Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-20
THE SILENCE BROKEN AT LAST.
A Letter from Rev. Mr. sturgis, Formerly
Pastor of Trinity Church.


The Richmond Christian Adcocdte of this
week publishes an interesting letter OF
about a column and quarter from Rev. ).
X. Sturgis. who for two or three years
prior 10 January, 1890, was pastor OF Trinity
Methodist church here. At that time
owing to iii health and other causes hewas
retired. Among other things the letter
saws:
"My health is far from being restored, bat iii
tenfold better than II has been for nearly three
years. Had | realized IL, and the Conference
known 10, was truly In superannuated condi-
tiou befate the Conference OF 1883. closed up
that Conference year and started for Conference,
when for weeks before this / should have been
under the caro- Of my physician. The trienos
who accompanied mo and the oficer who kindly
gave me the use Of his state-room ON the Ariel
know that | was compelled TO keep my bed
on the Journey 20 Conference My kind enter
tainers In Portsmouth know that | wes compelled
70 retro soon after reaching their house, and
was only able 20 visit the Conforence-room three
times during It's session. After Conference re-
turned TO my home, where for a month or more
| was an unwilling prisoner in my room, except
that on several OF the Sundays included would
preach-eRainst the protest OF physician, VIE,
and friends. My abnormal, feyerish interest in
my work, especially the pulpit part, kept me
from giving myself to recovery
After further narrnting his sufiertngs Mr.. stur-
gs continues: "Why the enfeebled body did not
break In death before leaving Richmond Is 20 me
a mystery, but believe there was special Divine
interpOsitiOn through human agency and natural
means. I shall always believe the Lord knew
that IL was not best, either for His interests or
mine, for me to die just then.
THE LIGHT BREAKS.
"To the sustaining power of His grace can
testify IA never before lie has been TO me
above all | can ask or think, blessed me In every
sense far beyond my deservings Perplexed,
bewildered, dazed, / had gone farther and
farther towards n rayless skepticism until
August last, when gradually, steadily,
fully, "a a summers dawn and sunrise, tho light
increased aud flooded mind and heart until the
black doubts Of Gods dear love and guidance
I'm human affairs vanished forever. Spiritually
speaking. for three days was as consciously IN
the arms Of Christ as John was consciously
against His bosom In the days Of His flesh.
From that hour / was on Heavens side OF the
troubled sea.
THE SILENCE BROKEN.
"For tho first time land so far "a my intentions
90 the last) do break the seal of silence, self
imposed when | came 10 this county. | deter
mined 10 adopt this course (Of silence), and no.
thing has sweryed me from IL. l spoak for the
first and last time because feel that it Is right
for me to make these statements. They would
have been made earlier by two months but for
sufficient reasons Among them, until Christ
mas day we did not know what roof would shell
ter Ms efter New-Years day. Then the moving:
settling slowly down into the new home, with
the demands and cares incident thereto, left me
neither the time nor strength for this work.
Mr. Sturgis then thanks the noble people OF
Richmond who provided for him and his family
financially until the close Of the Conference year,
and concluding, says: with one exception,
have conferred with no human soul before writing
this. In writing lt believe have the approval
Of tho Holy Ghost. In my judgment, right, justice
10 others), gratitude demand IL az my hands.
am simply carrying out a purpose that Of neces-
sity has been deferred for more than TWO
months"