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Solon Cobb.
Rev. (now D. D.) Solon Cobb, the fifth pastor, was born in Carver, Mass., Sept. 12, 1838. Completing a course of study in the academy at Plympton, Mass., he took a theological course at the seminaries in Auburn, N. Y., and Andover, Mass., and was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Oswego, N. Y., Oct. 11, 1864. From that church he was called to Medford and installed Nov. 3, 1869.His pastorate, which had been eminently successful, continued till 1874, when, without any other charge in view, he resigned it in the hope ‘that in a different field of labor he might exert a more decided and perhaps broader influence in the service of Christ.’
His flock were unwilling to lose such a shepherd, and chose a committee to induce him, if possible, to withdraw his resignation.
That committee reported ‘that they could find no inducements to offer for the withdrawal of his resignation that could outweigh his decided conviction of duty to seek another and a different field of labor.’
The church then, by unanimous vote, passed the following resolutions:
‘That we, as a church, have received the resignation of our pastor with unaffected sorrow and regret; and that our desire is earnest and united that he should continue his labors with us; but feeling assured, after our best endeavors to induce him to withdraw his resignation, that he feels the act to be plainly the course of wisdom and duty for him, we do, out of respect to his choice and sense of right, reluctantly accept the same.’
He was dismissed May 12, 1874, and, in their ‘result’ the council expressed regret that, in view of the very pleasant relations existing between the pastor and his people, he should have felt constrained to resign his pastoral office; and they advised his dismissal simply in deference to his judgment.
