The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-20
DR., ADAMS FAREWELL.

"Reminiscences OF n Forty Years Pas
tornte-A Hopeful Future.
The Presbyterian church at the corner OF Twen-
ty-iourth street and Madison avenue was filed to
overnowing yesterday, on the occasion OF the
retirement from the pastorate OF the Rev. DR..
Adams, in the forteth year OF his charge. Dr.
Adams chose for his text the second verse OF the
eighth chapter OF Deuteronomy :-"And thou shalt
remember all the way which the Lord thy God led
thee these forty years IN the wilderness. to humble
thee and to prove thee. to know what was In thine
heart, whether thou wouldst keep his command
ments or no.n Alter referring to the authors Of
and the periods at which the books OF Deuteron.
omy and Timothy were written, DR.. Adams quoted
the words OF Moses to the tribes on the day when
he became 100 years OF age, which he pro-
nounced to be the coronation OF all ntera-
ture:-W am now ready to be offered; ;
the time OF my departure is at hand. have fought
good fight. have finished my course; ! nave
Kept the faith. TnenceiOrth there is laid up for
q crown OF righteousness which the Lord. the
Righteous Judge, shall give me in that day; not
only me, but unto all men who love his command
ments." The journey Of the Hebrew tribes in the
wilderness may well be considered as typical OF
human life. The distance BY the most direct road
to Canaan was not great, 1t might have been
traversed in few days; but the design OF God was
u
through a period of forty years. "My hearers"
said he, twill understand the associations which
have led to the selection of my text this Occa-
sion. This is the last time will ever preach the
ofrcial capacity or your pastor. O how many
thoughts crowd upon me- OF the life work which
ends to-day!
THE REVIEW OF HIS LABoRs.
ut Is not necessary to repeat the reasons as.
signed to those who had right to know them. In
reviewing these years since was Installed pal
lid, delicate, trembling youth, as pastor in this
city, may be pardoned If make some references
that may seem personal" DR.. Adams then re-
ferred to the 18th OF November, 1885, the date OF
his entrance upon the duties which ended yester-
day. and traced the rise and progress OF the Pres
byteran church to this day in this city. Not more
than twelve or fifteen members OF this church were
members at the beginning. one happy couple who
joined the church forty years ago were then pres
ent with their children and their childrens chill
dren still active members. All the pastors with
whom he had been associated, Parker, Phillips,
soana sanks
Hawey, Bernan, Wainwright. Coombs, McClay.
S no ,Ma wns tS
Hunt Lyon and wright and several
others were all gone, and then the Doctor SAID =
| whose comrades nave fallen on his right hand and
4 on his left; one who survives the loss OF many
4 parlShOnerS nnd3 nifn3eH not unScaLneu out
covered with scars and bruised with many wounds.
| The way In which one Is carried along through
| trials reveals the great law and philosophy OF nfe.
They come TO us one by one, not all at once; that
| would be an avalanche That would crush MS. We
meet them singly day by day, and the aggregate II
1t came upon us at once would be insupp0rtable.
Broodlng over the past Is weakness-our duty Is
with the present and Tor the future MY one WISH
this day Is to cheer and encourage all, especially
those who have the greater part OF life IN prospect
TO greater and more faithful h0pelulness
In the bright Kingdom OF our Lord. the changes
which have occurred oil lead uS 10 expect greater
changes In time TO come. The original NUMBER VI
those VINO constituted this church In 1893 was a.
| There have since been added 2,142; addlng 70 thls
the number admitted during my pastorate ln
Broome street, the total consists OF over 3,ooo
This lncluoes those who nave been admitted 10 our
communion ana our mission Detnel., WIN us wv.
departments, English and German"
THE MATERIAL PROGRESS or THE COUNTRY.
DIR. Adams then traced the growth oi the coun
| try, illustrated by the Western states ana Icrrl
tories, and compared our material progress VIII
the growth OF the true spirit OF region--charlty.
which had been Just rapid all over the WorIu
Forty years ago CrotOn water was UNKNOWN
and people depended upon divers pumps
and their brackish water. Now the sweet
pure Croton Is in every house ia unlimited
quantities. SO with charity. Organized bencvoienc
is now q characteristic OF the CHRISTIAN religion
where before charity was but squirt or Jet her.
aud there upon sinple OBJECT oi Day, Reierrinl