The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-07-19
A rrnn ,IInisanr

Recently, Rev. John Chambers, pastor Of
the .'tirst Independent Churcn," Board
ST., Philadelphia, preached his Fortieth
Anniversary Sermon, reviewing his forty
years ministry. 4 correspondent Of the
\. y. Observer, who was present says that
when Rev. Chambers comwenced his minis
try there, his salary was $500. and before
the year was half out, he was offered sal
AIRY of $1,000 in New Orleans; but he pre-
tered remaining with his poor congregation
where to establish a Sabbath School and
prayer meeting he had tn bOnuica couple Of
brethren from another Church, and in time
had a new church built costing S5o.UOO-
The usual attendance al prayer meeting was
about 400 The writer SAYS:
From the be- ginning, Mir. Chambers had
resolved to preach ony Christ GUd him
| cru-iied, ignoring all political discussions
| and moral reform aud Secular subjects IN
the pulpit, and to this purpose Of his youth
he had adhered under all circumstances,
and was re, olyed to adher, whatever trials
might ssssil him and Whatever penalties
might be inflicted Some half dozen Of
his church had left ii because he would not
| preach politics, but scan their I%lces We're
| supplied by as good or better men, and all
became quiet He was Union man, aud
ever had been, and lie would stand by the
Union, the Constitution, and its provisions,
| to the last; but never had he, and never
would he, drag political and secular matters
into the pulpit. His people could get
enough Of this during the week and else
where.
During his forty years miuistcry he had
| attended 2,j00 funerals and ,95l weddings.
Ia had ntlt ho, to I oh l.
dren and 4G0 adults. He had preached
| public addresses, many Of them being on
| the subject of Temperance, Of which he had
been an earnest advocate from the com
mcncmcnt Of the reform. lie. had made
2S, 600 parochial visits, and hadheycr failed
to occupy his pulpit in consequence Of sick
ness, except three Sundays, in forty years.
Once however, he was dangerously attacked
with bronchitis, when his physician told
him he had to choose between death IN SIX
months and sea voyage. He told him he
preferred the latter; and his parishloners,
kindly conScnting to release him for a sea-
son, and raising 81, 500 to meet in part his
expenses, besides supplying his pulpit at
their own cost, he Immediately sailed Tor
Europe with his family, where he spent
above year in travel IN almost every coun-
try. lie had never been tardy at church
bnt on one occasion, and that only five min
utes, being called away to attend a wedding
As the result Of his forty years a5ors, he
had received three HonSmd members into
his church, almost all IF whom were from
the world as he discouraged all attempts at
proScyting, or drawing members from other
churches.
What an honorable record is this What
an amount OF labor And how glorious the
result! What Oil argument for adhering to
the simple PRONUNCIATION Of the GOSPEL, in
stead Of political aud partisan discussions,
aud idle dccama .on and rant! Three Moet-
smd coRrcfts! with. large additions yet to
be made, as VIC hope, in the future; for the
church is most attached and cH.tiding; and,
though the pastor is GS years old, he shows
all the intellectual aud physical vlgor and
the buoyant spirit Of young clndldate i'll
search OF parish. >