Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-06

sirADaS oHSf IoF you TO entertain we
prefer for several reasons that all Of
the business arrangements be made by
letter and the whole matter be settled
before any knowledge of it comes to
the public. We therefore suggest in
case you are open to another engage
ment that your visit to our town be
quietly made in the near future future
and for obvious reasons on that occas-
ion you do not make our personal ac-
quaintance. With no desire to fatter
you, we can say that we think there is
a great future for you as the pastor
of our large church and we earnestly
hope you will look favorably on this
offer and let us hear from you at your
earliest possible convenience.
Yours truly
"A. B. CLARK,
%. f. FINCH,
G. H. INGRAM,
Committee.
Zenephon, Mass, March 81, 1919.
[EXtract from letter written by
Rev. MIR. H. c. Blake, zenephon, Mass,
to Deacon Miles. Centerville. Mol
My Dear Brother-You will be sur
prised to hear 1 have closed my pastor
ate here in Zenephon. Its a strange,
strange world. When i left you and
the church at Centerville. it seemed to
me THAI at last the world was giving
me chance Here was my opportun
ity and with Gods help / would make
the most of it. And yet | have failed
miserably. What the future has for me
and mine the Lord only knows. But
have my self respect left. The temp
tations to remain here with this large
church was strong one, but l resisted
it. For months after I came here our
relations as pastor and people We're all
that could be asked for. And when I
went to the meeting of our Ministerial
Association, and was asked to preach
before that body and a large audience,
1 welcomed the chance. But it proved
TO be my undoing. What 1 said on that
occasion was fully reported in the
daily papers of the town where we had
our meeting. My sermon was correctly
reported. in fact. | gave the reporters
a type written copy In that sermon
referred to the scriptural accounts of
the miracles as well as the resurrection
of Christ. Those few words have APP
parently ended my career as an ortho-
dox preacher of the Christian religion.
1 said what I thought to be true and
still think SO. AS a result of those
words / was asked to resign and have
done so. l am sure that the members
of the church in Zenephon by q large
majority, hold similar views to mine,
but unfortunately for me and the
church, we have a small number of
good old fathers in the church, that.
We're shocked at my words and ideas.
To their credit it can be said they are
the workers in the chruch. They at
tend prayer meetings. They try to live
a christian life seven days in the week.
But oh, how far they are behind the
times we live in, how far behind mod
ings of the christian religion / can
not and do not blame them. My words
it seems. We're almost blasphemous to
them. They still believe in all of the
miracles as literally true. To them
every word in the bible is true. Any
other view, any eplanation not in exact
accord with such belief is herterodoX.
And while they are in the minority,
while could count on large following
in this big church. it seemed hest for
me to acquiese in their letter asking for
my signature. I am trying to school
myself to avoid any unkind words or
thoughts, but surely You will agree
with me. that If / am fortunate enough
to be called to some other field of labor,
it will be best not to make arrange
ments with a committee of three
Yours very truly.
H. c. BLAKE.
Zenephon. Mass. March l. 1910,