Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-11-18
Bethel Church without a Pastor.
DR.. MUhRAY's FAREWELL REMARKS.

Ody dt OCGucl Cb uTCus n large anu dppI6Cla
| tive congregation of souls gathered there
see and hsar the last of DR.. James Murray. II
old pastor. The day was bright and lovely I
behold, but to hundreds of hearts 1t wa
fraught with sorrow and grief. 1t SCENE
when the DR.. was delivering his words of fare
well hat it was the occasion ofthe funeral {
near and dear friend; that in the old grave
yard hard by was a newly-made grave ready t
receive Its sacred trust.
This day was appointed for the administra
ton of the Lords Supper. the last one to b
partak en- of by the congregation with Its cher
ished and beloved pastor. The old bell tina
for so many years has summoned members @
the congregation together to hear the divin
word pealed forth in all its woniel sweetn es
of tone at half past II O'Clock.
After brief prayer. the choir. under thu
leadership of Prot John A. Wright, with Mis-
Ada Brubeck at the organ, sang very impres
sive hymn. Thea followed the reading OF s
short chapter from the Bible. brief address K
the communicates, and next came commun
Ion services. At their conclusion. DR.. Murray
delivered from the pulpit his last remarks
which were at times almost inaudible as II
was trying hour to him in the extreme. and
it WAS with great difficulty that he could sup
press his emotional feelings. Without any
previous prepare ton he spoke substantially
as follows:
You rem EN- Der. Christian friends. that oul
Lord Jesus CnrieJ's first communion was his
last. This separation between Himself and
HIS disciples was visible one and has con-
tinued from that time until the present hour
So on the point of this disintegratiOn, our
Savior gave these disciples these simple but
expressive and impressive memorials of His
broken body and His atoning blood.
do nnf n a n O lx O N %
comparison that may be regarded as unseemly
and unbecoming as am of a sensitive spirit
but the thought does occur to me in connec-
ton with these services that this is our last
communion one with another. The separation
Is to follow upon the hour that closes these
services.
hustle and hurry in my business affairs con-
nected with the preparations for leaving this
to prepare an elaborate dis
course. but feel to-day, as look into your
faces, that gaze upon them as your pastor for
the last time. Indeed, brethren, am not your
pastor now. l did not celebrate this commune
the last time the tender ties that have bound
us together SO intimately, SO pleasantly, and
1 hope In profit to all OF us for almost quar-
ter of century, we're severed.
Perha ps you did not feel, as stood before
you this morning, that my relation to you was
any other than IL had always been. and yet 1t
was merely as minister from Christ, and not
as your pastor. that have administered this
There is much in looking back over the his
tory of these long years that ought to fill one
with regret. am far from claiming to have
discharged my ministry among you satisfac-
torily to Christ,or even satistactorilytO myself.
L feel and know, that all has not been don e
that might have been done, and that perhaps
to- day there are human hearts that have not
been secured for the Lord Jesus Christ that
might have been secured under the ministry
of more spirited and energetic man, but
can ask God to bear me witness that I haze
tried to serve you conscienttously, and that 1
Ing you from the pulpit, but in my private
closet and in my study as well.
know that have endeavored to preach the
glorious gospel of the blessed God in all of It's
simplicity and purity. Iknow that my heart
has yearned over this congregation, and that
leave behind me to-day 1nbiest souls for
whom have often prayed; for whose saliva
ton l have often labored.
/ thank you for all your kindness, for all
your love, for al your confidence, and for all
your appreciation of my services. Now, breth
rem, that the hour has come for our separation,
1t must be very sad to you, and wish to as
sure you that it Is a solem one to me also, be
cause our love has been mutual. The sorrow
which you feel to day at giving me up intensi>
des my sadness. The parting to me is ex
tremely sad, because of the associations of
various kinds that have been entwined about
my life and my pleasant ministry among you.
But 1 now feel that they belong altogether to
The past, to be retained fresh and green in our
memories through the coming years.
1t Is sad when think that L. VINO have SO
often occupied this stand as your pastor, Will
occupy it no more; that am not to participate
any longer personally In your joys and, above
Ill else, 1 feel that you need the presence of a
pathetic and loving pastor In your hours OF
and perh APPS your mouths of bereave-
ment and desoation. In these despairing
cannot be with you to cheer and
to comfort you, but put your faith upon the
exceeding great and precious promises of God
that Jesus who lives and will not leave you,
and the love that pastor bears TO his flock
cannot be com pared to that love hich Jesus
cherishes for you.
SO while leaving this congregation and some
times indulging in anticipatious that are not
of the most pleasant kind L feel that all cau be
put into the hands of Christ who loved the
church and gave himself for it that He might
ash 1t and renew 1t and present Il to Himself
D glorious church without g spot or wrinkle or
any such thing. and while these undershep.
herds here are being removed, some by death.
some by the changes that are always tucdeht
10 human life, the Lord lives as the eternal
shepherd.
Brethren. hope to see you all ngain. The
thoughts upon my mind have been crushing
As have said goodbye to this and that
oue of this flock. 1t is somewhat of an allevi-
alton of our SORROWS when we come to grasp
The hand CT farewell to say, Il hope to see you
again." We cannot cad the future, of course.
God moves in his own way, and that way may
be one that shall prevent the possibility of
as congregations, but hope, though, to meet
with you again. and to have the privilege at
least of occasionally standing upon this plat
form and delivering Gods message to you.
feel that this is The last time we shall ever
look each other in the face, but it is not the
last time we shall meet. for the Lords eye is
upon you and no and the Lords hand Is NOV
ing US through this world, and the Lord e wis.,
dom is deyising for us.
While some of us sometimes seem TO pursue
roads instead of eonvergeut ones,
Sod is bringing all these roads together, and
and in the communion of heaven. none OF
which will ever be broken.
&c. dear brethren. give all of you a tender
m H.
you and keen you, and make His peace shine
upon you. May He be gracious unto you and
lift up His countenance upon you, and bestow
upon you His richest blessings"
DIR. James Murray was born in Southampton
county, Virginia. in 1884. He received his
for his collegiate course at Prot. Pike
Powers's High School in Staunton, Va In the
year 1850, he ente led the University of Va. and
graduate, from that institution several year!
with the degree OF Master of Arts
He took the course OF theology in the Eamp
Union Theological Sem mary in thu
year 1856, and was licensed to preach in 1853
His first regular charge was in Sussex wher
he remained six years. He next went to Ports
mouth where he preached one year,
Visiting this section of the country in De-
cember, 1867, he learned that Bethel Churcl
was in need of a pastor. which YVES rendered
vacant by the decrepitude and ipfirmities @
DIR. Francis Mcfarland. who for long serie
of years, had been it's minister. SO he there
upon preached two trial sermons to the con
gregation during that visitation, shortly after
wards receiving a CALL and entere upon the
duties as pastor of said church, January 18th
1868. From thal time to the present day h
has heen in charge of that congregation, cover
ing period of nearly "a years. whiah is prob
ably the longest pastorate known IN the his
tory of Lexington Presbytery since the cessa
ton of hostilites between the North an
South.
The title of doctor oil divinity was conserre
upon him by the Union Theological Seminar
of Prince Edward some four or five years age
Bethel congregation has no one in view q
present to call to this vacancy, and 1t will b
long years before 1t will ever be SO well unite
upon another minister as it was upon DIR. Muir
ray.
He is O man OF scholarly attachments and
profound thinker. His language is chaste an
ornate, and his sermons were studied aud pre-
pared with elaboration. BE was UNIVERSAL
popular in this Wide range of country anon
all conditions, classes, and denominations {
people. We loved the man, and admired tn
preacher.
The old church In which he first preached
after having withstood the storms and bias,