Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-12-25
GnAoE cHURoH rAsronArn.
The Rev. DIR. James Y. Dobbins of Tren-
tom TO Succeed DR.. Todd.

l
| A committee composed of III. C. Robin
son, g, Wesley Weldin, John G. Baker
and William NJ. Field, representing Grace
NJ. u; Church, went to Trenton, N. j., late
| Tuesday afternoon and secured the ac
ceptance of the Rev. DIR. James Y. Dobbins
pastor OF State Street Church, of an invi.
tation to become pastor of Grace Church
next conference year. The call was unani
mously extended by the board of trustees
Of Grace Church. Of which Mr.. Field is
chairman, and has been accepted subject
to the consent of the bishop who will be
asked to transfer Mr. Dobbilis to Whining.
ton Conference.
pr Dobbins was born in Camden, N. j.,
and is 40 years old. He prepared for col
lege at Pennington Seminary and in 1875
was graduated from Dickinson College.
During his ministry he has held pastorates
az Covington, KY, Camden and Trenton.
At the last-named place he is completing a
second term, State Street Church is one
OF the most prominent charges in New
Jersey Conference. lie is genial and
scholarly gentleman and will, tbs thought,
prove worthy successor to the Rev. DIR.
Jacob Todd, whose pastorate at Grace
Church will expire next March, DIR. Doh
bins has charming wife and three inter
esting children. His family will be the
first to occupy Grace's new parsonage.
which. will be completed and elegantly fur
nlshed next February.
ip State Street Church last Sunday DR..
Dobbins preached a Christmas sermon
taxing for his text st. John III, 10 He
SAID that it was u peculiar characteristic of
the Christian religion that, lit gave q com
plete and harmonious revelation of the
DIVINE nature. The gods of all other re-
liglonS have some one dominant trait
they are sort of one idea diety. In some
he IS being of power, and this trait is so
exaggerated that his .worshippers cringe in
constant fear before him. In another he is
represented as of infinite wisdom, and his
ueNotees contemplate him with misgiving
and perplexity In still another he is a
cruel God delighting in executive ven
geance upon his subjects. But the God of
the Christians is being of infinite all
round projections. The preacher proceeded
to illustrate this point in the story of the
redemption, and of the love to fallen
humanity which that great act exempli-
he'd, The love that prompted it was an
unseltish love, because humanity at that
time did not present to the Divine eye
much that was calculated to excite affec-
ton Mankind was not a loyable
race It was fallen, degraded, peryerse.
Gods love, exhibited in the giving of
His son for mans redemption, was also
magnanimous and compassionate love.
Man was in rebellion against God, his puny
arm was everywhere raised in hostile re-
bellion, his attitude was ill-calcuated to
call for either generosity or pity. DR.. Dob
bins related the sublime story of the birth
of Christ. The humble scene in the man
ger, the crowds of angels trooping and
flashing down through the "btue aisles
of the sky" the heavens vocal with
their songs of joy He described the life
OF Christian earth; His marching up and
down among men, His sublime teachings,
the beautiful lessons of His spotless life,
the wisdom and goodness that fell from
His lips, He described the influence of
His life down through the ages and drew
many great moral lessons therefrom, full
Of encouragement and helpfulness to man.
Dr. Dobbins' thoughes were poetic, touch
language and delivered with eloquence and
force.