Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-03-31
st. John street M. E. Church.

Rev. c. e. Harris breaches His Farewell
Sermon to Large COngregattOn-Over
$1,000 Raised-The Evening Praise Ser
vice-PartIng Words.
The st. John street Methodist Episcopal
| church was filed with large congregation
yesterday morning, when Rev. G. E. Harris
preached his farewell sermon. The preacher
took for the thems of his sermon the parting
words of st. Paul to his church at Ephesus,
over which ne had ninistered for three
years. These words we're applied to the mo-
ment of parting between Mr.. Harris and his
church, and the thoughts and precepts which
the apostle SO well set forth were made the
burden of the preachers words to his
church. He spoke Of the priestly Office and
the fate of ministers to sacrifice themselves
to their Office. Paul made it his business to
serve God and promote the interests of
Christ and his kingdom among men He
had never served himself. He struggled
with many difficulties met opposition, en-
dured trials and was the faithful servant of
God throughout it all. never unduly elevat-
ing himself. He did not amuse his people
with fine speeches, but taught them plain
truths. He preached repentance, faith, re-
generation, sanctifcation and judgment For
three years he ceased not to warn every man.
He preached to obstin ate sinners, pliable sin
ners, backsliders. The church felt deep
sorrow at parting. Paurs last words
were words of encouragement. He
told them to always remember that they had
God to whom they could go and commend
ed them to his care. Paul told them further
that God would lead them into an inheri-
lance. How little could he tell them of that
inheritance. He probably told them of the
beauties of the unseen world where they
would be perfectly happy, because they were
perfectly holy In that Inheritance there is
no change. It is forever. After Paul had
preached his farewell sermon he knelt down
and prayed with them all. It is good for
friends when they part to part with prayer.
They all wept sorely. They fell on
PauPs neck, weeping, and kissed
him. These tears were not simply be-
cause of parting. They sorrowed that
they would not see him any longer in their
assemblies. and perhaps they sorrowed be-
cause they had not done better while he was
laboring among them. After a few words of
advice about the manner of receiving their
new pastor Mr.. Harris, brought his sermon |
to a close. He reserved what remarks of
personal nature he had to make for the
evening praise service. At both occasions
there were many manifestations of the sor-
row felt by church and pastor at severing the |
relations which have bound them together.
At the conclusion of the morning sermon
the pastor made a statement to the effect |
that the system of free seats with voluntary
had not met the expectations of |
its friends during the past year. At the |
of the year the people had SUBJ |
scribed six hundRed dollars less than the /
estimated expenses. Some additional items |
during the year had made it necessary at |
his time to call for nine hundred dollars. |
papers were presented to the |
people by the official brethren, and in |
short time Mr.. Harris made the gratifying |
that upward of one thousand |
dollars had been subscribed and further
ldded ''You have been just twenty minutes
n doing it."
In the evening grand farewell praise SER
'ice was held In which the pastor, Sabbath
Ichool, choir and congregation participated. /
The Sabbath school as usual occupied the
body of the house. The choir num-
'ered nearly fifty singers including an
auxiliary chorus of about twenty boys. The
exercises from beginning to end were of unus-
lal interest. The responsive music be-
ween the choir and school was exceedingly
Effective and showed perfect understand
ng of the parts to be taken by each.
Amongst the best numbers by the
,hoir was ''The Armies of the Lord''
y Haydn, ''Father in Thee We Trust"
IN adaptation from Rossini's Infianmatus,
md the closing piece from de Months
mass" Each anthem contained obligato
Iolos, which were well taken by Mrs. E.
Todd and Mrs. e. Allen. The semi-cherus
FAREWELL was impressively sung by twelve
male voices. The selection from the oratorio
II Eli In four parts by the boy chorus i'm
Piled more than ordinary ability on the part
IF the boys, who carried it through so sue
'essfoily. The 5emi-chorus or ladies ct the
'Hertory was also gratifying feature in the
programme. The Rotations of Misses Jack
Jon and Boggs were exceedingly appropriate
Inc original poem by Miss Edith Williams ]
vas beautiful composition addressed to the
To- al |
Near the close of the exercises the pastor
'ppEe briefly, reviewing the history of the
'hureh for the last three years.
He spoke modestly of the social. sn;r;tnal
md financial progress of the Church
alluded to the $1,000 which had been paid
IN the debt, also to the fact that the church |
aso PAID ali IT'S expenses, increased its chari-
able subscriptions and its list of TnanaIss--
ship, concluding With affectionate farewell to
he official bosrd, the Sabbath school. the
'holr and the congregation. The large audi
once present participated heartily In The
services, but more especially in tha r,;vta5 /,