The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-24


light Of Gods appreciation was reflected IN the
smiles OF your comfort and supports oy tne
memories of your many sacrifices IN Denalt oil
the cause committed 10 YOU ane Uy o one ero Io
through evil as well as through good report,
well may call you my beloved" When the
iaintness Of death shall settle upon me, shall
whisper your names as "my beloved% in the
morning of the resurrection, next to an ador-
ing vision Of my Saviour, shall look for you
among the blood-washed throng, shall hasten
to present you as the brightest jewels in the
crown OF my rejoicing, the most precious seals
of my ministry, and Joy to hail you, as we
walk the green pastures of Heaven, forever and
forever as my beloved.n
And can take up the further utterance of the
Apostle, and say OF you, my beloved, that ye
"have always obeyed in my presence" You
have given to my ministry among you cheer
ful and gospel obedience. Personally have
not been as wise as more experienced brethren,
nor as capable to achieve as we're some of you
nor have l been armed by the Saviour with
authority to overrUle your judgments, to coerce
your consents, or to exact your labors; but hav-
ing chosen me to be your pastor, your overseer,
your guide, and your teacher, you have given
to me your confidence and your cooperation, /
sustaining me and my measures for your de-
ve4opment, encouraging me by your counsels
shielding me when assailed, comforting me
when cast down, and throwing the mantle of
charity over my defects. All this We have done
because ye were obedient to the truth, because
ye were loyal to Christ, and because you have
seemed TO realize that the efficiency and success
OF the man you had chosen 20 be your pastor
depended as much and in fact more, on your
cooperation than on his own single exertions.
And your obedience to the Gospel has been
the moIe striking because of the distinctive
character OF my preaching. have not sought
to entertain you with cunningly devised fables,
nor to g9in congre cation by smooth utterances,
foWery speeches, and sensational topics. Rather,
l have told the story of salvation with plain
ness and stralght-forwardnes which has rem
dered my ministry less pleasing to many And
still, 1 have had throughout these ten years
attentive congregations and for the most part
this large audience-room has been filed with
the crowds who have continued to attend upon
my ministry.
Nevertheless, take you to witness this day,
my hearers, that have not stunned the whole
counsel of God, whether men would hear or
whether they would forbear i can say
truthfully, that have sought to know nothing
among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucfed.
Christ has been the constant theme of my
pulpit ministTation. have set Him before you
as the AtoniDg Saviour of men, the Lamb of
God that taketh away the sin OF the world. l
have endeavored to unfold the doctrine of
Christ, in His relation to the guilt and helpless.
ness OF the sinner, and as the only and sufficient
source of pardon, peace, and eternal life.
have sought to display the glories of His person,
the wonders of His love, and the blessedness of
that righteousness which He wrought out for
His people. have besought men to be recon-
clled to God by believing on our Lord Jesus
Christ.
More than this, have conceived that the
doctrine of Christ crucihed was o practical
remedy for the ills OF life disnfeetant of social
corruption, and the inspiration OF true civili-
Zation. Therefore have not besitated to apply
the principles of Christianity, in regard to JUS
tice, liberty, loyalty, and brotherhood, to the
peculiar eXigencies that have been brought out
by the terrible conflict through which the coun-
try has been passing.
As might be expected, this characteristic Of
my ministry has excited much opposition, and
exposed me to malignant yItuperation, especially
And have particularly noticed, although
have had severe trials, ostensiby on other
ment Of the country concerning slavery was at
its height, and that the bitterest and most
unscrupulous leaders or the faction against me
were men whose chief claims to piety consisted
in their sympathies with Rebels and their hatred
of the negro. So far as they were concerned,
my misfortune has been that was not Copper
head, and my crime has been thatl was friend
of the slave.
Yet just here ought to make an important
qualification. Throughout my ministry have
been sustained by brethren whose sympathles
concerning slavery have been directly opposite
to my own. But, to their honor be it said, they
have been proof against the seductlons of
political partisanship. Recognizing the right
of every man to the undisturbed enjoyment of
his own opinions, and respecting the honesty
of my own convictions, and withal too noble,
too generous, too gentlemanlyt 10 make their
pastor an offender for word and imbued
too much, moreover, with the spirit of Christian
considerateness to neutraliZe the general DRIFT
of my ministry on account of an incidental and
minor difference, they have stood in the front
rank of my supporters, defending me from
every assault and cheering me with the kindly
smiles of their affectiOnate confidence.
For all this, my thanks, though burdened
with grateful recognitions, are an inadequate
compensation. In that day when the smallest
service done to dis c1ple IN the name of Christ
shall not be forgotten, ye, my brethren, shall in
| no wise lose your reward.
| brief reference TO the important facts of
| your history during the past ten years may be
! specially mentioned as the grand monuments of
| your selfsacrihcing zeal and cordial co-opera-
tion, and as the lasting proof of your obedience
| to the Gospel and the will of Christ. s
First of all, cite the facts of your financial
| history. When came among you ten years ago,
! found you struggling under the crushing
| burden OF debt OF about twenty-eight thou.
| sand dollars. say crushing debt, TOR the men
were very few who possessed much OF this
| worlds goods, and they felt that the demands
| already met had exhausted their capacity TO do
more. Besides, you were involved in the meshes
! OF yeXatous and tedious lawsuit.
AT length the suit was decided in favor of the
! church, and netted them five thousand five hun
| dred dollars. An effort was made to reduce the
| remaining Indebtedness, and after a protracted
struggle we succeeded in raising about six thou
| sand dollars in contributions, which, with the
| results of the lawsuits and savings from the
! income diminished the Indebtedness to about
one-half its original size.
This was your financial condition about four
! years ago. Then came q period of terrible
trial to the integrity OF the church and the
courage of the pastor. To stranger, as he
| witnessed the crowds that thronged my min
istry, the order and efficacy of every depart.
t ment OF church service, it seemed that 1 was
SAILING on the topmost wave OF popularity, and
ptat tnat my bed was couch of thornless roses.
ia DuS Ior years before this an undercurrent of
IN tnnHIenees had been at work which warned me
70 cnoose the alternative of retiring while the
SKY was clear and cloudless or of waiting till a