which ] have had charge of this con-
gregation. They have been months fun
Of pleasant labor You, my people. have
supported me in every way. and you nave
ever by word and action. encouraged me.
and at times ] have been conscious that
YOU have done more for me than ! have
been able 10 do for You. Peace and har-
mOny have dWelt in the congregation and
have pervaded all our work ] could not
desire a more kindly and loyal congreea-
ton over which TO minister in The name
of the Lord Jesus. and in view of all this
believe me when | state thar my going
from YOU will be one OF the most painful
experiences Of my life not that / do not
expect loyal affection i'm the congregation
10 which depart-this may be- won should
! prove myself worthy-but here ! have
had confidence and affection assured
facts
"Why. then. do seek to be released
from my present work? Ia replying !
shall not endeavor 10 involve your
thoughts by a multitude of words. nor
cloud the issue by the discussion of the
thousand and one considerations which I
have carefully weighed / have only this
10 saN-ViZ.: ] believe that 7 am called
Of the Lord Co enter a new field of labor
! know that upon this question there is 20
wide difference of opinion DreVa ling in
our midst Many of You are convinced
mat | should not have taken this stem.
but as 7 am accountable 10 God for my
own convictions in such matters. / must
base my actions uDOn my own c0ureu-
lions of duty \ question for decision has
Defn thrust upon me by o. COmliuaf Jon OF
circumstances remarkable. II NOT u..f-
uNcly OF tho nature OF Providence TO
MhIullN avoid deciding such question
would pe worse than 90 honestly decide
even though such decision might urDVa
ID the end 10 be- wrong. / have done my
best TO decide rightly. and am convinced
I'D my Own mind that for the ultimate
5000 OF all parties involved 1 am deciding
I'll is not my intention TO discus, WITH
You the comparative merits ~ those two
Lelds OF labor which have been placed Doe
loI' me. J have AN along recognized he
pIlnd Iacie claim of my own congrega-
won. All my deliberations have starred
from Inc conviction that I was bound ~
remain mere until I had clear evidence
10 Tho contrary. Everything here has
hecn favorable TO my continuance as
your pastor ! cannot refrain from n
WORD ass 90 AN appaIcnt-nay. rcqI-
hardship involved jpn the Prosbyt,ri3n
system OF calling pastors Tho vacs.t
cnurch naturally turns 90 the pastors Nina.
nave the loyal affection of their people
ana VINO are content 10 labor whore th,v
are Congregations 90 not seek pasfots
VINO desire Go leave their fields of lab.r
When The time comes and l pray tha.
IL Will br SOON in which You VIII b.
gathefed TO welcome "a new pastor. amid
Noui joy and gratitude let there be- SYM
lathy FOR the soroly-tried hearts when
gre somewhere 10 be found in this fair
Southland.
a DEEP SORROW.
ITO me IL is deep sorrow to ask Won
10 aiG me in ny resignation before tba
rresbytery oi East Hanover on Tncsda ''
morning. To YOU who have come through
times az stress ana STRAIN. my meaning is
clear when / write that in such decision.
We grow older by leaps and bounds: that
life ID hinged by a deeper seriousuess
ana that duty seems a hard. harsh word
AnG now, my beloved people 1 would
Ssf YOU 90 acquicsce i'm my approaching
resignation. Behind that acquiescencc /
hioN by oIt-repeated experiences that
thtre lie hearts beating with deep true.
lcNal affection for me. and | would as
sure you that behind my resignation is
hearl not devoid of grateful emotions and