Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-19
FAREWELL SERMONS.
Conclusion of Pastorates at Grace, Union,
Scott and Epworth Churches.

day. They were respectively the Revs.
Jacob Todd, d. d., Adam Stengle,
Vaughn S. Collins and d. III. Corkran.
There was large congregation at each
of these churches and in some instances
the parting of pastor and people was
most affecting,
AT Grace Church the altar table was
handsomely decorated with flowers.
Dr. Todd delivered his farewell sermon
in the morning, taking for his text st.
John XVI, z. The words of the text:
at is eXpedient for you that go away"
he said, were uttered by the Lord when
He was completing His ministry among
His disciples. DIR. Todd stated that he
would rather have spoken on some other
topic, but the occasion dictated the
choice of the text, He gave Christ's
reasons for going away and declared the
ministry of the NJ. L. Church is like
Christ's, there being difference in
degree, however, but not in kind. The
ministry has all talents, he said, and by
the itinerary they are brought to the
service and upbuilding of all the
churches. So it is expedient that we go
away. These separations, he considered,
are no more pleasant for the pastor than
the people. There are strong ties bind
ing them together, There are tender
and sacred experiences interviewer in
the relationships of pastor and people.
Men only get to know each other as
circumstances develop their character
and reveal them to each other, You
may talk with man for twenty
years and not know him. When cir
cumstances occur to show the hidden
nature Of the man you have esteemed
cold and unsympathetic, you find him
tender-hearted and generous. These
revelations come out of the sorrow or
suffering of one or the other; pastor and
people are joined in tenderest bonds
woven in sick and death chambers and
beside the open grave. Twenty-four
times the grave had opened TO receive
the bodies of the dead of this people
within the last five years thirty-fve
times it had opened to receive the dead
of the children of this congregation. Ii
is these experiences that bind hearts
together With these experiences pas
tors learn to group the people of the
congregation. There are the group to
whom the minister has come in sickness;
those received into church fellowship;
those who have been converted at this
altar in the last five years; each of these
groups are bound to the PASTORS heart
by tenderest chords. Then there are
the official brethren of the church; in
this case those who have been so con
siderate of the pastors frailties. II had
been his purpose to carry as much sun
shine into the hearts and homes of the
people as possible. He had never be-
lieved in long-faced religion. II had
been pretty hard work sometimes.
While trying to carry joy to other hearts
the clouds had been gathering over his
own. He kept it to himself as long as
he could, but the time came when it
could no longer be hidden, and
then he wondered at the for
bearance shown him. He had not
been able to do half work for a long
time and yet no one that he knew of
had found fault. His mission had been
to preach the word of God. He has
not said follow me as | follow Christ,
but has said follow Christ No man
had ever been able TO ascertain his po-
litical convictions by his pulpit utter
ance, and by Gods help they never
shall. 1t is his business to preach and
declare the word of God. Men desc
CIulC lut pulpit ullltllult INT EpS-
pei of Christ when they use the doctrines
and opinions of men for the doctrines
of the church and in the place Of Gods
word. The church is intended as Il
place Of worship and instruction in the
things that are in Gods word for men
of all shades of opinion. In conclusion
he urged the congregation to cooperate
with his successor and invoked Gods
blessing on both.
Acts Xxx, 81 was the text of the fare
well discourse Of Mr. Stengle which
was preached in the evening. The
preacher said his pastorate here had
been one of extreme pleasure and he
could not recall sing,a case where
there had been anything other than the
warmest feeling between himself and
congregation. He felt Obliged to the
choir for its kind and valuable aid, lie
had, he said, occupied the pulpit of
Union Church eight years in IL and
pointed with pride to the growth of the
church during the last decade. He con-
cluded by stating that the church is
practically free Of debt.
Mr.. Collins quoted two texts, Genesis
xLIv, 20 and Revelations III, Q. The
sermon was delivered at night and eau
toned the older members Of the congre-
| CATION to not be Jealous of the young
members, but to help them, and directed
the young to remember that il was the
old who have made the church what it
is The last three years, he said, had
been both pleasant and unpleasant to
him. He had worked hard and was
happy To say that he had done some
good, Six weeks ago he thought he
could leave the church without muir
muir. Since that time he had received
so many signs of esteem that now he
felt sorry TO leave, lie concluded by
thanking all those who had so well
aided him in his work and hoped God
would bless all the members of the
church.
Mr., Corkran's farewell, brief ad.
dress, was made in the evening. lie
said the love that had existed between
himself and the congregation would 20
to the grave with both lie reviewed
the work accomplished by the church
during his pastorate, and in conclusion
thanked God that he had been permitted
TO accomplish such an end. After he
had finished the congregation gathered
around the altar to shake hands with
him and say goodbye"
The Christy senate of 1876.
The chart roster of the Christy Sen
ate of 1876, neatly framed, will be pre-
sented to the Delaware Historical
Society, at It's next meeting. At tn,
date referred 10, when the centennia
was being held III Philadelphia, thil
State at first refused to vote money for;
building to contain the Delaware ex
hibit The members Of the Christl
} Senate Immediately took matters ii
hand and made contributions for til,
purpose. Each members name, witt
the amount he subscribed, is place.