Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-03
A SHAPING SERMON.
Rev. ]. K. Melhorn, of Grace Church,
hits Back at Enemies.
HIS PARTING SHOT SENSATIONAL.
The Score of Alleged EmiSsaries Of the
Adversary Catch it All.
PROBABILITY OF A NEW CONGREGATION

Rev. ]. K. Melhorn, pastor of the Grace
Evangelical Church. South Twenty-seventh,
preached his farewell sermon yesterday
morning, or as he put it, not his farewell
sermon, but his last as pastor of the church.
In the sermon he made several references
to the trouble in the church. He said:
"The wicked cannot bear the light Holi-
ness, zeal for God, well doing are detested by
the carnal mind. And. if they can do no more,
they will traduee the character Of the righteous
and if possible cripple their usefulness"
Suddenly stopping, the speaker said: 81
want that to have time to soak in"
Following the sermon, Rev. Mr.. Melhorn
read a copy Of the call issued by the church to
him in 1862 and then read the following ex-
PLANTATION of his situation:
"As in every congregation, there were few
in this one, VINO seemed never to be satisfied, ex-
cept when they were doing the work of the
great Adversary. The congregation was never
in a more prosperous condition, up to the last
communion on Easter.
THE LARGEST NUMBER
communed on that day that ever communed in
this church at any one time. And IL new men,
bers were added. While many of the faithful
ones were here at that time. engaged in the
solemn service of commemorating the passion
of our dear Lord, the emissaries of the
wicked one were gluttoning the passions by
sowing the seeds of discord and schlsm, alien
ating the membership and rendlng the body
of Christ by nightly travelling the hills and
valleys, sowing tares among the wheat; and,
judging from the amount of blowing they
have done and the disgrace they have entailed
on the congregation, by misrepresentation to
reporters of papers, the brethren would sup
pose that they had secured at least one-half of
no rnQ Of 10 M
they were circulating.
'.But what is the fact? Out of membership
now on the record of 304 they prevailed on Alto
sign their paper, two of whom have declared
that their names must be taken Oft One
name was put on while the lady was in bed a.
sleep, and without her knowledge and consent,
leaving them & Names counting drones and
all; for at least 20 of their signers are not en-.
titled to a vote in the church. They have one
eighth Of the entire membership so disgusted
at their dlsorderly and unchristian conduct
that they feel that they cannot affiliate or wor-
ship with them any more,
ALL BROKEN UP.
"Fifty-three of the members have applied for
their letters of standing in the congregation
during the last week, with a view at no far dis
tant day to hand them in elsewhere. have
urged them to stick 10 the church and not
allow themselves to be pushed out by the ene-
mics of peace and harmony, and the Lord will
reward them and punish the ungodly for their
ungodly deeds, for He has said, Vengeance is
mine; will repay
''Shan that one-eighth rule of ruin? For nv
part can't stay to tight the case; it is the con-
gregation's duty. Their conduct has driven
from the Sunday school six of the teachers,
and largely of their classes, reducing the num-
Der of schools to a small fraction.
The people in the congregation left vacant
Is years ago last spring. when 1 accepted the
call here, took steps at once toward giving me
call to be their pastor again. Accordingly on
last Lords Day, they held meetings in the
Freeport parsonage, and at once took a vote
and extended me a pressing call have not
considered it yet, but may accept.
This closes my services with you as pastor.
l expect to be in the pastors house week days
until fall. or at least till next week. If called
upon, have never refused, and will not refuse
my friends here. FAREWELL God bless you ALL"