Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-01
Il oor1mEND YOU TO GOD.

Farewell Words of Rev. Dr. Reed of
 Trinity MI. E. Chuech-HIs Work
 During Two Years and the Growth
 ofHfs Charge-A Church of she Conn
 mon People-ssI Have N0t Preached
 Fire and BrImstone but the Gospel of
 God''-ssSO My Work Here is Over."
 The story of Paul's landing at Miletus on his way to Jerusalem, his meeting with the elders of Ephesus, whose comrade he had sometimes been, and his final parting with the words, "And now, brethren, commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctifed," formed the basis of Rev. Dr. Reeds farewell remarks at Trinity M. E. church last evening.
 So, after years of association and labor, they parted in the brotherhood of Christ, pherhaps never to meet again till upon the eternal shore, said he. think the words of the text speak.my heart to you. It is the best exhortation that can give you. This is my last appearance here for time at least. I am not able to realize that my life among you has come to an end, there has been such 8 whirl of business, care and responsibility. In day or two you will go your way and l will % miue and we who have prayed, re- joiced and sung together may perhaps behold each others faces no more. Before this, l would say few words of the past, the future and myself.
 The few years have been here have been years of great labor and pleasure. go away with much regret and sorrow, but they have been years of pleasant association and God has given great prosperity to our union. When came here feared would not hold my people together, but God has blessed us.
 We have now AT on probation in the church The full membership is S79, making a total of 926. This makes Trinity second in size and membership in the New York East con- ference and one of the largest in New Eng land. Since came here 9S persons have been taken in on probation and S1 by letter. death 21, making ST in all. have bap- tized 36 children and 39 adults. have mar- ried 40 couples, not 8 great showing, nothing to boast of; but they have turned out pretty we'll and I have not heard of one divorce. l have attended 100 funerals.
 The membership of our Bible school is 651 with 57 teachers, making it one of the largest Sunday schools in Connecticut. The infant class numbers 150. Over 50 per cent. of the Sunday school have been brought into the church fold. In two years l have made 2, 400 calls-think of that; 8 preacher does have something to do-and have delivered about 212 sermons besides attending hund- reds of prayer meetings. Last year the church raised $S, 200 by pew rent and other means, &, ,S23 for benevolent purposes and $1 ATT for other purposes. About the same
 amount will be raised this year. The Sunday school raised $436 and the women's foreign missionary society $250. The church entire has raised $25, 1000 in two years.
 The real work of a church is the saving and building up of men, and in this figures do not tell My idea has been to make the church great Christian family, actuated by the holy spirit. would not wish to serve church whose people are all wealthy. I have had as much pleasure in the houses of the poor as those of the rich. I hope Trinity will remain a church of the common people. In that respect Gods blessing has rested up on us both. The year has been one of peace. There is not faction in our church, and I hope there will be none in the future. The members of some churches fight and snarl like 50 many cats and dogs, disgracing the name of Christ. Live near God and have the grace of God in your heart. It is only when the stream runs low and the rocks and stumps come near the surface that navlga- tion is difficult.
 am grateful to have preached here. have not preached fire and birthstone, but the gospel of God.
 have believed that salvation meant some thing and Christ did not suffer death unless there was something awful to save us from.
 I have tried to preach @ helpful gospel. I have often felt that was standing before men and women who had been borne out in
 to the current and needed but little to sweep them over the terrible abyss. So my work among you is over. The only thing have to say is: know it's imperfectness. I
 have had my eye upon hundreds whom I
 wished to welcome into the church, but suc-
 cess with these is left for more efficient
 man. I commend you to God. Hope in him, trust in him. When storms break upon you, friends are away and darlings removed,
 trust in God, his mercy and his blessings. Dear brothers and sisters, I commend you to God and his word of grace My closing words are that the peace of God, which sufhceth all all understanding, be upon you. May turn upon you the light of his face which lives together.