“Gentlemen,” Mr. Constable began, “I feel it my duty to say something this evening, something that distresses me.  Like some of you who are here present, I have been on this vestry for many years, and my father was on it before me.  I was brought up under Dr. Gilman, of whom I need not speak.  All here, except our present rector, knew him.  This church, St. John’s, has been a part—­a—­large part—­of my life.  And anything that seems to touch its welfare, touches me.

“When Dr. Gilman died, after so many years of faithful service, we faced a grave problem,—­that of obtaining a young man of ability, an active man who would be able to assume the responsibilities of a large and growing parish, and at the same time carry on its traditions, precious to us all; one who believed in and preached, I need scarcely add, the accepted doctrines of the Church, which we have been taught to think are sacred and necessary to salvation.  And in the discovery of the Reverend Mr. Hodder, we had reason to congratulate ourselves and the parish.  He was all that we had hoped for, and more.  His sermons were at once a pleasure and an instruction.

“I wish to make it clear,” he continued, “that in spite of the pain Mr. Hodder’s words of last Sunday have given me, I respect and honour him still, and wish him every success.  But, gentlemen, I think it is plain to all of you that he has changed his religious convictions.  As to the causes through which that change has come about, I do not pretend to know.  To say the least, the transition is a startling one, one for which some of us were totally unprepared.  To speak restrainedly, it was a shock—­a shock which I shall remember as long as I live.

“I need not go into the doctrinal question here, except to express my opinion that the fundamental facts of our religion were contradicted.  And we have also to consider the effect of this preaching on coming generations for whom we are responsible.  There are, no doubt, other fields for Mr. Hodder’s usefulness.  But I think it may safely be taken as a principle that this parish has the right to demand from the pulpit that orthodox teaching which suits it, and to which it has been accustomed.  And I venture further to give it as my opinion—­to put it mildly that others have been as disturbed and shocked as I. I have seen many, talked with many, since Sunday.  For these reasons, with much sorrow and regret, I venture to suggest to the vestry that Mr. Hodder resign as our rector.  And I may add what I believe to be the feeling of all present, that we have nothing but good will for him, although we think we might have been informed of what he intended to do.

“And that in requesting him to resign we are acting for his own good as well as our own, and are thus avoiding a situation which threatens to become impossible,—­one which would bring serious reflection on him and calamity on the church.  We already, in certain articles in the newspapers, have had an indication of the intolerable notoriety we may expect, although I hold Mr. Hodder innocent in regard to those articles.  I am sure he will have the good sense to see this situation as I see it, as the majority of the parish see it.”