Christian resignation

(1965 July 31)

There's been hell to pay in church affairs and I thot you'd like to be put next to the news. Last Sunday as I sat in my pew before church began, loud voices from the basement reached my ears. Next, Father Hamilton appeared at the sacristy door, looking, as Daddy so aptly says, like a turkey cock. Bending over the Lenzes, he said, shaking with rage, "I'm resigning from the church as of today! And then I'm resigning from the priesthood!" Following this abrupt announcement, he strode down the center aisle, stopping to repeat his to his wife, who was across the aisle from me, and again to the men in the back pews. All of us were horrified and mystified. Then he stalked outside and more angry voices floated in. Time went on, Bill rang the bell, Jean came in and started to play. However, there was no choir at all. Father started the service and repeated the above among the announcements. To clarify this at all he said he could not stand the abuse heaped upon him and would stay only long enough to be relieved by the bishop. So began the service.