The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-01
pastor Of st. Johns Episcopal Church
writes strong Editorial lin
Current Issue o. Church
Life"
FEELS c1ING KEENLY
point. out Lssson TO People Of the
Church and shows the Need
For creater Co.
operation.

The latest issue of Church Lite,
published In the interest Of st. Johns
Episcopal church In this city, con-
tains an article from the pen Of the
editor and publisher Rev. John Q.
Sage, rector Of the church, in which
deserved credit Is accorded Rev. DR..
George c. Williams, the retiring pas
tor OF the First congregational
church. Special stress 10 laid upon
the loving sympathy with which MT.
Williams has labored far beyond the
confines Of his own congregation, and
he Is justly praised as sane, toler>
ant. broadminded idealist, man OF
God who appreciates spirltual values
and who loves his God and his fellow
men,
The full text OF the admirable
article is as follows:
'The resignation OF the Rev. DR..
Williams as pastor of the Congrega-
tional church came as a distinct
shock to the kdtizens Of this commun-
ity to whom he has given such quiet,
unassuming service for eight years
past. Far beyond the confines Of his
own congregation has DR.. Williams
ministered with loving sympathy. It
is true that every minister Is called
upon more or less frequently for SER
vice which has. in no way to do with
his own people. 1t Is not often that
a minister gives his time, his talents,
his sympathy, yes, himself as the
Rev. DR.. Williams has done. It is
not my desire to eulogize him. Mem
bers of his own congregation, the
poor, the sick, the afflicted whom he
has helped will do that better than I.
Yet can not forbear setting down
here my profound regret at his de-
parture. Such sane, tolerant broad
minded idealists are needed in every
community DR., Williams is tolerant
but his tolerance is not Of the fiabby
emasculated sort which is the effect
of slight hold on truth or shallow lib
eralism SO called. He is man Of
convictions, strong, unwavering. fun
damental to his life. That is why he
is an effective spiritual leader. Yet
wlthal. he recognizes the value of tn
other side of the truth and hence is
able to meet every honest man with
affectionats sympathy, however fal
apart their ideals OF truth may seem
Deep Personal Regret.
Mingled with my sense OF loss tc
the city in DR.. Williams departure Is
the feeling OF deep personal regret in
the going from more familiar inter
course of close dear friend and
brother. OF this do not care tt
write SO publicly. Keolsuk, this com
munity, is losing ons whom we car
III afford to spare, man of Co
who appreciates spiritual values, VIII.
loves God and his fellow men. Ont
reason for DIR. Williams going. though
not the immediate cause, should, no
be lost as a lesson for the christiar
people connected with every re.igio,
organization. Dr.. Williams with al
the pastors in this city has been sad
dened and depressed by the irregu
lar church attendance OF members o
MS congregation. Doubtless thare i.
IN that congregation, as in all thu
others, body OF faithful devote.
church Attendants. But there was ii
ms congregation, as in all others, !,
seeming Indifference to the regular
ny Of church attendance even b,
nose who account themselves mem
pers of the church, which in the cas-,
Of DR.. Williams. and in the case O
all the rest of their pastors is pail