THE REV. A. R. FITCHETT’S RESIGNATION.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 107, 25 December 1878, Page 2

THE REV. A. R. FITCHETT’S RESIGNATION.

—o — The following copy of the Rev. Mr Fitchett’s letter of resignation will be read with interest, by our Wesleyan friend and by all, Wesleyan or other, who know Mr Fitchett as one of the “ Men of the Time.” The letter was handed for publication to the Dunedin papers. “ Dunedin, December 10th, 1378,"

“ My dear Mr Crumy—You are no doubt aware that for a long time past I have been dissatisfied with the itinerant law of the Church in its present rigid form. I have, as you kaof, fOOgfct

through the Church Courts to procure some relaxation of its stringency, and, until the recent General Conference, I entertained the hope that the three yeais rule would be modified. -The temper of that Conference, however, was so decidedly adverse to change on this point that I feel there is no reasonable hope of relief—at least, for many years to come. When I saw you a few weeks ago I was endeavouring to school my mind into submission, and to the necessity ofac- ~ cepting a new., circuit in April but as the time for my removal draws my aversion to the system is intensified, and at length I am compelled to admit to myself that I cannot take another circuit. I therefore place my resignation in your hands. “ I am sure you will not do roe the Injustice of thinking that X make this communication with a light heart. No resolution of my life has- cost me- so much pain. I should have arrived, at my present decision earlier had X hot been restrained by a strong sense of personal attachment to valued friends'and fellow-workers, whom I was reluctant to grieve. My conviction of duty, however, is definite and strong. Ino longer approve—as at. the beginning of ray minis- - try I did—of Methodist discipline, and cannot, with a quiet mind submit to or administer it.—l am, &c.,

A. R. Fitchktt. “ Rev. J. Crump, St. Alban’s, “ President Wesleyan Conference.

The ‘ Herald ’ of .Saturday thus closos an'article on the subject of Mr Fitchett’s resignation : —; “ It is a great pity that so strong a body as the Wesleyans should lose so good a minister as Mr Fitchett; and if the English Churchmen can only succeed in securing him, Bishop Nevill’s future efforts should be in the direction, not of importing novitiates from England, but of converting those heterdox Dissenters —Wesleyans, Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, and the rest—whom we have among us. Bishop Moran is not to be taken into account, as he probably looks to the capture of Bishop Nevill, after that prelate has successfully extinguished the last latent ember of Dissent.”

Mr Fitchett has left for Melbourne, to be ordained to deacon’s orders in the Church of England. He will probably be appointed to All Saints Church.