Morning journal and courier., 1880-06-21
St. James Church.

Rev. Dr. vfbBert Breaches His Thirty
 Fifth Anniversary Sermon.
 Yesterday morning Rev. Dr. Vibbert, rec
 tor of St. James church, Fair Haven (East),
 preached his thirty-ffth anniversary sermon
 as rector of that parish. The church was
 well filled, and the services and the discourse
 which followed were very impressive.
 The church was handsomely decorated
 with flowers and choice plants. On one side
 of the chancel window was 1845, and on the
 other 1ss0 Upon the baptismal font was a
 eonical shaped base of water lilies about two
 feet high, on the summit of which stood an
 elegant cross of flowers Within the chancel
 rail was placed white column, on the top of
 which was an urn within which was placed a
 beautiful bouquet and about midway of the
 column was an anchor of most handsome
 flowers. In front of the lectern was large
 pyramid of flowers, mostly lilies, while upon
 the desk and pulpit were placed bouquets of
 charming summer buds and blossoms.
 At the services for the day, which preced-
 ed the sermon, the following order of music
 was observed:
 Venite and G1orias-1 homas, Lloyds Berge's.
 Te Deum-Hunt's.
 JubiIate-Berge
 Hymn 423-Barnes hymn 42 Kyrie-MS.
 Gloria Tibi-P1eye1's-
 Hymn 426-Barnes hymn 10. Sanctus.
 Gloria in Excelsis.
 SAlmighty Father" No. l.
 The organ music by Dr. Durham and the
 singing by the choir were very fine, and the entire services were worthy the suspicious occasion which fhnV were intended to com memorate.
 The sermon of Rev. Mir Vibbert was retro spective in it's character and treated princl- pally concerning matters of interest to the
 rector and his people, to whom he has so acceptably ministered for these many years. His closing, remarks were as follows My beloved brethren the relation subsist- ing between us as minister and people has, by the goodness of God, been suffered to ex- tend through many years pastorate ot thirty-five years is, in these days of frequent ministerial changes, something remarkable. Had been more given to change, or you less
 forbearing and indulgent towards my many faults and shortcomings, the connection be- tween us might long since have ceased. But
 I feel that the pastoral tie is one of most sacred character, which ought not to be sun l dered for light and trivial causes. The older 1 members of my congregation, when l first came among you-a young and inexperienced deacon-to exercise the duties of my office, were young like myself; and together, for the past thirty five years, we have walked side by side, and witnessed the almond tree blossoming upon each others temples. Many of you, now in middle life, were but little children in the Sunday school when I began my ministry, and now your children fill the places in the Sunday school which you once occupied. The younger members of the par l ish were, of course, not born when first became it's minister. But I have baptized Nf khnI1 parents, and presented some of them to the Bishop for the rite of confirmation. Many of you I have united in the holy bonds of wedlock. Many of you have I visited in your times of sickness, and prayed at your bedside for your recovery. Many of your ] dear relatives and friends have I committed l to their last sleep with the solemn services of l the Church, Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, l dust to dust.' Many @ time have I broken to you the Bread of Life, in the holy Eucha- rist and, for times almost without number, have preached to you the blessed tidings of | the gospel, exhorting those who are Christ ians to walk worthy of their high and holy vocation; and beseeching the careless and impenitent to be reconciled to God. From all this you cannot fail, my breth ren, to see, as I have said, that the pastoral tie between minister and people is one of a highly sacred character, which ought not to be easily broken. At least it seems dear and " appears in the same light to YOU. But the endearing bond which has so long subsisted between us must in the natural course of events, be severed before many more years shall have passed away. Your rector is be- coming old man, and must soon pass away from the scenes of earth, to give an ac- count of his ministry and to be seen by you
 no more in the present..world God grant that we may all meet together again-minister and people-in that better world above, where partings shall be known no more for ever.
 And when the hand of death shall call your pastor hence, may God send you one to take his place who will be more faithful in pro- noting your spiritual interests than he has
 been. A more faithful pastor He may send you; but, dear brethren, He can never send you one, believe me, who can ever love you better.
 And now may the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, both now and evermore. Amen. At the evening service in this church the following order of music was observed: Hymn 411-Tucker.
 Gloria Gregorian- -Psaltery, page 1o3. Bonum Est-Sage.
 Benedicite-Danks.
 Hymn 441-Carmina, page 101 Hymn 409, Carmna Denmark, page 269. "Almghty Father,' No. 9 The services of the entire day were of
 usual interest and were calculated to cement more closely, if possible, the ties between the esteemed rector and the members of his par ish