Telegram-herald., 1891-07-27
HIS FAREWELL SERMON
Rev. Peter Moerdyke eays iood-
by 10 sn Immense Throng.
he GOES TO NEW NORk IN CHICAGO
he oisss wssss OF csasrataistisa tor
0sad work Already Accom- pitshsa.
W.rds of Cheer Tss the Istass
and of Regret al Lsasins.

10 his farewell sermon, previous 10 his
departure for Chicago. The pulpit was
one bank oi flowers. lie chose u text
from st. faul's epistle 10 the Ephesans.
and said
81 have no great experience at
preaching farewell sermons, and now.
when face you all at this time, |
scarcely know what To say. feel that
| am among friends. and know almost
all OF you. have been here eighteen
years. Great changes have taken place.
All the pastors in the other churches
have changed. Many OF them l knew
very well, and my intercourse with
them was OF great pleasure and profit
To me. / thank Goo ] knew them.
Many times 1t might have seemed
profitable 10 me to leave, but deter
mined 10 stay till the parish was vigor-
Gus and prosperous. | have never been
restless, but have tired TO improve my
time for the church. During all my
pastorate l have never tiespassed
upon the time of the church, for my
vacations. | have made mistakes and
Hau MY VIC nave Ilau
very few difficulties in our congrega-
hon of any description whatever. My
memory cannot recall any. | have
endeavored to make our church useful
throughout the city. and have worked.
believe, very hard to accomplish good
results for our church. ! need not go
into particulars. Our work with other
reformed churches has been pleasant
IN the main. Whatever imp. .easantncss
there has been has not occurred
through any volitiOn OF mine or of
ours. l am glad TO nave had q hand IN
Building Up Our Missions.
My work IN that direction has not
been confined to our sect. | have
worked with other ministers. In my
pastOratc, | have been called upon
very few times comparatively 10 preach
funeral services, for our membership
has been young. Never IN funeral
services even have | ever departed from
the preaching OF the gospel. ] rs rep
resentatlve of the First Reformed
Church of Grand Rapids have officiated
at countless such services and without
compensation, and l feel that our
church has claim upon the Grand
Rapids public. Our church has been
conservative and We are proud of it..
We believe IN progressveness, but we
want to emulate Paul. We are not
/ going to speak of the sins of the Nor
mons when We have greater sins among
us. We don't believe IN political
speeches in the pulpit, or in
telling the story of little George Wash
ington's hatchet in the name of Jesus
Christ. God destroy this church if it
ever descends to that. We have been
going quietly. We have not had bazaars
aud fairs. When we wanted money we
went out and solicited it. | believe
this community owes this church $4,000.
The; ought TO come to the front ana
help us IN the completion of this build
ing. They owe II to us. / have re-
gretted our not having it as it has
made us obscure many times. We
have been
Often Overlook ed in Representation,
but in taxation and contributing to
causes, seldom. Our church in moral
ity, industry, virtue, ETC., compares
fayorably with that of any body cor
porate. All the reformed churches
here are well manned. After a few
wears We snail have dozen here, or
even more. Our congregation now has
but fourteen of its original members.
We have 325 members and over 700
parlshoners. The church today Is
abundantly able to go on and finish
this church, if they only will. You are
all prosperous and thrifty and hope
your future pastor will have a more
liberal snare OF your prosperity. All
preachers have been criticised and
among them. But | am so thankful
that my service has been rs easy as it
has. You wanted the whole truth of
God. and have felt that in so preach
ing have had your approval and now,
bretheren, | commend you TO God to
build you up. | would leave you in
safe hands, 60 TO another
field, hut God is with you.
The final aim of all church life is an
inheritance in heaven and may you
never degenerate into nondcscr ipt in
stitutIon, such as churches sometimes,
alas. become. Keep before you the
necessity of holiness and the conversion
of souls. There may be time when
there are none and yet the most pros
porous of all. 1t is because you still
have the cdiication IN the Lord Jesus.
No one OF us IS indispensable TO the
welfare of this church.
God Builds you Up.
not the minister or its officers. Look
to the Word which is the Great Power.
| commend YOU to Gods almighty
grace, which alone can strengthen and
establish you. There are lower and
baser considerations. bot commit you
to God and the word of his grace.
II the church does not lead to spirit
ualiiy. and merely contents itself with
protecting society. its mission u not
ended or accomplished. Never lower
the standard To accommodate people.
Elders who seek to relieve truth OF lts
hardness are harmful 10 the church.
have very much to be thankful for IN
my psstorate--for your love col
Iectveiy and individually. | prsy
for success for the ChTistsn
work IN Grand Rapids, and ! am Just
sectar1su enough 90 hope for especially
gre-t success for the Reformed thnreh'
With the reformed element We have 10
work with the Reformed Church ought
30 be among the foremost IN Tram
Rapids. have been asked Why 1
should leave Just as the chdreh wss en-
ring upon an era of prosperity Am
going 10 a larger church, Ne ~ =
smaller. but have great faith m 'he
future, and ! hope your prayers W
follow me. Nay God bless YOU ST.
hope your nest p.stor niy BE a n'Ai ~
lager heart greater wision' -"
gfr.tes spiritusliiy than aalne pray
far you att auboanded -'iet'' %
u8f bless yca. ~e have bad "af
sss, oaf smiles. se have enfira 60
4 al ant have waFked sosetisef. h~N
! saail fsnteestsef tfoee thinE- ,i'H
f,t4ss fsssd thss. FoH ekfsftittis , .
IA may v.,si sl@sve fare sell