Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-04-28

The RopnratfOn OF Rev. M. III. HOuGhtOn
from His Church as Expressed by Him
self i'm Ris Last Sermon.
The Rev. M Il. Houghton preached his
farewell sermon to his church yesterday
morning, and the congregation which greeted
him on that occasion was very large. The
pastor said in opening his discourse: II
suppose it is known to most of you that
am about to preach my last sermon as the
pastor of this church. I will preach from
the text found in the tenth verse of the sixth
chapter of Ephesians: 'tFinally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the power of his
might" There is a tinge of sadness felt by
a clergyman and his friends when we come to
sever the relations which have bound as to-
gether. I have not prepared any fOrma'
address for this occasion. I want to talk
Just as the inspiration of the occasion may
find utterance. We have been laboring to-
gether for six years now to establish Uni
versalist church in New Haven, with what
measure of success you all know. Now, for
reasons that are, believe, mutually satisfac-
tory, we are about to separate. While have
been with you, you have expressed many
time signs of friendship and am confident
that that feeling still exists between u.s."
The preacher then went on to PROFOUND
the gospel of the text he had chosen. He
said the injunction BE strong in the Lord"
was full of significance. 1t meant that there
was q power above the physical life around
as by which we must strengthen ourselves
He did not believe that those persons were
strong in the Lord who with solemn vlsage
attend divine service and greet their friends
with wild rolling of the eyeS and the ques-
ton elbow is your soul to day?" Those
persons Who coughed their way into church
or went out holding their sides with pain
were not strong in the Lord in the full sense
of the words. It is necessary that men be
able to walk we'll, to run well, to work we'll
to laugh well and to ride well as well as to
pray we'll, if they are to be strong in the
Lord reasonable degree of health is nec-
essary. There must be strength given from
above, too, and the way to derive that strength
will be largely according to ones expert
ence.
He said further: ''I have never believed
and have never preached that the church
contains any more power than any other Or
ganization save as its individual members
have more power. Christians are no better
than any others unless they live better lives.
That doctrine rests, one end of it at least,
upon common sense, and the other, as be-
lieve, upon the revealed word of God.
have not much respect for the mere profess
sion of religion. never professed to have
any ministerial airs, or that I was especially
baptized out of heaven for that profession.
have tried to carry the work of the church
squarely along. I have done what thought
was my duty: L have preached
what believed to be right.
and have driven horse as pleased. I have
not driven fast around corner out of sight,
and slowed down when saw a deacon of the
church coming along. Why a minister in
this city once said to me, I wish l could
drive my horse as you do. My congregation
wouldn't stand it. 1 have to drive slow
about town, but when get off down to the
shore 1 let him out, can tell you Now
there's none of that about me. I have
meant no one any i'll will. I am simply
going to enjoy this world all I can, and
don't care whether any one else is pleased Oh
not.
1--WE have had many seasons of happiness
of prosperity and joyousness together. If II
all the time I have ministered to yoU
have said anything that was in any way on
| of place, recall it. If there has been any
I unkind criticism I hope it may b.
| recalled. Whoever may be to min
! lister to this people, I trust that you'wil
| help to hold up his hands and carry on thi
| work. May you every year grow stronger ir
the Lord.
'.One lesson which wish to impress upoI
you to-day. is that men differ by tempera
| ment. We all have our peculiarities. The
difficulty is that men want to judge all others
| by common standards. If the law of charity
| we're to be preached it would do the church
| more good than all the sermons on the Trim
| ity or the doctrine of the atonement.
II trust we may meet again. I have bust
ness interests that will keep me in New Haver
| part of the time. I hope that the minister
whom you may choose may obey Christ's
last injunction, Feed my Sheep and may
feed you with the bread of hope, of progress
and brotherlY love"