THE REV. MR. BEAUMONT'S RETIREMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 604, 2 December 1869, Page 2

THE REV. MR. BEAUMONT'S RETIREMENT.

(To the Editor of the Grey River Argus.) Sir — Some time since a paragraph appeared in your issue to the effect that the Rev G. P. Beaumont intended to oompile and publish a statement of the causes which led to his resignation of the charge of this parish, with letters to and from the Bishop of Nelson on the subject ; but as a considerable time has since elapsed, I' had begun to hope that the rev. gentleman's good sense, or some judiolous friend, had induced him to forego such intention. 1 was therefore somewhat surprised to see a letter signed by him in your issue of this morning, upon which letter I would crave 30m 1 permission tv make a few remarks. If it was Mr Beaumont's wish to remain here, I think I may safely say that he has only himself and a few injudicious friends j to thank for not boing able to do so — as it is a fact patent to the great majority of his congregation that, while there was yet time, he coquetted with them to such an extent that they really did not know his wishes, having within the last six months changed his mind about it as many times, until at last his people were tired of waiting liis final decision, and having secured another clergyman from home, his removal was necessary. Mr Beaumont speaks of the objectionable way in which his parishioners expressed their unwillingness to retain him. Had he taken what I deem to be the proper course, viz., visit them personally, I have sufficient confidence in the honesty of human nature to believe that he would not have had the complaint to make; although, I grieve to say, that he would have funnel such unwillingness far more deepseated and. general than he has now any idea of. I quite concur with the rev. gentleman in regretting the little result of his three years' hard work ; but of what it consisted, I, in common with nine-teiiths of his congregation, am unable to judge. His private ministrations in Greymouth were confined to a very select circle, outside of which he was unknown as a minister of the Gospel ; so that in this way I congratulate myself that his constitution cannot have suffered any material injury. I will conclude by cautioning the rev. gentleman against placing too much reliance in future upon a few so-called friends in opposition to the bulk of his congregation, as I believe that his having done so, taken in connection with his own infirmity of purpose, led to his finding himself in the unpleasant position he lately occupied here. I am, &c, K.