Telegram-herald., 1891-04-13
ADIEU old CHURCH
Rev. Dr.. Yluhrer Bids . Tender
Farewell
TO The PEARL.ST. HOUSE OF GOD
It's Dsarsst. Sweetest Memories Revived
In Words Of Loving Fosdsess-The
HAster sna Congregation Joia
in the Farewell

The Universalist Society spent their
last Sabbath in the old church edIfice,
and SPECIAL farewell services were held
in honor of the occasion. The musical
part OF the service was specially adapt-
ed. In addition TO the anthem, "Pre-
pare Ye the Way" aud TIE Deum in
b minor, . hymn written bv Mrs. Myrtle
Coon Clergyman and another by Mrs.
Eliza S. Fletcher were sung. Both
were specially written for the occasion.
A handsomely printed program con-
tanned the order of exercises, and the
statistical history of the church and
society. The officers and trustees of
the church and of the various auxilli-
airy societies of the church were also in
Guided In the program. The farewell
sermon of DIR. Fluhrer was masterful
effort, abounding in deep thought and
clothed in the perfect diction OF which
he is master. A very full synopsis of
the sermon is appended:
The Habitation OF God.
He took for his text Psalm XVI, s:
"Lord, have loved the habitation of
thy house. and the place where thine
honor dwelleth."
These words refer to the ancient tem-
pie at Jerusalem. To every devout and
thoughtful Jew that temple was an OBJ
ject of reverence as the local habita-
ton of the Almighty. 1t was God's
house. 1t was where He dwelt and
where His spirit came forth to meet
n hn o{
blessing. The idea was not peculiar to
the Hebrew; Every pagan nation had
its temple also, and regarded it with an
equal reverence. The only difference
WAS that the pagan preserved an image
for his deity In the sacred celia, where
as the Hebrew, having taken a step in
advance, had retired the image as too
material, and had substituted for it the
sympolicai throne between the cheru-
blm on the ark.
To Hebrew and pagan alike, how.
ever, the temple was regarded as the
localized abode of God. His presence
imparting to it an exceptional sacred
ness enjoyed by NO other place in the
world.
But our thought is a very different
one. We hold to the Divine Imman-
ence, or that the invisible energy which
pervades all things and upholds all
things, manifests itself in different
aspects, As power, or intelligence. or
love. So with us God has no localized
abode in the universe-or any place
where He is more than in any other
place. His throne is in the corolla of the
flower as truly as in any distant portion
of the skies. With this larger thought
the temple may still be regarded, with
sacrednese, but not exclusively SCI Aarif
he had Withdrawn himself from Uher
places for that purpose. Rather accord
ing to our modern thought, the temple,
If invested with sacredness becomes SO
as the mind there finds associations or
helps which enable 1t to realize the di-
VINE presence, as it may in field or sun
beam or floating cloud, or smile that
lights up the face Of man.
Lessons and Profit vouchsafed.
This is our first idea of a house of
public worship. 1t is a place where we
may gather from the distracting cares
ard secular concerns of life and con-
ceptrate our thought upon the religious
meaning Of this existence.
But IN doing this there will neces-
sarlly grow up very many precious as
socIations. The house may become
hallowed IA the place where we first
distinctly felt the rising of desire to
lead religious life, or where we ex.
perience the wholesome rebuke of a
cankerous sin; or where we had u vision
of truth that transfigured the world
with new meaning or beauty; or it may
be that there we found uuspeakabie
comfort when the heart was PROSTATE
with an overwhelming grief; or per.
baps, best of all, at its sanctuary we
found sweet and lasting friendships
that have become the richest treasures
in life's possession. And they are ours
today. That which We have looked
forward to with hope and eagerncss
has come, and az worshippers we are
assembled within these familiar walls
for the last time. 1t cannot he other.
wise to us than season OF reminiscence
sad, joyous, tender, as our minds 90
back IN thought-some of them through
many years-and troups of memories
become our guests, as when one lin.
gers for the last time on the threshold
of the ancestral home, soon to 60 forth
to new fortunes.
1t were impossible for me to repro.
duce the experiences centered IN this
place with anything of their original
livIngness. At best I can only serve
you in the capacity of an indifferent
etcher, who draws in cold dark lines
figures as of trees, that stretch their
naked branches against the cloudy sky
hut which you will clothe with the liv.
ing leaves OF green, that gIeam in the
golden sunshine and frolic in the sum.
mer breeze, and are vocal with the hun,
of insects, or the songs of birds, as they
pour forth carols of praise from joyou:
hearts. But first of all, before we say
much about our own experience. i
seems fitting that We should pay de.
spirits who planned and erected thi,
edIficc.
Labor of Christsan Love.
From the beginning IL was q plain
structure, without architectural grace
and lacking those appointments which
have become 30 essential TO the success.
of any modern church work. Yet fol
the time when II vac built, il was 4
great achievement for the faithful few
who bravely undertook its erection
How they toiied and planned; how
their feelings slternated between die
couraeenienf and hope, until at length
the victory came, only the few sursiv
ofs Of that struggle can adequately tell
And | think tnst you and /. good
friends. who have entered into tbeil
lsbors. are more than wiling 70 recog
a.. Fsxl Ir44<