Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-22
THE LAST SERVICE.
Farewell Gathering in the First
Nj. 4. Church.
Yesterdays Impressive Observance
Appropriate aud Interesting Ser
mon by Rev. Mr. enc.

Impressive IL Nhs inc laSt uaf III Tux
old church and special arrangements were
made for the occasion. The choir did
excellent service and the congregation
was certainly in the spirit of song. Both
morning and evening the congregations
were large. A peculiar solemnity pre-
vailed and pergaded the familiar sur,
roundings at the thought of worshipping
for the last time in a place that was 30
dear to so many hearts. The thought of
old veterans who once occupied the pews
and knelt at the altar. but now on the
other side of the river, seemed to affect
the people much. There was no regular
sermon
IN THE MORNING,
made by the pastor, Mr., Cue, after
which the sacrament of the Lords supper
was administered.
In the evening the sermon was impress.
sive and was on the subject of Last
Things" The text was 1st John, 2 IS.
1T is The last time"
MIR. Cue said: Il am standing for the
last time as minister in this pulpit and
you are here in these pews for the last
time, Thirtyesix years have passed with
all their joys, griefs and achievements
since this house was built. 1t would be
pleasure to take a retrospect of the days
gone by regarding the history of this
church and people, but / will not do this
as ! can use the time to better advantage.
wish TO address you men and women
of business now. You are coming 10
your last business day. Your life is q
routine, you go over the same order OF
business day after day and year after
year; yet day is not far distant which
may seem like all the other days. but
will be entirely different; 1t will be your
last business day. Unknown and unex.
pected by yourself, it will terminate all
your business engagements. If things
are wrong then they will stay wrong. Ii
is the last time. | remark again that
men are coming nearer to their last sinful
amusement.
"A dissipated life is soon over The
machinery of life is so delicate that it
will not endure much trifling. Look into
that door. il is not safe to 60 farther
There they sit; the debsuchers fling the
dice and cards, the bloats empty the
glasses, and Haunting daughters of death
whirl themselves about IN the dance
With some Of them it is their last time.
Again men are coming near 10 their last
Sabbath. The weeks seem to me like a
red sea tossing tossing. and the Sabbath
like path cut through it where we can
walk, dry shod. You remember your
childhood Sabbsths, the little church.
the ringing bell. the gathered friends,
and the minister plain and earnest
With some of you it was country
church, with others the church in the
city, and still others church beyond the
sea. Somehow ever since then you loved
TO have the Sunday come. This very
Sabbath may be your closing day of rest
If so you had better take good look at
all this sacred place, and say
FAREWELL PEW AND PULPIT,
and all We worshIppers; farewell song
and sermon. farewell christian Sabbath
To all these scenes where have reioiCed
and prayed. and wept, farewell. for
everl 1t is the last time.
Again, we come near the last year of
our life. The world is at least six thous-
and years old Sixty thousand wears
may come. but our own closing earthly
year is not far off. There have been
many memorable years, but there will be
none more memorable to us. 1t will be
the year in which we fight our own bat.
tie with the last enemy. The year ir
which you were born, the year in which
you were married, the year in which you
began business for yourself, all of them
are of less Importance than this last yea
Of your life.
Once more ] remark we are coming tC
the last moment of our life. 1t is Otter
the most cheerful moment. The chris
tisn generally meets death joyfully, bu
that will be Il dark moment to US if W.
are untitled for il. When we get to tn,
last few minutes Of our lives there viii
be no time left for anything. You nigh
as well try TO strike a match and get ,
light on ships deck in the midst of
hurricane, as to prepare for eternity
when the winds of death are in full
blast. 1t is poor time to start to ge
your house insured when the flames art
bursting out of all the windows, ant
1t is poor time to attemp
to prepare for death when the realities O
eternity are taking hold of us. con
graduate all christians here that as the
have come to the last Sabbath Of the his
tory of this old church. so they are near
er the end of all their sorrows Thanh
God the path of tears has terminus
Child of God. you are not far from tn
last disappointment and last grosn. Tt
many this subject should bring arousal
Shall not
THESE CLOSING MOMENTS
witness your repentance Shall not thi
hour record your flight from sin?
read that when the declaration of indie
pendence was being made in Philadelphia
and the people were anxious to know tn
exact moment when the document wa
completed, so they placed man at tn
door of the hall when the delegates wer
assembled and another man on the stair
leading to the towers, and another maj
with his hand on the rope of the bell
When the last signer had affixed hi
name the man at the door shouted ring
and the man on the stairs heard it ant
shouted ''ringi" and the man with hi
hand on the rope of the bell heard it ant
sounded the tidings over the city. IL to
night, in the strength of Christ, yo'
would make your declaration of indepen
dcnce from the power of sin. there would
be great rejoicing in heaven. l woult
cry upward to the angels in midair
'ringp and they to those standing on tn
battlemen;s of heaven. ring" and thos
on the battlements to the jewellers in tn,
temples and mansions. "ringW and al
heaven would ring the news of soul re
deemed.
VIgor and Vitality
Are quickly given to every part of tn