The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-18
A MAINE MINISTER
And How He Took Leave Of His Pas
torate In the Windy city.
(Biddeford Journal.)

tDitocAeho
Rev. Thomas b. Gregory, formerly pas
tor OF the Universalist church OF tbs
city, has just resigned the pastorats Oh
the Second Universalist church. hooey
street and Warren Avenue, Chicago, after
a burning argument with number OF
the prominent members OF the church
The Chicago Tribune contains two col
umu out of Mr. Gregory which Is con-
sldered an excellent likeness by his many
acouaintances in Biddeford.
al am now out of the church,, said
the Rev. MIR. Gregory. "nnd leave with
the best of good feelings towards all.
While it is true that my resignation was
accepted unanimously, this was due TO
the Injunction which / issued TO my
friends not to vote for my retention. as
had made up my mind to leave and moth =
ing could dissuade me. Accordingly
they declined to vote.
81 have not yet made my plans for
the future. / have not decided yet wheth'
er or not will leave the city. / have
friends who are on the outlook for me,
and it is entirely probable that l will re-
main In Chicago"
A Chicago paper has the following edi-
torial under the title, "Mr. Gregory's
Pleasantly"
Whatever may be thought of Rev.
Thomas B. Gregory as a pastor, no one
will deny that his ideas of pleasantly are
unique. OF these we have an ILLUSTRATOR
in the address which be made to the
members of the Unjversalist Church OF
the Redeemer, upon the announcement OF
his resignation from the psstorate. Ills
auditors thought that he was speaking
seriously, but he afterward explained
that il was out of his abundant humor
that be made use of such expressions AS
the following:
81 have been in hell nearly four years.
You have permitted little clan of pessi-
mist GROWERS to keep me In the lowest
depths of purgatory."
when a pastor has dirty little com
mittee of remonstrance sent after him
every week how can he think or act'"
when l reach the gate OF heaven, 1
shall ask II there are any trustees there.
and If receive an affirmative answer,
shall make break for the other place
lie is not unreasonable to suppose that
"A minister of the gospel who would pass
off remarks IKE these for guileless TESTING
might occasionally raise a question as to
the good taste of his pulpit utteranoes.
Ilere Is evidence mere OF ldCh VI Ddi-
ancs and Judgment which will hardly
help MIR. Gregory's case before the pub.
lie. Nor does further examination OF
his address conduct to that end. Still
referring to the pessimistic GROWERS, he
says:
IF it had not been for their incessant
browt eatings and complaints the church
would Lave been filled with worshippers.
i know it would have been so, for
know my powers. This sounds very
much like the plant of wounded vanity,
of which there is further suggestion in
reference to fleas and gnats, TO little
souls, picayune committees and long
suffering superior person.
Probably MIR. Gregory has been justly
annoyed many times by small criticism
and impertinence. Probably too much
was expected of him, for the trustees
acknowledge that when he came to the
church period of decline had set in.
But IL so, he has only been facing prob
lens that are troubling scores and hun
dreds of pastors the country over. 1t is
this that gives his case a more than pas
sing interest.
Few are the clergymen whose lives are
not full of the trials against which he
makes such petulent and reckless pro
test And If they have not the ability to
meet them with serenity, forbearance,
humility and all charitableness they fail
to be the exemplars Of their religions
teachings and prove that they may have
mistaken their calling.