The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-06-04

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powers of endurance, aud with heart
trusting only in God will be disposed tc
cry out, "Who is sufficient for these
things?" But 10 this realization Of the
MAGNITUDE AND DIFFICULTY OF THE
WORK
thus brought home to my heart by some
experience there is added to-day this re.
Election as tending greatly TO intensity
this embarrassment and TO deepen 1t into
fear and trembling, this-thst | here as
sumo TO wear the mantle that has been
beqQeathed by the lamented and deeply
venersted DR.. Woodbridge, and to pros
ecute the work in which ne was so long
and so successfully engaged. 1 would
not this morning open stresh the heart
wounds which l well know the death of
this sanity and deeply-lOved man pro-
| duced in every member of this church and
parish. Though time may never wholly
obiterste these wounds it may yet be-
nignly mitigate their pain, and feel
| that they are too sacred TO be touched
! by hands OF mine, which are as yet COM
psradVely strange among you. Yet l
|
| succeed in Office HIM who was so very
dear to all your hearts, who went out aud
in before you so long, breaking unto You
| the bread of life, and to whom the Oldest
as well as the youngest among you lock-
ed up TO as father and with the love and
tru o devoted children; and with tn 8
fact before me, can you wonder that |
feel, or can you do sught but sympathlza
with me in the feeling, how greatly l
shall need the grace OF God, and your
prayers with mine as means TO seCu Q
that grace to enable to live and work
WORTHY OF SUCH A sUCCEssORsHP?'
suppose that no higher blessing or
honor could bo asked for or be.
slowed upon me than this, that
may be enabled so to
carry on the work from which
DR.. Woodbridge has by the Master he so
faithfully served been dischsl ged, that |
may in after years commend myself to
some measure of that love and rever-
ence which you have given him, leave
behind me when my work is done some
what OF the record that he has left, liv
in the hearts of my people as he live,
in yours, and wear crown as richly Sc!
with rsnsomed souls as gems ss h now
wears.
l forget not though that have beer;
called TO succeed such a man. ct be-.
lieve, and find hope and strength in the
belief that / have already your sympa-
thies, and that your hearts are ready TO
meet mine in love and confidence, and l
think l may freely say that it will be
my own sincere pleasure TO administer
THE AFFAIRS OF THIS CHURCH
as nearly as l can according to the pin.
ciples on which my venerated preaeces-
sor administered them. You will very
cordially accord to me, | am sure, the
right of true and full in
dividuslIty; yet in exercising
this right l have no fears that l shall feel
disposed to alter in any important mat
ter the modes OF doing things to which
you have been so long accustomed by |
one who was so distinguished for his wiz
dom and grace We will be followers
of him as be was of Christ. And by
honesty of purpose, by devotion TO the
blessed Saviour and the Church which |
lie has purchased with His own precious |
blood, by mutual charity and forbearence,
and by hearty and untiring co-opera-
tion Tor the salvation of souls and the |
spread OF Christ's kingdom, we may
make the relation upon which we haye |
entered to-dsy-solemn as 1t Is, and IN
volving great responsibilities and hard !
labor as il dOes-we make it by Gods |
grace and mercy a comfort to ourselves, |
a blessing to man, and sn honor to God. |
Aud thus may it indeed be, for Jesus
sake. Amen.
HISTORY OF THE MONUMENTAL CHURCH
II may not be unInterest!ng to the
many readers of the REGISTER to know |
something Of the church of which Mr..
Armstrong has just become pastor, Tor 1t
is almost the oldest in this old Diocese OF |
Virginia, and one around which cluster |
many happy memories, as well as sad as
soclations. 1t is located on the north |
side of Broad street, near the corner OF |
Twelfth, and stands upon the site OF the
Old Richmond Theatre, which WAS des- !
troved by fire in the year 1911, Decem-
Der 26. The church Is a handsome oc- |
tsgOnal edlnCe, ana nus III Iuo Iast 10" |
wears been beautifully frescoed, painted |
and repaired. The remains OF the un- |
fortunate victims IN the ,au 'atastTOphe |
Ithe burning of the thCatre) ere depos'
tied in marble urn, which stands on the |
front (southern) portico of the church,
and from which IT derives It's name. |
Upcn this monument are inscribed the
names of those who lost their llyes at the
fire. There were six hundred persons In
the theatre at the time of the fire, ana !
more than one hundred perished.
But without describing further wEat |
occurred at that time, pass on to the |
wear 1914, wnen the church was built. |
Bishop Moore, soon alter that time be-
came the pastor, and he preached there, l |
believe. during the whole time of his res
idence in Richmond.