San Francisco County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 16 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 31, 2005, 10:44 pm Book Title: History Of The First Pastorate Of The Howard Presbyterian Church XVI. ALL the work of the church went regularly on, and with more heart and persistence than might have been expected. But the pastor was feeling the wear of a long service. It had now been of twelve years' continuance, almost, relieved by only one vacation of any length, and that was in the summer and fall of 1855, spent at the East. For the first time I began to feel unequal in mind and body to the demands of my daily duties, though I was only forty-one years old. I resisted this feeling; I tried to overcome it in every way. But week after week I felt that I was not doing justice to my work. I did not like to think of it, because it looked toward the necessity of laying that work down and being separated from my people, and that I could not bear to think of. As time went on, and the necessity had to be considered, there came up in my mind the thought of some Eastern parish, where I might be for a while among my early friends, and in the atmosphere of more settled society, making the acquaintance, at the same time, of more of the men of my day and the leading questions up for consideration. Could I not recover by such a change, just for a few years, and then come back, worth more than ever to California? — for I never for a moment thought of remaining away permanently. I said nothing of all this, but my condition of health and strength compelled me to think a great deal about it. If my church had then been able to send me away for a year or so, and let me travel and think and learn abroad, I arm now convinced that I could have come home and been worth far more to them for another dozen years than I had been for the dozen years past. But I knew they were not able to do anything of the kind. No church in California was able to do it. As the spring advanced, the conviction forced itself upon me that a change must be made; and if so, the spring of the year was the best season in which to make it. I consulted my wife about it, and we studied the matter long and carefully together. I also mentioned our purpose to one or two very intimate ministerial friends. The time was set in our minds for my resignation and for our departure. Just then I received a request from the trustees of the College of California that I should take the vice-presidency of the college. It was urged by the friends of the institution that acceptance would give me a change of work, which was so much needed, and would remove the necessity of my leaving the state, from which no man then could well be spared, and at the same time a material service might be rendered to an institution in which we all, and particularly my church, were deeply interested. This presented a new and very difficult question for me to decide. To accept would involve the surrender of my cherished plan of going East, and also the necessity of leaving the pulpit for the time being, and undertaking duties many of which were not congenial, and to which I had never been accustomed. But, having been a member of the board of trustees from the beginning, I knew the necessities of the institution, and it seemed likely that I could help it along by a service of a year or two, and at the same time, by a change of work, recover needed health and strength. So, under the persuasion of many people, I decided to accept the appointment, which, as it proved, held me fast for eight years, instead of two. One of the hardest things I ever had to do was to announce my resignation to my congregation. I preached the farewell sermon on Sabbath morning, April 27, 1862. My text was the third verse of the eighty-fourth Psalm: "Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my King, and my God." It was from the same Psalm that I selected the first verse as the text of my dedication sermon when the house of worship was built. Then everything was new, and we were full of anticipation and hope for the future as we entered our new church edifice. Now the occasion suggested the third verse as the text. The sacred associations which had grown strong there in the passing years must be broken up, and at once they seemed more precious than ever. It seemed as if the very birds were favored because they could build their nests and rear their young close by the altars of the Lord, and not be disturbed. The place of worship becomes to us hallowed, and we part from it in sorrow. This was the theme of the discourse. In closing, I said: — "It pleases me to think that though this is a "farewell sermon," it is so only in an official sense; for I shall not be removed far away, nor from your acquaintance or esteem. "As I said when I tendered my resignation, I repeat now, 'I cannot refrain from bearing testimony to the uninterruptedly pleasant relation that has subsisted so long between us. So far as I know, it has never been marred by one unpleasant word or unkind feeling from the beginning to this time. For a period longer than is usual for the continuance of a pastorate of late years, you have accorded me your undiminished confidence. My home has been pleasant and my work a joy; and the recollection of it will be to me an unfailing source of pleasure. My most earnest desire is, that the plain and earnest invitations of the gospel, which it has been my unceasing endeavor to present, may be really and truly accepted by you all, its commands obeyed, its precepts followed, and that thus you may enjoy the fruits of a Christian life now, and its heavenly rewards hereafter.'" All was immediately said and done by the church and congregation that could be, to take away regret from the parting, especially by passing resolutions reviewing the past, and expressing their appreciation of the closing pastorate. In their closing resolutions they say, speaking of the pastor, "Mindful that the record of his acts and influence among us is without spot or blemish, and grateful for the hallowed associations which cluster round that record, we cannot dissolve without heartfelt regret the cordial relations which have existed through so many years." We removed to Oakland, and I took up my work in the college. But while the church was seeking to obtain a pastor from the East, I frequently preached for them, especially on communion Sabbaths. And now, after so many years, both my wife and myself count it a special blessing that we were able to be present and take part in the semi-centennial anniversary of the church with which we were so closely identified in founding. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST PASTORATE OF THE HOWARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 1850-1862 BY REV. SAMUEL H. WILLEY THE FIRST PASTOR SAN FRANCISCO: THE WHITAKER AND RAY COMPANY (INCORPORATED) 1900 COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY SAMUEL H. WILLEY File at: http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ca/sanfrancisco/history/1900/historyo/chapter177nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb