Worry Causes Death

Illinois, 1916

Mrs. Marie C. Mueller, 43, wife or the Rev. E. L. Mueller, pastor of the German Evangelical church at Eight and Henry street, Alton, died of apoplexy yesterday at St. Joseph's hospital, in Alton. She had been suffering from a nervous breakdown which physicians thought was brought on by overwork in the church and by worry over the opposition of the members to her husband as pastor.

Three years ago, after her husband had been pastor of the church about five years, she received an anonymous letter telling her she was the cause of the members not liking the pastor. She is said to have worried constantly over that. Ten days ago the opposition to the pastor crystallized in a petition of thirteen members requesting his resignation. Before this petition was presented to the church the pastor handed in his resignation and it was voted on, the vote being 80 to 20 in favor of the pastor remaining.

—Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, Illinois, April 14, 1916, p. 2.

Pastor Resigns with Nervous Condition

Illinois, 1914

At the meeting of the members of the College avenue Baptist church, called at the close of the morning service, the resignation of Rev. G. S. Beckwith of Alton, was read. The resignation reads as follows:

"To the Upper Alton Baptist church: Friends — The message which I send you this morning fills we with grief for it separates me from a delightful people, and closes to me a great opportunity. When I accepted your call last November, I did so against the advice and in the face of the emphatic warning of my physician, who insisted that my nervous condition was impaired by overwork and demanded a complete rest. But the situation here made an irresistible appeal to me, by its wonderful possibilities and its rare opportunity for service, and I disregarded the expert's judgment and promised to undertake the pastorate of your church. After reaching Alton, the collapse came, and I find myself physically unable to undertake the work. In justice to you who have reposed such confidence in me, and to clear the way for you to call another pastor able to serve you as you so richly deserve to be served, I hereby tender you my resignation to take effect immediately.

"The church and the community have made a tremendous appeal to me and does so still, and I had hoped to make this pastorate the pastorate of my life, but that is now impossible.

"Trusting that God may guide you in the selection of one who will lead you wisely to His glory, I remain

Yours sincerely,
G. S. BECKWITH."

Action on the resignation was deferred until a decisive opinion shall be received from the expert whose advice Dr. Beckwith will seek immediately upon his arrival at Schnectady.

—Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, IL, Feb. 13, 1914.