Smyrna times., 1866-02-07
For the smyrna Tines"
A Retrospecti0n.

The sweetest flowers, when in full bloom,
Exnand their leaves to meet their doomi
Ths signing zephyrs catch their breath.
And spread their odors after death.
The thoughts occasioned from 4 ramble in
The Old Cemetery of the NJ +. Church, which
we're published few weeks since, have led to
uther ,ne,htations concerning the Glass that
used TO meet III the cid Church on Wednesday
afternoon, years gone by. That class was com
posed chiefly of the aged membersof the church
In the Providence of.GOd, it fell to nay lot to
be'attachcd to that class, when but youth.
From iiy childhood always loved the society
ofAgd peope. | read in my Bible that The
hoary sheid is n crown of glory, II It be 12uno
in the way of righteousness. And here re-
alized the -truthfulness of Scripture, for many
Of these veterans had served the Lord from the
days of their youth, and duly obtained the
,rown Of glory spoken of by Solomon.
Profane History cannot record on its pages
greater cOnQuerors than Christianity can. Those
who enlist under the banner of the Cross when
Young. and continue through a long life, fight
M against the worll, the flesh, and Satan, are
esteemed in the sight of Heaven as the great
est eonquerOrS. Such were some of those for
they had enlisted in this spiritual welfare when
Methodism itself in this country was young
but the term of their enlistment was tor life.
OF them it can be said thas they never desert
Ell the standard of the Cross, but continued in
Waria.e until slain by our common enemy
death on the field of battle And when they
iei, they were conquerOrs, for they had gained
their cause. And quickly an angel band was
dispatched to convey their immortal spirits to
the Celestial City, where mansions were pre-
pared for them, and q kingdom and crown
awaited them.
When think of the advanced age Of many
Of this class, some of whom attained to seven
ty, eighty, and a few reached nearly tOur>core
md Ave years, cannot but think their time
here has been prolonged, on account OF their
exemplary lives. There are many portions OF
Scripture in favor of life Of piety contrlbut-
ing to its length. will notice only a lew
We read in Proverbs, " The fear. of the Lord
prolongeth days" For By me thy days shall
Be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be
Increased. For the upright shall dwell in
the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Two decades have already passed away since
| the old Church was abahdOneaf and the few
remaining members of the Old Class were trans
ferred to the Sunday morning class which met
in the new Church The time that has passed
| has produced no change in my feelings, and
/ from what | wrote then | will tranScrbe few
l st2nEas.
Farswell to the Church where first learned the
truth,
Which guided my childhood. instructed my youth
\ Farew ell to the seats, and the pulpit so DEAR,
cannot leave these without shedding tear.
Aud Oft have l come here. with sorrow bowed down
\ With faith that tried by grim fortunes sterr
\ frown;
The service commenced,-I listened with prayer
And Jesus in it, and banished my care.
Oh much honored Church, thee ne'er can forget,
Here God with His people often has met!
4 And / in u,hP / Ei
Ny thoughts will revert to old Asbury still.
n AN EPISCOPAL METHODIST.
Smyrna, Jan. 28, 1866