The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-09-28
SURPRISED
HIS PARISH
Rev. C. C. Conner Tenders
His Resignation
MUCH TO GENERAL REGRET
he Has Been Pastor Of the Barre Uni
versalist Church for Three Years
and Half-Wnl Probably Not
Take Another Charge.

Take Another Charge.
Az the close Of his sermon at the Uni-
vcrsalist church yesterday morning, the
Rev. c. G. Conner surprised mis- congre.
CATION by announcing his resignation as
pastor Of the church Though he had
notified President o. X. lIollister Of the
board Of trustees few months ago that
he was 70 resign, IL was not generally
known by the members Of the parish
until his announcement Sunday morning.
Mr.. Conner accepted call to this church
three and half years ago, coming here
from Munson, Mass, and his work here
as pastor has been most successful and
pleasing to the parish, whose members
heard with sorrow his decision to leave.
His geniality and kindness have made
for him many friends outside Of the
church as well. The need Of rest and
his great sorrow in the death Of Mrs.
Conner. which occurred last spring are
the principal reasons fox MS resignation,
and he Stated that this was the last
parish that he would ever be pastor Of
lie viii remain hcre for few weeks
longer TO dispose of some Of his house
hold goods which he does not wish 20
keep and he will then leave for few
weeks visit with relatives in Indiana
and az his old home in Kentucky.
II Is his intention tncn to 90 10 Mas.
saeliusetts TO reside in order 20 be near
his daughter, who lives in Palmer. MISS.
His second daughter, Ruth, who is now
\ in Goddard. where she has two years
more, will after graduation here 20 TO
liolyoke college
On account OF Mr. Conner's early no.
tidcation to Mr.. llollister Of his desire
TO be relieved as soon as possible, min
isters 20 supply tne pulpit have been en-.
I gagged for the next three weeks so that
I IL Is probable that Mr.. Conner will not
preach here again before he leaves. The
I Rev. $. VI. Nievene, student in Tufts
theological college, viii preaeh here next
Sunday and the two Sundays following
I. the Rev. Harry CanlieId Of Wisconsin,
formerly Of Woodstock, win preaeh.
The Letter Of Resignation.
Mr.. Conners letter of resignation reads
as follows
Dear Friends. There is further
closing word which is 10 be said this
morning. There IS only one, your nom
ored and loved president Of the board
OF trustees, TO whom it was made known
by mc something over three months ago,
tnat such a word would be now said 1t
is little over three years and half
ago that | came TO you, and from imme-
diately after my first visit there has ex-
isted between us tae cordial relation
OF pastor and people These have been
busy years and months for the most Of
us. No more effort in church work was
ever put forth by me in tine same time
before, and good part OF the work in
my study three and a half years behind,
testify of it to me If not 10 You. The
results nave been measured by you and
not by me, and so | place them to your
credit.
You have been given the unstinted
devotion--may | say 2-of the pastor
and his family, and you have made
abundant returns. Kindness mas been
met within and without the church.
There mas not been positively one thing
in word or deed to mar the relations
between pastor and people
There are three things undone whicn !
have been in heart and mind to do or to
see done the organization Of lay
mans league, or mems club, the chang
ing of the front window to a memorial |
in Keeping with those at the sides, which |
were put in last summer, and the pay
ment Of the church debt, which was so /
happily begun at the first of this year
but unhappily delayed by the strike, |
which was locally so general and OF so
long duration, and, after, my own great |
sorrow came.
Figures are accurate, but they can tell |
only a part of the story, and only a !
few viii be stated. Pastoral calls have /
been made here in these last years to
the number OF 4,l40, sermons and lee I
lures delivered 3S2, baptisms OF children
and adults ll6, members received into /
the church ~. year or two ago this I
had become the largest church of our I
denomination in the state. The credit /
for this belongs to yuu. But let us
jointly give to another the honor Of
working up and maintaining with ex
ceeding interest the largest Junior Union
in the state. and one Of the largest in
the land, through whom, too. the largest
mission circle Of the state was organized
in this parish. May you keep your
place.
We have tasted together. dear friends,
in JOY the cup of life, and we have taken
together in sorrow the sacrament Of
death. And nothing remains for me here +
but 20 resign tne work which has been
so imperfectly done by me, and to face
that future which none OF us knows, but
which any of lis, having learned OF
Christ, will want to devote to some kind
OF service
Since tnis will likely be the last pas
torate / will ever take, it may be OF
interest To state that as an ordained
minister for twenty eight years, the ser
mons and lectures given have been 24l6
persons baptized 342. members received
$40. The largest number baptized on
one occasion was in Barre last year
when 43 children were christened and
I afterward in connection with ehildren's
day. il being the 50th anniversary Of
the dav. and besides there were two be.
fore and one after. making 50 for the
year. The largest number of members
received on one occasion was at Hamil.
TIM. Ohio. seventeen years ago. when los