Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-20


..WeIcOme Services at the First Bap.
g3st Church Yesterday.
Editors Memphis Appeal;
These were held upon the arrival OF
the pastor eject, Bsy. ID. 4. Burns, and
his induction into his office. All the
BAPTIST Churches in the city, with their
pastors, Joined ia the welcome. The
congregation was very large, and the
services Of the most interesting and i'm
pressive character.
Rev. Dr.. Ford preached one Of his
ablest sermons upon allegiance to
Christi and took for his subject the
three Jewish worthless, and the burning,
fiery furnace. He show ed that true re-
ligion had been in all ages most suCcs ss-
fully opposed, not by irreligion, bus by
false religions; that the adherents to
the true, its ministers and members
had ia all ages been called to suffer for
their consisiency-Absl, Noah, Moses,
and The prophets. lie then gave d
graphic description Of the scene On the
Plains Of Dura, that thrilled every heart.
From the subject h9 drew differences:
First-Our allegiance to Christ should
rise superior TO the obligations Of graft
tude.
Sgcond-Superior to earthly friendships
or worldly popularity.
Third-Superior to the fear Of death.
His application of it to the Pastor
elect, and to the church, we will not at
tempt
He was followed by the Rev. J. r.
Graves, the Pastor cd interim, who de-
livereG over his charge TO the Pastor
elect, in one Of lis happiest e.
forts. He said "It is Customary
IN time Of war, when al officer delivers
over his command 10 successor, to ex.
plain to him the exact nature Of the
ground and position occupied by the enc
my, and the points he will be most likely
I to assault, and tender such advice rs the
4 circumstances might justify.
He paid handsome tribute to his pre-.
/ Geoessors in the ministry-to the vener.
able Gayle, the father of the Baptist il.
terest in Memphis; to the ssiuted Finley
passed on to his rest; to those devoted
brethren who, like A srou and Hurr, held
up their hands until they were pal
sled by death-Banlyn and Lske. II,
said that the new pastor, after an al
sence of eighteen years, had returned t
tse city in crisis time, When questions
fthe most vital importaucet to the churcl
and true Christianity, were exciting tn,
public mind. lie might say that th,
three most powerful and treagherou
enemies ssssulting the very citadel 0
Christianity, were a. A spurious Eccle
slastioism q Ritualism-bsptismal re
1 mission and regeneration, salvation de
/ pendent upon rites, e.c.; and Is Con
formity to the world en- tie Psrt OF pro
fessed Christians.
Most earnestly did the retiring paste
urge him to faithfulness in meeting tn
assaults of this trinity Of foes but mos
( powerfully did ne press him with his dut.
respecting the last and most mortal q
them all. Heappesled to him that, if 70
the sake of multiplying his bapUisms, b
would lower the Bible standard Of quail
fjcation, and receive less than q SCUM
Christian experience.
Would be give the young and worldl
his pastoral assurance that they woul
not be required TO separate themselve
from The world, bat even after the vow
of baptism, might continue TO visit To
theater, the circus, and participate a
before in the dance and the immoraiit
Of the waltz? Is not this to offend, tur
aside, lead sstray, one of Cbrist's littl
ones, aud would it not bs better that
milestone were hung about your mech
and you esst into the ssa ?'' Christ sal
this but be would say ths.inhis oplnio
if the pastor elect should pursue thi
course Of policy to multiply his foe
and enhance his popularity that it woul
he far better for this Church aud for ID
cause in this city that she had nsve
been born,p
: Strong language, and emphasized b
the speakers powerful manner, th
! effect was sensible, and the impressio
t will never bs effaeed from ministers an
members present.
After this charge-we cannot follow
further-while the choir sang q hymn
welcome, all the members of the thre
; churches present came for ward and gay
I, the new pastor the hand of FELLOWSHIP
j and cordial welcome. The exercises wei
Z exceedingly appropriate and impressiys
:. the greeting seemed eordisl-tears wei
t shed. whether of JOY or Of sad memoirs
8 recalled by the day, we wot not.
The retiring pastor then read the 1873