Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-27
THE PARTING HAND.
MR.. 4EEDHATs FAREWELL.
The success Of This Evaneeiist fers--Brsaf'
Stset-niethodistC Church Meeting = Pine
street Baptist. kc.. ke.

istratlons OF Rev. George =. Needham
during the several weeks he has labored
in Richmond than the fact that a large
congregation (of ladies as well as men)
braved the storm last night and filed
the spacious audience-room Of the Grace
Street Presbyterian church.
In the opening prayer DR.. Read
thanked God for the work He had ena-
blcd Mr.. Needham to accomplish in
Richmond, and prayed that Gods bless
ssing may go with him TO his labors in
Louisville. The Z" service ofsong :" was
peculiarly sweet and the prayer Of Rev.
Thomas Needham appropriate and
earnest.
Mr.. Needham read as his Scripture
lesson the 18th chapter of John.
lie announced as his text John Kill,
l5--"l have given you an example
that We should do as have DONE
After some practical comments on the
context he deduced as the teaching Of
the text The humility and self-ienial
Of Jesus as an example for His people.
lie insisted that we should watch the
faults Of our brethren not to expose, but
to seek TO correct them; that We should
be ready TO do the most menial work
for the Master and be willing to be, as
Spurgeon once said, Even a dOor-mat
in the vestibule Of the church that
Gods saints may walk over Inc and
walk with clean feet into the temple o
the Lord"
But, he insisted, Jesus is our exam
pie in all things, and we should count
it all JOY to walk in His footsteps
not at such distance that His foot
prints can become for us dim and un-
certain. but 50 closely that we may
constantly see and follow on in the way
He went.
cgave as safe rule to young converts
and for older Christians that they should
never 90 where Jesus would not go with
them: shonld never do what Jesus would
not approve, and should in all things
seek to please Him, initiating His ex-
ample and winning His appreciation.
lie entered into number of practi-
cal details urging that we should imi-
tate the submission Of Jesus to His
Fathers will. His prayerfulness. His
unwOridlineSs, His sympathy and COM
passion for sinners, His thoughtfulness
about little things. and His readiness
to endure sufferings and trials related
some touching incidents, and made an
earnest and eloquent appeal to Chris
tians to follow in the footsteps OF Jesus.
Ii was one of the best, if not the
yciy best. sermons that Mr.. Needham
has yet preached, and made the fitting
close of series which has attracted all
the time large and deeply-interested
congregations. and in connection with
which hundreds have proiessed conver-
sion and the people Of God have been
greatly strengthened and built up.
After the congregation was dismissed
the inquiry-meeting held in the lecture
room was crowded, Mr.. Needham made
a very effective talk, large number
asked special prayer, and quite num-
Der confessed Christ for the first time.
There were feryent prayers, led
bv DR.. Drew. Rev. Mr.. Miller, and
| MIR. Needham. The choir sang
Beyond the smiling and the weeping.
We shall he soon.
and the people crowded forward to give
the evangelist the parting hand.
At II o'clock to-day Mr.. Needhan
will be at DR.. Reads lecture-rOom tC
meet inquirers or others who may de
sire to talk with him on personal reli'
gion.
This evening he leaves the city.
MRS. NEEDHAM'S MEETINGS.
During the past two weeks many o
our citizens had the pleasure of listen
ing to the addresses Of Mrs. George {
Needham, both in the Friends meeting
house and in the Broad-Street Methods
church. With one or two exceptions
when the weather interfered, her audi
cnces were ovcrcrowdcd. Her expo
sition of Woman's Ministry ha
been considered conservative and con
vincing. Her forte evidently lies IL
exegesiS, and her handling of the diih
cult and debatable passages of Scrip
ture was mastery. The lady
strongly opposed to woman
rights > so called, and protested
on Scripture ground against al
assumption of Oflicialism and head
ship on the part Of woman. Meantim
she forcibly argued in favor Of woman
testimony for Christ and as mans fel
low-helper in the gospel. This was tn
only address given by Mrs. Needham a
all controversial, and in conscntmg t
speak on il she only responded to spC
cial request.
THE MEETING AT BRoAD-SIREE
CHURCH.
The reyiyal-meeting at Br0ad-StreC
church was well attended last night
notwithstanding the inclement weather
Nearly all present were professors
religion. but of the few who were nc
two made special requests for prayer
There was a good religious interest
the entire congregation, and the occ;
sion was one Of spiritual profit an
iov. Services tonight at 7:3O.
PINE-sTREET BAPTIST.
At Pine-Street Baptist church nigt
before last seven persons were received
This makes about one hundred IN al
Eiehty-seven are now awaiting baptism
The new baptistry, costing some tfr(
hundred dollars, is nearly completed.
Mr.. Thomas Needham's farewell Sc
mon at this church Wednesday on 1T
Coming of the Lord" =" was much el
loved by the congregation. He leave
tomorrow for Raleigh, where he go'
TO hold a meeting for Rev. DIR. Ski
ner.
United Prayer.
In accordance with the recommend
ton of the Southern Presbyterian Gen
raj Assembly the various Presbyteri'