New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-20
A PASTORS FAREWELL.

Tr R DrlIpp Adg at ne Mai5oR square PrVteTf1n Church
The farewell sermon of the Rev. Dr. VIM.
Adams at his church IN MadisOnsquare. after period
OF 10 years active service in the ministry was the occa-
sion yesterday morning Of many heartfelt regrets
cited when the veteran clergmen first announced his
intention of departing from the familiar path IN which
his professional footsteps had long fingered and now
with renewed and redoubled force the moment OF
leave-taking came. The sermon which occupied nearly
one hour and 90 minutes delveryan most unprece-
length for the Doctors sermonswas filled with
aectionate illusions the pleasure and good feeling
which had attended his relations with his parishoners,
to the kindness he had experienced at their hands, and
to the brothery remembrance and good wishes which
would always have place in his heart in re-
spect to his old field of wok and his former fellow
Iaborers When he had concluded the many moist eyes
and other evidences OF srcng emotion In his audience
testified TO the power of his earnestness'and eoquence,
and to the affection entertained for him personally He
chose for his text Deuteronomy 9Th chapter 81 verse
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord
thy God led thee these 40 years the wilderness TO
humble thee and prove thee, to know what was in
thine heart whether thou wouidst keep His command
ments or no." The entire sermon Is printed below:
The two books OF the Bible most distinguished for
deep and tender pathOs are Deuteronomy and the
Second Epistle OF Paul to TimOthy-one In the Old Tes
lament and the other in the New This quality is owing
to nothing novel in the contents Of these several pro-
ing Instructions but solely to the circumstances of their
respective authors at the time of their writing. Tho
book OF Deuteronomy was written just before Moses
went into the land OF Moab TO die, and the Second
Epstle 10 Timothy written just before the Apostle
Paul was beheaded by Nero at Rome. The niinitable
tenderness which hrobs throughout each Of these por
tons of Scripture springs from the fact that with both
writers they were the last.
Ienyy not the condition OF the who can read with
of adj a nv
Moses to the tribes the day when he one hundred
and twenty years old, bidding them to remember the
days of old and consider the years OF many generations
aud that immortal song OF hsthe sweetest and the last
just his foot began 10 ascend Mount Psgah, with
its beati1c vision those last words by the Christian
Apostle, old man, prisoner deserted by his friends,
yet strengthened by the presence of his Lord that
the near prospect OF death he could employ language
which must DO pronounced the coronation OF all tera
ture. 81 am now ready be offered and the time OF
my departure is at hand. 1 have fought good fight
have finished my have kept the faith heRee
b se LORD and geos Judge mail III y nee US
day and not tome only but unto all them also that love
his appearing"
The jOurneyings OF the Hebrew tribes in the wilder
ness have always been considered as type of human
life. The distance, by the most direct route from
Red Sea to Palestine was not great and might have been
traversed III few days. But the design OF was,
peculiar process, TO educate them for special pur
pose they led up and down. hither and thther
amid manifold perlls and deverances for space OF 40
ised from direction and In a the most remote
from all their early expectations or all who
OF Egypt two only-JOshua and Calebat the close OF
the long and diversified way, went the Jordan into
Canaan. Nevertheless. the organic life and deaty OF
the nation preserved and well IL for that nation
10 be charged remember all the which the Lord
had led them for 40 years 10 humble them try them
and ~ prove their constancy.
NY hearers will instantly perceive the associations
which have led to the selection Of my text this occa
sion. TINS is the last time that am to preach in
the official capacity OF your pastor. My life-work AS
pastor ends to-day. That which now lay down am
never TO resume IL IL not necessary 10 repeat the
reasons, assigned on former occasion, which
have controlled my judgment IN deciding have done
One thing only wish TO repeat with emphasis, that no
name, no onice. has higher place In my esteem than
that OF Christian pastor. AS have been permitted TO
IN this city, those who have regarded me
with undiminished confidence aud respect, 1t would
VI tns iea,on without some special mention Of the
past ana counsel Tor the future Forty years in Chris
tlan Aeres means vastly more than Az years in the
II IN reviewing these years from the point where
personal TO myself Than good taste would warrant
habit OF the pulpit, snail rely upon your indu
geuce 10 pardon any seeming improperly.
My first feeling In looking bac 10 the 18Th Of Novem
ber lSj4-the DAY OF my installation as pastor Of the
Central Presbyterian Church In Bro0me-st-s that of
wonder and gratitude Beginning my ministry as a
young man, among strangers With sense loneliness
question my personal Identity at the close OF
50 many years Oh all the officers of that
held In remembrance III this city ana land
not one Is now living Not more than Il or Is out OF the
present members OF this church have survived who
represented church at the beginning Of my pasIo
rate OF the pastors with whom have been associated
from their laborsspring. skinner Parker, Krebs Phil
lips Potts Ludlow Alexander Knox Hawks, MeClane
Taylor. Minor, BernaD, wainwright, Maciay, Cone,
Somers Mott Armstrong, White, Norton tho two Bald
wins, the two Masons, McMunary. Hunt, Darmer, Lye
Wright to-day who has of battle
whose comrades have fallen his right hand left
on the ued vi honor Que thins not generally thought