St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-26
AN ELOQUENT FAREWELL.
Rev. j. l.. Scudder's Departure--A
Tribute of Esteem and Love.


Tribute Of Esteem and Love.
The farewell sermon of the Rev. J. l..
Scudder. pastor of the First Congrega-
tial church yesterday morning, was
touching address. and was received by
many of the congregation with tears. The
church had been elegantly decorated, and
numerous cages containing canaries were
hung around the room, the birds now and
then bursting forth into song. Mr.. Scudder
took his text from Acts Xxx, 80. He said in
substance:
Dear Friends: The bands which have
bound us together in Christian fellowship for
four happy years are to be formally severed
this Sabbath morning, and it becomes my
sad duty as your pastor 10 bid you an affec-
honate farewell. This is a joyful yet sor-
rOwful occasion, Joyful because il is Easter
morning, and sorrowful because L now APP
pear before you as your pastor for the last
time. L shall try to make this occasion a
pleasant one, and hope you will all help me
to Go so. We cannot help sorrow being
mingled with joy, for Christ is everything
and man nothing. As for myself L
am a mere ''bell-wether," and follow
where the Master, the Shepherd, leads
The reasons for my departure | gave in my
letter OF resignation. The tie that binds US
has not been torn by the rough teeth of
hatred, or chopped Off by self-interest; il is
severed by necessity, for were L to follow my
own inclinations, 1 should remain here as
your pastor. I am but as u sapling torn up
by the roots by main force and east to the
winds. / love this church and the city of
Minneapolis, always have and shall always
continue to do so. / wished TO remain here
as star Ia small one, Of courSe), but it seems
/ am only meteor. flashing for u moment
and then gone from sight.
Mr.. Scudder referred to the happy past
and compared the the present to
TWO CROSSROADS
the congregation taking one and he the other
The church has been blessed by God in no
small degree, and he felt thankful that some
progress had been made since he took charge
He dwelt upon the popularity Of the church
and hoped it would continue TO remain so
The spiritual work. he said. had been a suo-
cess and no communion had been held but
what some person had been taken into the
church. The church never was so strong as
now, he continued, and in the best kind
OF shape TO leave. As regards himself il be-
comes him to say but little. II have some
satisfaction" said he, ''some faults aud mis-
takes. My endeavor has been to make re-
ligion cheerful and lifelike, to beset a love
for the Savior. have been plain spoken and
pounded you in love. In fact have preached
only what have believed. have only one
great sorrow, and that is that some of you are
not Christians yet"
Mr.. Scudder in his suggestions TO the con-
gregation advised them to stick close
together until another minister could
be secured. Stand elbow to elbow
and shoulder to shoulder between pastor
ates. Don't go off TO other churches. I
Dever cared how much you attended other
churches when / was here, but don't do IN
now. All work together, the same as if I
were here. Be strong in the Lord, and I am
sure you will get minister who will please
| you. All l ask is that you give TO the new
man as much loyalty as you gave me: get n
strong man: set your ideal high and don't 90
backward, for
NOW is A CRISIS
| in the history Of this church. This is q de-
| sirable church, for the East side will be TO
Minneapolis what Cambridge is TO Boston.
You now have Il good pastoral committee.
and they can care for the church until a new
minister comes. Be true TO Congregational
policy; the majority rules, and it is the duty
of the minority TO gracefully acQuiesce
In closing Mr.. Scudder spoke of the pleasant
times he had had in the past, and said he
hoped for many more. He dwelt at some
length upon the promises for the church's
growth, and said he hoped to see the dav
when it was one of the largest and most D op-
ular in Minneapolis. He paid high tribute
to the Kindness of his Pensioners, and more
than one tear was shed as the last sad fare
well was said.
There will be a reception at the church
parlors on Tuesday evening, when Mr.. aud
Mrs. Scudder will meet for the last time the
members of the church.