Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-06-19
TO LEAVE FOR PORTO RICO.
Rev. Robert Mclean of Portland
has resigned his Pastorate.

Rev. Robert Mclean, pastor of the
Third Presbyterian Church at Port
land. and one of he best known minis
ters in Oregon, has resigned his
charge, to begin work in Porto Rico.
The announcement to the congregation
was made Sunday. This is deeply |
regretted by host of friends, who !
will indeed be sorry to part with one
who has exerted a widespread in
fuence for good in the community.
Rev. Mclean went to Portland from
Grants Pass, and began his pastorate,
which has been emincntly successful,
January 18TH 1899 His previous pas
torate covered period Of more than
II years.
A year ago DIR. Mclean was offered
the superintendency of Presbyterian
missions in Cuba by the Home Board,
and he resigned as pastor, but his re-
signation was not accepted by his con-
grcgation, and he withdrew his ac-
ceptance of the Cuban appointment.
The missionary board understood that
he would be in a position to accept a
call when the new church edifice then
Just being started was well along to-
ward completion. 1t is now cofldently
expected that the building will be
finished and ready for dedication some
time in July Dr. Mclean s resigna-
tion will be received with great re-
gret by the congregation Of the Third
Church
The Home Missionary Board has
been especially anxious to secure DR..
Mclean for the missionary work il
| the West Indies ever since the con
clusion of the Spanish War,
because of his special fitness and
qualifications for work among the
! Spanish people. After he left the sem
mary, from which he was graduated
when Il young man, he went to Chile
as missionary, were he spent sil
years. During that time he acquired
a thorough knowledge Of the Spanisl
language, and published Spanisl
newspaper for four years On accoun
of the failure of his health he CAV,
up that work and returned to tn,
United States For If years he wa
pastor of the Grants Pass Presbyterian
Church. He then received and ac
cepted call from the Third Presby
ter ian Church of Portland, and Ina
been pastor for three years and si
months DIR. Mclean feels that som
one else can do the work he is nov
doing, and that the church is entitle
to his services in the Porto Rico field
where the Spanish language is used
Rev. Mr. Mclean says:
"It is now my intention to resig
my charge here, the resignation to tax
effect September /, in order that ma
be ready to begin work in Puerto Ric
October 1. When | declined the ca
to Cuba, little more than year az
| was greatly in doubt as to what wa
really my duty in the case. In wri
ing the secretary of the board, | said
Inasmuch as am in doubt, presun
ably my duty for the present is whel
| am; but if there is any urgent d,
mand for my services when the ne
church is completed, | will be at yoU
service. DIR. j. Milton Green W,
taken from Porto Rico to take Il
general superintendency of the wol
in Cuba, and another man was callC
to that field About two months az
the secretary of the board wrote, asl
ing me if the new church was not fl
enough along to be safely left in 9th
hands, so that | could 90 to San Jui
to take the work there. | did not d
eide hastily, but looked at it from q
sides 1t is harder for me to lea
here now than it would have been
year and half ago; but it seems
me that this is clearly call of dut
With nice church building near
completed, there is no reason wi
this church should not continue
grow in numbers and power Al
number of men can be found for IL
. place, while men of experience a
with knowledge of the Spanish a
not so plentiful | shall be satisii
; to end my days of labor in the wo
. which occupied the first days of Il
l. ministry" "
J.; II you need any dishes, glass ware