Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-26

that they want Is 70 get out Of Jail, and
then they remember one another no more.
But tho people who suffer together for
duty have In them the distinct sense tbnt
10 highest and noblest aud most spiritual,
and that transmutes the suffering Unto
Joy and love for the future. Those I'VE
years Of suffering, then, may have blessed
You and kept you together. and opened the
hearts OF men 10 take in the seed that has
grown into the fruition that we see to-day.
During those fifty years since your be-
ginning as q congregation your parish
books record 1919 marriages, Alta bap-
tisns, 1854 funerals, and 1881 coniirna-
lions. and all OF these ministrations repre-
sent a part of the labors of the young dea-
con who came here fifty years ago and who
is now your honored and exceptionaily-be
loved minister of three score years and ten.
One hand has united your marriage bonds,
sealed your baptismal covenants. and dis
tributed TO you In the Sacrament OF the
Lords Supper the memorials OF His love
and His redemption. One voice has brokep
the bread and held forth to you the word
OF life. Through these long. years OF the
wide-reaching influence of that pastorate.
of the tenderness that belongs TO IT, have
hardly the composure to speak TO you.
Among all the friendships that gladden.
our lives, among all the ties that bind us
in loving sympathy the ties between pas
tor aud people seem to be unique. They
take on here even the garments OF immor-
tally. They are as lasting. as the souls
they win. They are like the stars that
shine forever.
but must turn TO the discharge of the
gracious duty that You have assigned to
me in this glad hour. My beloved brother,
the presence of this thronging multitude,
representing you and all the churches and
al the people of the city that has been
blessed by your ministrations. the glad
music that has given JOY and glory to
our worship. the presence OF your bishops
and 50 many Of your brethren OF the
clergy from all parts OF the diocese.
are themselves o token Of the love
they bear you. By them / am com
missioned TO present to you this
testimonial to the purity and fidelity OF
your long ministry. They believe and
they pray that after the names to this tes-
timonial are faded, after its tender words
are dimmed by the attrition of time that
the influence ofyour blessed ministry may
bear fruit and its memory grow among
your own people and In the diocese Tor
generations to come. / also present this
purse of gold, the spontaneous offering OF
a loving people. That love will abide after
the gold has persisted. 1t will 60 with you
10 the blessedness and glory of the life to
come We pray that your bodily strength
may be graciously preserved, that your
heart may beat warm with the love OF
Christ and the love of souls, and that the
fires Of your mind may burn brightly to
the last. And then may you hear the well
come We'll done, good and faithful ser
want, enter into the Joy of your Lord"
THE LOVE OFFERING.
The love offering of the people, placed
l. I. D;.ho,~ -, ~ n,hanr1,n haDdo was n
purse of gold amounting to about 81 800.
1t was enclosed in q chamois bag which
bore upon its side. In golden letters, the
words: "To our beloved pastor, May 20,
1891" Accompanying this and presented
at the same time was the Memorial volume
containing the address heretofore pub
lished in the DISPATCH. and signed by the
two Bishops, and ell the members OF the late
Episcopal Council. and many hundreds OF
DR.. Gibson's friends in this city.
DIR. aTBsoN's RESPONSE.
DIR. Gibson's response to the Bishops adj
dress and the offering OF love was, brief
but very touching. My dear people and
brethren and friends" he said, II have
no words 10 express my feelings of thanks
giving and Joy at your loving remem.
brance, nor of my hearty appreciation OF
your goodness toward me. There is spe--
cial privilege belonging to old age-God
protects the old and this protection they
peculiarly enjoy. They are in His charge
is one of the blessings of age. He for.
gives and hides the multitude OF
sins of the old, and grants in His
mercy the privilege to intercede for
the Young and to guide them IN the bet
fer paths of life. ] thank God that ain
privileged to pray for my friends and peo-.
pie and to bear in my heart the names OF
those who love and have honored me with
this testimonial. Remember the old In
vour PRAYERS Remember how Moses at
| the age OF one hundred and twenty years,
and David. and Hezekiah, and Josiah. In
| their old age fell into sin. And don't for
get to bear me in your prayers, as shall
| remember you. Let our prayer be day by
| dav "Oh. God! make clean our hearts
within us, and take not Thy Holy Spirit
| from u.s."
After the conclusion of the services the
ministers and people crowded around DR..
Gibson and expressed their hearty con-
gratulations and wishes for yet many years
of life and usefulness. Hundreds of peo-
pie were glad to grasp his hand, and many
of them we're wont to embrace hum with
love.
DIR. GIBsOS's PERSONALITY.
Few men have ever lived in Virginia
whose personality was 80 strongly I'M
pressed upon their fellow-men. And DIR.
| Gibson is no dazzling prlpit orator, no
controversialist. no seeker after publicity,
| but tireless, faithful, never-ceaslng
worker in the cause of the Master, In be-
| half of Christianity, and in the promotion
| of the Church of which he has so long
| been an honored minister. Content in the
very prime of his life to labor in field
where earthly rewards were to be accounted
| of little value. beginning under circum-
stances in which advancement could be
expected only after years of toll, discour-
agement, and self-sacrifice, he has reso-
| lutely striven and struggled, until now he
has reaped O reward far more precious 10
| him than fame or wealth-the love and
reverence of the entire community. And
he il loved not only by the people of his
own Church, but by the members of all
| sects He has been the friend of all now
| ali hearts 60 out IN friendship to him and
sectarian predictions are forgotten in the
| general tribute.
Figures speak eloquently, and this re-
| cord of fifty years work In the ministry
tells the story of his wonderful work. Here
| II is:
| Marriages. .........-.. ..'.'.'''.'.'.'d,Vls
| Baptlsms.. .......'..s..,'''.'''.
| Combinations. ..............'.'.....l ,o9i
| Communicates. ...z,oOa
4
He has baptized infants whose. children
have been brought to him as the years
| sped on for the administration of the same
| holy rite. This has occurred even unto the
| third generation. But Blandford cemetery
and the various burial-places near the city
speak of the sad side of his work and EN-.
phasize the inroads which death has made
among those to whom he has ministered
since iS4l. 1t is to be questioned whether
any other minister in Virginia has beer
| called on to oficiate so frequently at the
| interment of the dead. In sadness or IN
low. however, DIR. Gibson was always ready
| to do his duty. II would be remarkable &c
know how many marriages. he has
performed without hope Of fee
| and at his own personal discom
] fort, but this no one will ever know
| from his bps, nor will the numberless act:
| of kindness and charity which have
beieweled his life ever come to the
| knowledge of any one. Modest TO fault
| SO far as his own charities are concerned
he is quick to appreciate and acknowledge
| the kindness aud generosity OF others who
have assisted him In his noble work. mar
without reproach, q staunch friend, ready
and sympathetic adviser, interested IN the