Richland beacon., 1874-07-11
Farewell Brother Crawford,

never read it, we reproduce Brother
Crawford's Introductory sermon to-
his new congregation. Carpet-bag-
gers should memorize it, as they are
soon to leave US for new field of la
Dor. He had been preaching a long
time at Bethel Chapel, bnt, as the
church was poor, and unable to pay
him a sufficient salary, he accepted %
call from Sinai Church. Entering
the church with a solemn countenancc,
he laid his saddlc-bags and umbrella
aside, pulled off his spurs, le2gins and
hat, took a survey of the congrcga-
ton, and began apologetically, as
follows:
You don't see me to-day in the
dress | alters wear: | comes among
you as stranger aud am now trickcd
cut in my store clothes; | am not q
proud man, but | thought it would be
more becoming among strangers.
After this he raised a hymn in
which the congregation joined IIo
then began his sermon:
My dear brethren and sisters, first
and foremost, I'm guine to tell you
The affecting rartin' | had with my
congregation at b, thel Chapel. After
l got TIN ough with my farewell SER
mon as | come down outen the pulpit.
the old gray-beaded brethren and ST..
ters who had listened to my voice %
years, crOwed around me- and with
sobbin' voices and fearful eyes, said
Farewell, Brother Crawford
as | walked down the aisle, the
young ladies tricked out in their fl
merry, brass jewelry, gewgaws, jim
cracks, paint and fiounces, looked up
with their bright eyes and pronounced
with their rosy lips-FarewelI, broth.
er Crawford!
The young men with their tight
patent leather boots, high collars and
dashy misunderstanding of po-
matum and cigar smoke-with
shanghai coats, and striped Zebra
pants; they too, said-Farewell
brother Crawford |!
The little children-lambs in the
fold-lifted up their tiny hands and
small voices, and, with one accord,
said-Farewell brother Crawford
The colored brethren of the con.
gregation now came forward (black
sheep who had been admitted to the
fold under my ministry with tears
rolling down their sable checks they,
too, said-FarewelI, brother Craw.
ford!
AS I got on my horse and badc
adieu to my congregation fOrever-I
turned 10 take q last look at the
church where / had preached MORN
twenty years-and as gazed at its
dilapidatcd and moss covered wall, it,
too, seemed to say-Farewell, brother
Crawford
AS | rode through the village, tho
people who poked their heads outen
the winders, and the servants who
leant on their brooms, all seemed to
say-FarewclI, brother Crawford!
AS / passed along down the high.
way through the forest, the wind, as
it sighed and whistled through the
tree tops, plain on the leaves and
branches the burden of salvation, it,
too seemed to say-Farewell, brother
Crawford!
Crossing little creek that was
gurgling and singing over its pebblcd
bed, as it rejoiced on its way to the
great ocean Ofeternity, it, too, seemed
to say-Farewell, brother Crawford!
AS l rode along down a hot, dusty
lane, AL old SOW that was asleep in
the fence corner jumpin out of sud.
den 'vith a loud broo-too, she, too,
seemed to say Farewell. brother
Crawford
My horse got frightened and
jumped from under me, and as ho
curled bis tail over his back, kicked
up his heels and running of, he, too,
seemed to tosay-Farewell, Farewell,
brother Crawford