The Mankato free press., 1900-03-02
HIS RESIGNATION In
Rev. Lee w. Beattie Desires q
Years Recreation
Will Couclude Successful Pasto r.
ate of Nearly Seven Years in
MankatO.

Rev, Lee w. Beattie's announcement
a week ago that he had something OF
unusual Importance to bring before the
church served to bring out large con-
gregation Sunday morning. At the
conclusion of his sermon he read the
following letter:
Mankato. Mimi, Feb oath. 1900
To the Members of the First Presby-
terlan Church of Mankato Mimi.
Ny Dear Friends
Six years ago last July you gave me
unanimous call to become your pas
tor, and in the following September,
with my family, took up my work
among you with your heartiest CO.
operation Now ask you with equal
unanimity t, release me from this
work. In making this request it is
only right that l should give you my
reasons for so doing. They are just
three, viz:
1st In these rapid times six years
and half constitute long pastorate,
and a minister cannot keep ahead OF
his people, as every live minister ought
to, without such drain on his el.tire
powers as to weaken him. And while L
am in most excellent health. i believe the
work that now lies before this church de
mands the energy that new man could
exert without that strain that would
come to one who has been on the field
as long as the present incumbent
Besides. progress comes along the line
of changes.
end. My second reason for this re-
quest is to be found in the fact that
when l came to you amidst the gloom
of financial panic that was felt most
keenly by the membership OF this
church by reason of the heavy respon-
sibility they had assumed in the rear
ing of this beautiful edifice, and these
panicy times continued so long, | felt
you especially needed one who could
and would share with you your burdens
as stranger coming among you might
not But now good times have return
ed, and the church's life has has been
restored to normal and healthy con-
dition, as the following facts will
show;-Since coming to you the mem
bership has grown from 354 to $780,
Your annual contributions to the sup
port of the church have increased from
S2,713 the first year was here to $3723
the last fiscal year. That is an increase
in the annual income of the church of
over 81 900. Your benevolences have
increased during the same time from
$723 to 81, ,086 annually During tn
time you have raised for all purposes,
including the building of the new
church, about $50, 900. In addition to
all of this is the enterprising work at
Hope Chapel feel. therefore, l have
done my part of the work and that an
other can go from this point and &C
complish far more than /, so that feel
my work here is done
I'd. Nv third reason is that when dur
ing the past three months was asked to
consider calls to larger fields. in New
York city and Omaha, where there
would be greater demand on my en-
ergies. l shrank from the same through
a sense of WEAKNESS that is not In keep
ing with my nature, and concluded that
working at high pressure for 10 years
had brought about physical condition
that needed to heed the Masters words
to his disciples: Come ye apart and
rest awhile AS / have always want
ed to go aboard for profit and pleasure.
and by rigid economy l can do so at
this time, and so return the better
equipped for another 16 years labor
therefore ask you to unite with me in
requesting the Presbytery to DIS I've
this six years happy and delightful
relationship, the same to take effect on
the last Sunday of the approaching
June. that l may go apart with my
family and rest for year in foreign
lands
1t is only right that should here ac-
knowledge to you my sincere gratitude
for your many expressions OF loyalty
and love to myself and family. You
have looked after our every need, you
have gone down into the valley and
shared with us our sorrows; in our
physical necessities and sicknesses you
have seen we wanted no good thing,
you have borne with my weaknesses,
and Loyalty assisted in such public work
for the betterment of our city as have
felt called on to engage in And now
to you dear friends, as brother talking
to brother, pray you to make no OBJ
jections to this request, but cordially
unite with me in the same. And in the
choice of successor l pray you may be
led by wisdom and grace in the utmost
harmony to choose one, who, while cor
recting any errors l may have made.
Will uOt U6tE u''Wu duf llGtlC SOOu l.
may have been privileged to do with
and for you. LEE. W. BEATTIE
The resignation was surprise to
the most of the congregation, although
there were rumors last week that Mr..
Beattie had this move in contempla-
ton. The resignation was presented to
the session Saturday evening with the
request that no mention be made of it
until the pastor had read the above let
ter to the congregation
A meeting of the trustees and elders
will be held this evening to call meet
ing of the congregation to act on the
resignation.
The resignation of Rev. Mr.. Beattie
causes the sincerest regret among the
members of his church and cong ega-
tion, as we'll as among all who enjoy
his acquaintance The resignation is
understood 10 be definite and final, and
Mr. Beattie stated as much to the con-