New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-16
DIR. STORRSS LONG PASTORATE.
HIS ANNIVERSARY SERMON ON FoRTY-F1vE
YEARS OF CHURCH WORK.

YEARS OF CHURCH WORK.
The Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs yesterday morning
preached to large congregation his forty-ffth ami
versary pastor of the Church OF the I'll
grims, Brooklyn, at the church, Henry and Remsen
sts lie took as his subject, give Years More OF
Happy Church Life and speaking of his last ami
versary sermon five years ago, said:
"The movement Of eur own church life in these hve
years has been quiet and equable. We have no
startling annals to review. In common with the
dozen or mere churches neighborng to It, this Is grad
ually becoming in the changes OF city residence as our
civic boundaries swiftly sweep outward in measure
what Is often described "a downtown church. the
population around it being drawn away to certain
extent. Yet our church membership continues as
large as il ever has BEEN and congregations have
not been for many years numerous as at present
Within, the congregation has had placid and happy
peace. With all sorts Of clashing opinions echoing
around u.s. our faith has remained vital and loyal and
undisturbed."
Dr. stors went on to speak of Biblical criticism. and
said that there was nothing in the present endeavor
which was not laudabe II it were carried on IN a
sincere and reverent spirit.
"Men have talked of unity he said, seven men IN
high station, being possible only on condition OF te
acceptance Of theory OF Episcopal prerogatNe.
through an alleged Apostoical succession, theory
utterly contradcted by eminent teachers in the Eps
copal Communion ITSELF not affirmed in Scripture.
nv the fruits OF it as shown in the Roman Cathonc
Church before the Reformation we'll as BY the fruits
of TINT preaching Of the Gospel which has thrust TINS
theory disdanfully aside. TO insist on such notion
rs this as condition Of church union Is OF the very
essence OF schsm II asks those who occupy certainly
of the Protestant pups Of this country TO
repudiate their own ministry. But such Is not tlat
,stv in the church which is surely to come IL Is to
come as it has come already among the churches
proximate to us and including our own, by the free
and cordial allowance to each Of its peculiar form OF
order by the acceptance in each of the system OF
truth declared in the Scriptures and ma1csucay SET
forth in the most ancient of creeds by the recognition
of common faith and purpose, and by the na,eHai
and afecuonate sympathy in which they 1Iank,s III
terchange thought and undertake their several aDp'
for the one Divine Head" ,o.,,, ,,,, bis
people, and speaking OF the many VINO hao oic" " ue
1--WE years, DR.. Storrs continued III, Ill, ann
Our happy association with each other VIII con-
tinue while you desire and God Wills, had no
Thought in my earlier years. of going beyond thIs
special point of personal pastoral life If Goa snon
even permit to reach It, 1t seemed so 1;'r IN 1ht
of nothing beyond it, except perhaps leisure ana che
full retrospection But your expressed ana unanimous
! wish still bids me forward, and i obey. am con.
scious Of want Of capacity for WORK no failure o,
| IT, / have many subjects still In advance ON WMcl
| l eagerly wish to preach l am bound to you Dy a.
afcctionate ties as united the answering hearts
of congregation and minister. So here continue III
The church which is so dear, in this pulpit which has
! been for many years my happy nome, uIl SIoo
through yOu against your desire Snail put me IRON
| YOU: knowing only to the church and the woric
sround it that millennium is nearer IMAM j. was u
that dawping rays and pencils Of light on many sides
| n5rt-nd His coming who, as the Sovereign Son OF
righteousness shall illumine and purify all the EARTH