Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-02-03
Farewell Sermon.

A large and appreciative audience au-
dience assembled at the Town Hall last
Sabbath evening to listen to the farewell
sermon of the Rev. R. M. Thompson. We
hope that the discourse, though termed
his farewell sermon, will not be the last
one he will preach in Cheboygan, for his
Pensioners, we believe, without dis
senting voice, .hope to welcome him
back again to vacant pulpit that will
5e hard otherwise to fill.
If the estimate which our people put
upon the work of the Independent church,
during its brief existence, Is to be meas
ured by the size of the audience assem-
bled last Sabbath, certainly pastor and
people have cause for cOngratulatiOn.
Mere curiosity was not the motive that
drew so many to the Town Hall on this
interesting occasion. This was mani
tested by the hand shaking and the
gOOd-byes at the conclusion of the dis
course. GoOd-byes pronounced with
choking utterance and fearful eyes.
Yes, the assembly felt they were parting
with friend--One, who in his public
ministry and daily life, had emphasized
to them the supreme truth in the gospel
of Jesus Christ, namely, Gods love to
man, and the obligation upon us to re-
turn that love, and to make it manifest
by charity toward all mankind.
A Lrief abstract of the sermon is here
attempted, although we realize that
full report could not do justice to the eff
fort. .,..
The text was from Hebrews, I'd chap
ter, Sd verse: How shall we escape if we
neglect SO great salvation The first
point made In the exposition of the text
was the folly and crimiaality of neglect.
Some one had said "The past deceives
me, the present alarms me, the future
terrifies me-" this will be the sad lament
of all who pass through life in continual
neglect of duty. The next element Of
the text emphasized was saiCation. The
preacher took broad ground here. Sal
walton did not consist in assent to par
ticular set of dogmas. before sinner
could enter the folds of the Great Shep-
herd. 1t was as broad and complex as
the nature of man, for IL included physi-
cal, mental and spiritual salvation. 1t
was so high that there was nothing
higher In the universe, except the Au-
thor of this salvation, the Eternal One,
himself. We blame God for a good many
things that He Ia not to blame for. He
never negfects anything, but He teaches
us lessons of obedience by the stern cir
CUM stances by which He surrounds us.
The business man who neglects his bus
mess for pleasure becomes bankrupt.
An individual that neglects to cultivate
his mind suffers deterioration of mental
power. Neglect to build up sterling
character and ones self-respect Is lest,
and ruin follows. A railway train Is
speeding along. 1t suddenly turus a
curve and is precipitated into the gulf
below. What caused the loss Of life, the
beart-rending laments over lost ones,
never to returnp There was criminal
neglect somewhere. The signal lights
were not raised that the engineer might
know Of an open switch. A hotel. burns
down. Men, women and children are
roasted alive. Who is to blame? God
gaNel brains enough to properly con-
struct a hotel and provide easy egress
and fire escapes, but man neglects to do
this. Man, and not God, Is to blame.
= The greatest compliment to humanity
is that we can do part in the great
work of salvation, as anon, the plans of
Providence are unfOlded. We can with
angels help work out the will of the
Father. What banquet is spread for
us in this beautiful working world! We
are inrited to the feast, but we neglect
to come, or to send even our regrets. 1t
is trite saying that age breeds neglect
in all" All what sad commentary on
humanity Punishment will surely
come to those who envelope themselves
in the robes of their own selfishness.
Fashionable churches do not care for
the neglected ones, but the Savior says
even to the abandoned woman, Hath no
man condemned thee? Neither do con-
denim thee. Go and sin no more" We
ought to do the work given us to do
cheerfully, through good report and evil
report, and attain that spiritual altitude
when we can say "All is for the best"
In conclusion the speaker referred
with touching eloquence to his six
months stay in ChebOygan. During this
period perfect harmony and kind feeling
had prevailed. He thanked the man
ayers of the enterprise for their sympa-
thy and zeal, the choir for their services,
and Father DeSmidt for his good wishes
and words of encouragement. Ii there
ever was man who had been treated
royalty that man was r. M. Thompson,
and only because he had preached tOler-
alton, charity, peace and good will to all
Though the stars might fall
from Heaven these principles upon which
the Independent church was founded
would remain forever. The hearers
all said In their hearts, Amen.
-- +. M. W.