Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-17
PASTOR GIVES UP CHARGE.
DR.. F. E. Brush Ceases Work on Ac.
count of Ill Health.

count of Ill Health.
From Wednesdays Daily.
Rev. Dr. F. e. Brush has given up
his charge as pastor of the First Meth
odist Episcopal church in Ottumwa,
and within two weeks he will leave
for one of the southern or western
states for long period of rest. Dr..
Brush decided upon this course of ac-
'tion only yesterday afternoon, after
several conferences with his physi-
clan, DR.. S. A. Spilman, who earnestly
recommended strict cessation Of
work and an absolute rest and change
of climate. The news will be receiv-
ed by the innumerable friends and
admirers of DR.. Brush, with great sur
prise, and the deepest of regret.
DR.. Brush has been i'll for several
months, but he has been most faith
full to his trust and by sheerest effort
he managed to conduct the regular
Sunday services. This labor ended
he usually retired to his room and
bed, in every respect far from being
a well man. He has been confined to
his home for the past week because
of a serious attack of grip and it was
only during the last three or four
days that he commenced to think Sc
riously of giving up his work. He
was earnestly advised by his physi-
clan to give up entirely and so avoid
"a break down.
After many hours of careful consid-
Grafton and study of the existing
conditions, Rev. Brush wrote the fol-
lowing letter, which fully explains ev-
erything:
Ottumwa, Iowa, Jan. Is, 1901.
Rev. J. w. Lambert, Presiding Elder
Ottumwa District, Mt. Pleasant, Ia:
My Dear Brother: 1t has become
my painful duty to inform you that
owing to very serious and increas-
ing physical disability. am wholly I'M
able to bear any longer the heavy bur-
Idens of this large and important pas
Itorate. | am confirmed in this atti-
Itude by careful and competent medi-
cal opinion assuring me that, unless
Immediately take complete and pro-
longed respite, there will speedily SUI
pervene total collapse which would
retire me permanently from the minis
terial service On the other hand, l
am encouraged to believe that rest
entire, protracted ana cumulative in
Its effects, will give me a new and
heightened lease or working life.
So, after earnest thought and pray
er, with the supreme desire to know
and do the will of God and to make
my life in the present and for the fu-
ture count most efficiently for Him
and for His cause. I surrender into
your hands, according to the provi-
sions and requirements of the Discip-
line of our church, the interests of this
pastoral charge.
Please accept my heartiest thanks
| for all your courtesies, and my assur-
snce of high personal esteem; and be-
| ieve me,
| Always sincerely yours,
Frank e. Brush.
| Presiding Elder Lambert was in the
| city yesterday afternoon, and he call
L ed meeting of the official board of
the First NJ E. church, which was
held in the Office of District Judge M.
A. Roberts last evening and which
was fully attended. The letter writ
| ten by DR.. Brush was read before the
board, and, coming unexpectedly as it
did, it was the cause of intense sur
prise. The completeness of the state
ment by the writer together with that
of the attending physician, convinced
the members of the board that il
would be best to accept the conse-
lquences and to act in accordance. 1t
was the desire of the board that it
might grant DR.. Brush leave of alb
sence of say three months. but mas
much as he had asked to be relieved
from duty for an indefinite period and
that his physician had advised that
the rest continue for much longer
than three months, it was unanimous
Ely voted to do as had been asked and
recommended.
Thereupon presiding Elder Lambert
who, according to the church disci
pline, becomes pastor in charge when
for any reason the regular pastor can
not serve, appointed the Messrs. j. It
Hackworth, George Haw and j. w
! Neasham as a committee to cooper
1 ate with him in securing a temporary
pastor for the church, and then pro
coed with the work of obtaining the
services of worthy person to occupy
the charge permanently.
Messrs. l. N. Mast, George Hav
and J. T. Hackworth were appointed
as a committee to draft suitable reso
lutions, expressing the boards appre
citation of services rendered by DR.
Brush during his connection with thu
Ottumwa charge, expressing regre
at the separation about to take place
ETC., and to report the same at late
meeting of the board.
The board voted unanimously t,
pay DR.. Brush a full six months sal
airy, dating from October 1, fou
months of which he had already earn
ed, the remainder coming in the wa
of donation. which goes to shoy
that the board is anxious to give ev;
dence of the high esteem in whicl
| the departing pastor is held and it
desire to give him some material ties
| timony of the same. 1t decided ais
, to give the family of DR.. Brush tn
privilege of occupying the First M. T
church parsonage in this city unit
such time as the services of perma
. nent pastor have been secured.
. DR.. Brush is purely victim Q
overwork His services during tn
four years and four months of hi
connection with the Ottumwa pastor
ate have been conducted with faitt
TT