Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-07-22
Rev. DIR. HOWcIl's Farewell Sermon
Affecting Scene

Sualy large and attentive and during the progress
OF the sermon, the cheeks of most of the auditors
were oede"ed with unbidden tears-ther eounte.
hahces oetokening the irrepressible sadness which
they experienced while listening to the pathetic
recitais and impressive admonitions Of a psstor
VINO had endeared himself to one and all
Alter an earnest appeal to the Throne of Grace,
DT Rev. r. Ford of this city, Dr. Howell came for
ward, and read as his text:
Finally brethren, farewell. Be perfect be OF good com.
I De OF one mind live in peace, God Of love and
peace shall be with you."-2 Cor. 10 ch II yer.
DR.. Fl. then commenced his address, with evident
emotion, by referring 70 the profound sadness which
he ! lt on separating from those with whom he had
iaooreo for more than seven vears-a separation
which he had fondly hoped would never occur. He
would not attempt 10 express the emotion which
agltsted bis heart 10 thus parting with beloved
friends many whom with he had received and well
coined into fellowship with the Saints With sleen.
less vigilance he had watched over their ", Hare
Ior III DIS inmost heart he loved them all b. had
STOOD hImy by their sides in the hours of sdVersi
~, and extended to them his warmest svnnatbias
when disease had laid ts hand upon Them His
heart bled in sympathy with their own as he laid in
the grave their dearest relatives and friepds-the
sorrow he experienced on such mournfuI occssione
was as profound as if the bereavement had fallen
upon his own family He had shared their grief
and participated in their JOY. But all this ia mast
ano lie no" took his leave, now looked upon their
faces Tor the last time upon earth. He had come
this morning to bid them a long farewell
II, IN his parting remarks he should apnea- rno,e
egot stical than proper he would reIv pnon
the peculiar circumstances of the occasion and
trust to the kindness of his hearers for tbeir in
du'gence. Dr. II. then proceeded 10 reviow the
circumstances under which he was induced. eight
ye rs since, to leave field of usefulness which he
had occupied for more than sixteen years Rich
mond was among the scenes of his early voutb
de commenced his ministry here He loved Vir
GINA and its people. Your church The said) had
nsme for zeal, energy, and liberaItv and Won and
others gave the assurance that it still retained
Its ancient reputation, and the best field of Ia
Dor In the South. These were the prominent rea
sons OF his coming. From the representations of
the church committee, and of DR.. REYNOLDS and
other brethren, he yielded and accepted tue posi-
ton which now terminated.
DR.. II. then alluded to his love for the neonIa If
Nashville, and the pain which he experienced in
tearing himself away from th,m, avowinc that in
changing thu field of bis labors, he sought neither
reputation, nor pecuniary gain, nor worldly advap-
tage. His sole aim has been the glory of God He
then recapitulated the changes which had taken
place under his miDistratons here He had re-
ctiVed into the fellowship of The Church 4O3 npr-
sons, 2O5 Of whom he had baptized He had de-
hVered ever two thousand sermons, and ofici,ted
at several ordinations. He might point 10 Rich
mond College, the Female Institute and the Teigb
Street Church, as evidences OF the manner 10 which
bis labors bad been blessed by God The copgre-
cation has increased from $40 to SIS, and the pew
rents Which~2-re formerly ST. 200 now yielded
g., 600. III the iulflment of his pastoral duties
he bad worked from sunrise TO midnight. The
vacation enjoyed by many brethren be had not
soua hit. He gloried in toll and labor and scorued
a life of ease and inactivity
He would leave this great church prosperous and
happy, and would go TO another, but not as a
stranger lie would 60 to mingle among familiar
scenes, and among friends with whom he had spent
sixteen years oil his existence. He would return
like bird to its loved woodland retreat.
Warm hearts and strong hands would greet him.
Nevertheless, he would 60 with conflicting emo
tons. lie loved Virginia and its ample felds-its
warm aIted and generous people. He loved this
beautiful city-the most beautiful he had ever SEEN
and above all he loved the citizens polite courte
Gus, and benevolent as he had ever found them and
never would he leave them until he bad endeavor.
ed to express his gratitude to them Nav the rich
est blessings of Almighty God ever rest upon the
people of Richmond, and of Virginia
DR.. IL. next referred TO the personal sacrifices
which his removal would entail upon him. tut for
the beloved Redeemcr'5 sake, he would calmly ell
dure them all, and tear asuuder the strong ties
which had retained him here. He next spoke of
the many acts of personal kindness OF which he had
been the recipient bright Oases in his path which
he can never forget. What return he asked. can
/ make for theseY In the beatings of grateful
heart, l can only thank you ALL
parting admonitions. He told them that thew could
not expect to escape trials and perplexiies. and
that IL necessary that they should act fully up
to their Christian dutes, for the glory of Christ
The most Influential of all these was Love-the
love OF His cause-wthout which there was no true
religion. He also enjoned unwaveriug Faith and
fraternal cooperation, urging them to labor with
uuhagging zeal ard never to forget that their in
terests depended upon God. He invoked them 10
cherish and sustain their institutions OF learning,
and TO be faithful in all this until death
It would have afforded him pleasure to have'met
his successor, before leaving, but as il was other
wise ordained, he hoped that God would direct their
efforts, and send to them after His own heart
-abounding in piety, industry, zeal, and faith
one who should combine the qualities of a scholar
and gentleman with the zeal and piety of Chris
tian. He would urge them to honor such mau
for their own sake, aud for HE sake. Do not he
said, be neglectiul; do not Cypress his heart aud
palsy his hand. II is your work which he comes
TO do, and therefore, give him your cordial sympa-
thies, Tor faithful minister has and sorrows
which few, out Of the profession, can feel Dr. H.
had often warned the Church against A cbange oE
pastors. IL they adhered to the practice thew
would not prosper. liz advised them to stand by
their minister, and let him not contemplate remov-
o.. Let him feel that you will sustain him. and that
his position is Permanent and his soul will be-
stronger, and Gods blessing will be with him aud
you.
DR.. n. then remarked that the were some present
" ithout God and without hope, whom be had ex-
horted many times. He pointed them to Chri,t rs
willing and able to save them, but they would not
heed him. His celebrations were now ended, and
he bid them, this morning, a inal farewell He
next addressed his brethren Of the aconship re-
minding them that the prosperity Of the church dc
pended mostly upon them. He bid them an afiec
tiouate farewell. Next, he expressed his obea-
lions to the choir for their grateful encouragement
and invoked the Lord TO bless them with the rich.
est rewards OF His grace hoping that together they
would sing his praise in Heaven. He bid them a
hual farewell.
Addressing the young brethren and sisters. he
ioli them they were the hope Of the Church and |
urged them at once to commeuse the war of pss
ILLNESS; TO be always 10 their places awavs zslo,s
IN the cause, aud prayerful and thus thew wouId |
escape not only the SHARES into which thew wopId
Otherwise tall, but be more acceptable unto God
After ADJOINING them 10 seek immediate entrance
into the sacramenIal hosts, be bid them farewell
and addressed the senior brethren and sisters m
on whose broWs, the gray locks were CATHERINE.
Soon they and he would finish their work A few
more battles and their victory would hs corDls,a
As the sp aker uttered: Venerable bretbrsp ana
listers, farewell" his emotion became more p,r.
Septible, while his eyes filed with tears. Cop,inn-
mg he said: ''our prayer meetings, and our anxious
consultations, all, all are over, but sou will NOT
eesse TO pray. While you remain la YOUR own
happy homes, 60 10 distant field AK tb.t
you viii remember me, and pvay that NAV be de,
hVrred from all adverse Influences. ives lms
again; not on earth, but ia Heaven (He her,
quoted two stanzas irom the iO75th hymn which
had been sung By the choir al the commencement
of the services In conclusion, he sad. "Thr Lori
bless you aud keep you. May be cause his glory