Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-11-06

SOCIAL REUNION AT TIE HOUSE OF REV. A. B.
- ROBBINS.
On Friday evening last one of the largest
and pleasantest social gatherings it has ever
been our good fortune to mingle with in Mus.
catine met at the residence of Rev. A. B.
Robbins, pastor of the First Congregational
Church, to commemorate the twentieth ami
versary of his pastoral labors in this city
Mr.. R. is by far the Oldest resident clergyman
at this place, if not in the State. He landed
at our town in the fall of 1S43, when it num-
bered but few hundred inhabitants and had
no house of public worship. The Church at
its organization numbered twenty-six men,
bers, only ten of whom now remain, though
the list of members has swelled to
hundreds, and the Church is one of the larg-
est and most prosperous in the city. The
secret of Mr.. Robbins success as q minister
is owing to the fact that he has ever been ear
nest and devoted to his calling, preaching the
truth at all times and on all occasions, with
out fear or favor-denouncng in.emperance,
slavery and other popular sins of the day
and endeavoring both by example and by pre-
cept, calmly and nationally to inculcate the
beauties and the benefits of life of holiness
and conservation to the Lord. This policy
has had happy fruits, not only in calling
around him warm and devoted friends, but in
turning many hardened sinners from the error
of their way and in purifying and elevating
public sentiment on moral questions.
On the occasion above referred to Mr.. Rob.
bins received some substantial tokens of the
high regard in which he is held by his peo-
pie. An elegant study chair. costing thirty
dollars, designed for himself, and handsome
rocking chair, worth fifteen dollars, for his
wife, were left at his residence, with the fol-
lowing beautiful and original accompaniment,
written by lady, one of the few remain
ing of his friends ON his arrival twenty years
ago:
LINES TO "oUa PASTOR"
Respectfully dedicated to Rer A. B. Robbins upon the 10Th
snntrersary of his pastoral connections rh the First
Congregational Church. Of Museatine, Io,cs.
We meet, proud aud joyous throng,
Within Pastors home,
We know that We welcome here,
And so we love TO come.
But to night, our hearts are wand ring
Back twenty years ago,
Ger scenes, and faces, again
On earth, will never know;
And many bright and happy thought
Lights up the storied past,
And We, this joyous hour no shade
Would 0 er those mem ries cast.
Our Pastor! this our present theme,
His faithful love and care;-
His sorrows and his joys We feel,
And feeling, deeply share.
We know that Death hath borne dsar ones
Beyond the pearly gates,
And half his household treasures there
To greet his coming waits;
And many of his flock We trust
Have only gone before"
To dwell within the Shepherds fold
Upon the Shining Shore
The aged pilgrim his home,-
The middle aged and strong
Chrst's Lambs, the 'Chiidren of the Church,"
Are here to swell the throng.
We bring with costly gifts
Of gold, or silver wrought.
But something these can never buy
grateful peoples thoughts:-
lore. by trial purifedi
And irishes, kind and true,
These the gifts, that we to might,
Dear Pastor, bring to you.
But we, the younger of your flock,
Would some memento bring,
Round which in future, mem'ries dear
Of this glad night may cling:
And often may our Pastors form,
Its yielding cushions press,
In all the years that yet remain
His span of life to bless;
God grant rs many hours like this,
In answer to prayer,
That distant be the day.