The Newtown bee., 1900-05-25

SION RECEIVED WITH GREAT sATIsFAC
 TIoN BY THE LOCAL CHURCH.
 Rev o. W. Barker, pastor of the New town Congregational church, has receiv ed unanimous call to the pastorate o the Taylor Congregational church il New Haven. After giving the matte careful attention, he has declined thu same, to the great satisfaction of the To cal church, which is united and harmo nious under his leadership.
 Mr Barker's devotion to his people anC work here has been marked, and ir strong contrast to the actions of some ministers of this denomination who are affected by the itch for larger places. II should be said in his favor that he has never lifted finger to get away. The writer is knowing to the fact that he has had several chances, seemingly excellent, for other churches, if he would 20 and remain upon the field for one or two weeks, to meet the people and preach. But he has steadfastly considered that his first duty lay with the parish of which he was in charge, and that while he re- mained in the active pastorate, It was his duty to stick faithfully at his post. It has always been hls earnest conviction that God cared a good deal more where 8 faithful minister was serving than the minister himself did. Many friends out side have urged him to "branch outn and seek larger field, but he has turned & deaf ear to their cries. MT Barker's de- cision to remain vii! also be received with satisfaction by a larger circle outside his church, as he has always shown himself a public spirited man.
 Following is 8 copy of the letter of declination to the New Haven church:
 Henry $. Hamilton, Clerk of the Tay- Tor Congregational church., New Haven, Conn.,, My dear brother: am sure that your letter informing me of the strong, hearty and unanimous call that was ex- tended to me St the meeting of the Tay- Tor church on Sunday morning, May l3, 1900, to become your pastor, and later assurances from Rev Fl. l.. Hutchins that he, who has 30 long been cenversant with the conduct of church affa airs, never witnessed such earnest enthusiasm in a call, have brought me no little satisfsc- tion. It is just because of the unanimitv and heartiness of it that 1t is only to-day chat 1 have been able fully to decide in reterence.to the matter. Appreciate the position of your church. I have seen it's need for earnest, faithful work. I have looked upon the fields white already for the harvest,and the inclination has been strong that l ought to go and thrust the sickle in. l have entered into sympathy with the little band of faithful men who gathered about me on Sunday evening, May 6, and 80 earnestly prayed me to come. Their words have since been ringing in my ears as an echo of the Macedonian call of old, and it has been hard for me to say that cannot come :; but 1 have tried to weigh the case in all it's bearings, and to do what my Lord and Master would have me do, and feel that must say "No'' even to your en- thuslastic call.
 The parishes in the city need faithful work, and SO do those in the country, too. Just because parish is In the country, and it's strength is diminishing through the loss of it's young people, and the force to work with is very small, should be no reason why anybody and any sort of work will do for It, and the poorest Is the best that it deserves. That, rather, seems to me the reason why such par ish should have the very best energy that can be put into it. It Is my candid opinion that if these old New England parishes are held for Christ (and If rural New England becomes goddess, as some- times the clouds of heathenism which lower portend, God help our whole land), there must not be galloping of good, faithful men of God from the country to the city churches in the future we must call halt along the whole line.
 I have not cared to create any unneces- sary disturbance among my own people over this call the best work in & parish is not promoted by the people feeling that their pastor is spending his heartiest energies in trying to get away from them. have canvassed the matter quietly among many, not all of them my bosom friends, and asked them what I should do about this call. They all with one consent say, "Stay! Pray don't leave us now" You see that the Mace donisn cry comes in both directions across the narrow strait. So concluded to let the heart-strings here in Newtown hold little longer, and stick with even more devotion than in the past to those who have stuck so faithfully to me.
 have other reasons than those cited which impel me to stay, but pray you will not ask me to state them here. Let these be ss matter of conscience be- tween myself and God.
 In thus declining your .call, brethren, do not think that I have lost interest in you. am now trying to follow out the Golden Rule in not coquetting with youl church and keeping you long upon the anxious-Seat. l shall pray for y-d, and though the number of candidates for any church now is legion, If you so wish, will put good man or two before you
 May Gods grace attend you; and may the right zeal inspire you, so that, i lyour judgement were written, because O