The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-04-20

Leave New Haven.
 At the close of his sermon at the Grand avenue Congregational church yesterday morning the Rev. Andrew Burns Chalmers resigned his position as pastor. Several days ago MT. Chal- mers received a call to the Plymouth church of Worcester, Mass, and the people of his church were awaiting his decision with interest. Mir. Chalmers said:
 ITO the officers and members of the Grand avenue Congregational church: As all of you undoubtedly know unanimous call was extended to me on the eighth of April to become the pas tor of the Plymouth church of Worces- ter, Mass. This call has come entirely without my seeking, as you know from the letter written to you by the, Ply mouth church, which has been without the care of 8 regularly installed pastor for about three years. This is the first call they have extended in these three years and this Is the first time in the IllbLOIy Ol LLiCll N HUH cl stD solutely unanimous call has been given to anyone to become their pastor.
 Such unanimity would indicate that they are in great need of pastoral care. I have given careful and pray erful consideration, with you and your needs first in my heart, but with the growing appreciation of the demands of a sister church, which feels that they have need of such a work as we have been permitted to do together there, under our Fathers blessing.
 T have tried to look at this call in the light of the larger duty and of my largest possible usefulness to the king dom of God on earth. After earnest and faithful consideration of the entire question in all it's bearings and after full conference with the officers of our church and the church in Worcester, together with my brethren in the min istry here and in Boston and after con- ference with few of the professors of Yale university, I have come to the conclusion that have received a real cali to a service which I am not free to refuse, even though ease and com | fort and personal preference should all tell me to remain here with you in this most pleasant and joyful ministry. II know that some of you feel that l 1t is almost unkind for another church to come in and distrub our mutually happy and satisfactory relationship as pastor and people and yet this is only the same that this church did with an- In%1, ah. l +I,1 scores who made application for this sacred privilege of being your minister and chose one who was working hap l oily in another pastorate. You seemed to feel that was needed here and af- | ter faithful consideration of your needs, I came at your earnest desire and have tried to render my best service for the time it has been my privilege to serve as your minister. found this church we'll organized and equipped for work and I believe 1t is quite as we'll able now as then to go, forward with courage and strength to do the work before 1t.
 l Because I believe that this work ! does not need me so much as the work to which I have been called and for the reason that I feel that it is my duty to serve in the world where there is the greatest demand and call of duty herewith tender to you my res- ignation as pastor of this church and ask that you act upon this resignation on Friday evening. April 24, and that you invite with me in calling a coun- ell of churches to dissolve our relation ship as pastor and people. If it seems good to you, should like to have my resignation take effect May ', 1903.
 This has not been an easy decision for me to reach. Our relations have been exceedingly pleasant and we have surely been blessed of God in our min istry together. Your kindness and care have been uniform and unfailing to myself and my family and we must bear while memory endures sweet re- collections of your love and thoughtful- ness for us in these joyful times of our sojourn with you during our life's l pilgrimage. There has not been the first word of misunderstanding or un- kindness in all our work together. Nc one of you has ever said to me. to my memory, or of me, to my Knowledge, a word except in love and Christian charity and I have tried to live as we'll as preach the gospel of love and kindness. I have tried to be true, not alone to you and the present and fu- ture life of our church, but as well tc the past and to the memory of those who were with us in other days, long gone, in this church and this minis. try.
 There were very many plans an6 purposes that I hoped to bring tc fruition in connection with the celebra- ton of our seventy-f1fth anniversary as a church in June, 1905, but another must take up the work when I lay il down.
 Tt is my firm faith that the Lort will send you minister who will be worthy of you. We have a noble her, itage as a church and your unity anG devotion will demand the best gifts tt be found in our ministry. May the Lord bless you and cause His face tt shine upon you and give you peace
 Earnestly your pastor,
 Andrew Burns Chalmers"
 At the close of the service the mem
 bers expressed themselves as sorr!
 that their pastor had resigned, al
 though the larger work at Worceste | seemed to demand MT Chalmers con