Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-28
RESIGNS HIS Passionate
Rev. E. G.. Guthrie to Leave
First Church September 1.
Has Accepted Call to the Union
Church of Boston, After DccIin-
Ing Invitations to other
Fields.

| Ernest Graham Guthrie, formally an
nounced to the people of the church his
decision to accept a call to the pastorate
of the Union Church of Boston, and read
his letter of resignation. The Union
Church is one OF the important down
town churches of Boston. and Mr..
Guthrie has been urged to accept the
work by some of the strong men Of the
denomination. including Dr. Gordon Of
the Old South Church The letter Of
| resignation follows:
Burlington, VI, May a. 1914
To the First Church
in Burlington.
Beloved:
1t is harder than 1t was two years ago
to do that which l must do to-day. Then
laid down my charge here to answe err
what / believed was n personal duty
and in the interval have been bound
even more closely than formerly to this
peoples life, not only by the full-hearted
way In which you have related your
selves to our common tasks and to me-
but also by my own deepening sense of
the JOY and privilege of mlnistering to
you with the enlarged sympathy and
growing affection that has come to me
with every year OF added service.
! am. therefore, tho more anxious that
you should understand that Il is only
the seemingly imperative character Of the
call that has now come to me that
makes me take this step. think | owe
1t to you, and to myself also, to make
clear that this call is not In any sense
of my own seekingf During the first
four years of my ministry here, and dur
Ing the interval since | returned from
my leave of absence, | have steadily re-
fused to even consider such Invitations
to other fields as have come in the
ordinary course of events. This call,
however, has been laid upon me, not
only by the church concerned but by
some of the most respected leaders Of
our denomination, in a way that I felt
bound to heed. But. even then, I did
not take a single step of any kind until
had consulted some OF our representa-
tive men here and was unwilling to take
this further step until the combined com
mittees Of our church had expressed
their conviction that l could, honour
ably, and In the light of all obligations
to this church, entertain this call
VIII YOU permit me. then, to give you
led me to believe that it is my duty to
accept the call to this new field? First,
the complete unanimity of the church
that has called me. Second, the unique
opportunity it gives me to have some
humble part in what l have always felt
Is critical task of the church to-day.
to meet the needs of the population of a
large city. not in the suburbs. but in
those central portions which SO many
of the churches are abandoning. And
finally, the knowledge that, if | am ever
70 take a task of this sort. so different
from that in which 7 have been hitherto
engaged, it must he now, when the op-
portunty presents itself and while | am
young enough to take the high risks and
the burdens that belong TO such situa-
lions. As these considerations have grown
weighty in my mind. l have come to be
lieve that ! am under orders from Him
from whom there Is no appeal.
1t IS rather difficult to put these con-
siderations without seeming to exaggerate
your concern In this matter, and my own
Importance either here or in the new
field. 7 trust You Will understand that
nothing Is further from my thought But
| do realize that no man has the right
to relinquish such a charge as this is
without giving a clear account of his
actions that will be understood by his
own church. and by his community. I
have been greatly helped by the lofty
and disinterested attitude in this matter
of those who, in this church, have been
nearest to me in the discharge of It's
trusts and in the pursuit of its aims: and
! should like to feel that this will be the
attitude of all whom it may concern.
| ask that my resignation shall take
effect from the first of September next,
that you will take speedy action upon II
in order that the church may lose no
time In choosing new pastor. and that
you shall all feel that a call comes to
you to-day for renewed loyalty I do not
need to assure YOU that my interest In
all that this church is TO do and be in
this city. and for this State will never
nag. Nor Will, | trust, the deep personal
affection | have for you Individuality to
the youngest of my younger brethren.
ever cease.
/ regret that l have had to speak so
personally, but can sincerely say that
my chief thought is for tho church.
Proud OF It. unworthy Of Il. but always
nightly believing In 1t, I have been, ana
shall continue TO be. May God make 1t,
in and through you, greater light.
a greater servant. a greater home to
and for all who look to II for the glorious
fellowship I have known in IT, And may
add this one word OF greeting TO the
outer circle, beyond the church, in the
city, those whose friendship | have
priced.
With high regard and deep affection,
Your pastor
ERNEST GRAHAM GUTHRIE