Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-03
Farewell to Rev. and Mrs. II. n. Rice.

A farewell reception was rendered Friday
night to Rev. II. H. Rice, pastor of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church, by his
congregation. The assemblage took place
at the residence OF DR.. Nixon, whose spa
clous orawing-rooms were filled with his
friends and parishioners
The resignation of Mr.. Rice was twice
rendered. The first time in open church,
when an extraordinary scene took place
Mr. Gilman, as soon as the reverend gentle
man had announced his purposed retire
lnent, arose IN the congregation and OBJ
Jected to the acceptance of his resignation
and put standing vote that the pastor be
requested to remain. Nearly the whole
congregation rose TO its feet in approval of
the motion. But Mr.. Rice had made up
his mind TO withdraw, and at the recent
meeting OF the Presbytery at Oakdale he
formally submitted his resignation. The
congregation afterwards, at the earnest
solicitation of their pastor, refrained from
making further opposition, and Mr.. Rice
will retire tomorrow.
AT the farewell reception the rooms were
crowded. There were many sorr0wful faces,
and everything betokeEed grief of the peo-
pie at the loss they are to sustain. Colonel
James j. Ayers was called upon to present
TO Mr.. and Mrs. Rice some rich parting
mementos from the congregation. In
doing so he said:
Mr.. and Mrs. Rice: Your friends and parish
toner's have come here. sadly and mournfully, to
greet You ana bid you farewell They have
lected me TO perform the Office of addressing
you, and conveying to you and your wife an
earnest OF the high appreciation and the loving
friendship they ali entertain for Won both /
can well conceive that in leaving Sacramento
and separating yourself from your beloved
charge you should be file d with emotion at the
hallowed memories and tender associations that
cling around your experiences in the city. Here
you hlled your first pastorate on the Pacific
coast. Here your dear mother closed her sweet
CHRISTIAN life and was laid away. Here you
Drought your blushing bride, crowned with the
highest honor to which maidenhood can aspire,
to her bridal home Here your children were
born to you, and here you have spent the flower
OF your early manhood in the work of your pro-
1esslon For nearly three wears | have listened
to your teachings Of the gospel, and during
that time l have had the honor of your
personal friendship and the opportunity of
seeing you almost daily. If man is to be
known at all, ii is to know him in his everyday
lie and 1t has been my experience that he
whose character becomes brighter aud more
beautiful to those who have such opportunities,
Is man who is surely nodded out of the true
metal, and Will DO to cling to at all times Asa
minister OF the church. and private citizen,
you nave stood every test by which mans
worth can be tried. But it is not my observa-
non alone that has exalted you TO the highest
place one can hold in the sphere in which his
lot IS cast These dear people who surround
you nave come here to testify their profound es-
TEEN for you, and to eyince their deep sorrow at
the cruel fate which compels you to sever your
relations with them Sitting under the minis
trations of your pulpit for nearly three years.
has given me every chance to study your powers
as preacher, and it may not be inappropriate
for me here to say that | have always been in
structed and edited by your luminous and elo-
quent sermons. Your earnestness. your energy,
your sincerity, and your Christian devotion have
always been marked and conspicuous in them
Instinct with the divine spirit of Love, they
nave exalted the soul and Soltened the heart. /
have often said that your preaching was signal
lzsd by strength and depth of feeling-by an
intensity OF earneStness and siucerty-that are
tar more effective in the work of the Master
than the brilliant and tinselled rhetoric which
seems to attract nowadays in fashionable pull
pits. But | should do you injustice were / TO
say that your sermons were deficient in that
higher kind of elOquence which is the true
essence of all oratory-religious and secular
This assemblage OF your friends and parish
toner's, ana their sincere sorrow at your depart
ure, testify to he fact that your teachings and
eloquence have captured the hearts of your peo
pie. They will miss you and mourn for YOU as
jacob mourned for Joseph; and they WILL when
you are perhaps far away from them. in memory
call you back and offer upon the altar of love
ana friendship Votive tears of sorrow and regret
at the stern necessity that forced you to leave
them. Ana that they, too, may always hold
iresn place IN the memory OF yourself and your
beloved spouse-that your eleven years OF deyo-
ton to duty and to Christ's service i'll this city
may De ever present to you bOth-these dear
people nave commissioned me TO present YOU a
lew substantial and enduring mementoes of the
happy days when you and they were one shep-
nerd and one foid. Take them, and NAV your
pathway through life be Strewn with roses and
Ill up with heavens brightest sunshine.
Colonel Ayers then presented to Mr.. and
Mrs. Rice a large case of solid silver
knives, forks and spoons, as well as a case
OF pearl-handled silver dinner and dessert
knives, butter carver, berry server. etc.
The presents were very handsome and
costly, and the recipients were overcome
by the unexpected donation.
Miss Alice Nixon, of the Young ladies in
the Sunday-school, then stepped forward
and, in neat address, presented beautiful
foliated pin to Mrs Rice.
1t was some time before Mr.. Rice could
sufficiently collect himself to speak, and
when he did, his feelings were so deeply
exercised that he spoke in a desultory. but,
at the same time, deeply significant and
appropriate manner. He could not find
words to express his thanks and gratifica-
ton, but his actions were more eloquent
than any words he could then utter.
This pleasant but sad ceremony over. the
company returned to the dining-room and
discussed very acceptable collation. which
Mrs. Nixon had spread for them. After a
few hours interchange of good will, the
party babe farewell to Mr.. and Mrs. Rice
and their amiable hosts