The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-19
Mr.. KELSEY'S FAREWELL.
He Says Good Bye to His congre-
cation and His Many
Friends.
Leaving After Eight Years OF
Toll and Loving Service
in Helena.
He Is Going to Oberlin College in Ohio
TO Accept the Chair OF
Hotnny.

=E#l
The Congregational church on Benton
avenue was crowded last night on the ocea-
sion of the parting OF Rev. 4. ID. kelsey. 30.
d., with his congregation. Many leading
citizens were present, and nearly all the
other congregations in the city wers repre-
scented. Mr.. Kelsey will leave to-day for
Oberlin college, with his family. where he
has accepted the chair OF botany. Before
assuming his duties he will spend . year 81
Harvard, taking q special course. In his
farewell sermon last night he took his text
from / Cor, 1913, watch We, stand fast In
the faith, quit you like men," He said;
Life ia q succession Of changes. Crystals
are permanent: the granite hills abide, but
the living creatures on its grassy slope are
constant in nothing but the rapid changes.
Even the brook changes, Of which Tennyson
sings:
Men may come and men may 60.
But / GO on forever.
Death IL rigid, life 10 flexible; the moment
one rises frem the mineral kingdom to the
study of vegetable or animal life, Thai
moment hia studies revolve about per-
petual and rapid motions. In human affairs
how unceasing are the changoH how unex-
pected are the movements, how restless are
the people themselves! u ~ a matter OF
real pain to make a visit to a place where
We once lived. Old friends fail to recoR-
nizs MS. many a loved face we miss. for they
have gone. some to remote regions and
Others have laid themselves down In the
churchy ard to rest until the resurreotion;
children have become full grown citizens
and seized the reins OF power-all. all has
changed IN q few short years, until one
painfully feels the truth that here below
much Of earthly hope and trust 10 VANITY
Of vanity, all Is vanity" Earth once had
an Eden, but lost it; now thorns and br Ter.
infest the loveliest of roscs. From all
these earthly disappcintments and changes
we turn our faces upward, where it 10 prom.
ised hat We shall possess eternal life. ana
earth's changes shall give place to perman-
encs and this worlds sin and sorrow . re-
placed by heavens purity INT b~lessedness.
One poet has beautifully written:
..storms shall never reach Us there.
No more SORROW, pain or care.
Nc more cross for us to bear
Up yonder.
Gain Tor them that suffered loss.
Crowns for them that bore the cross,
And a calm for hearts that toss
Upyonder.
While we tarry here w shall ever be sub
iect to frequent changes. Ministers espe-
cially feel lifs's changes; yet in the expert
enees of all people 10 are taught that We
are but tenting on the beach for q season;
our home is beyond. Some ministers are
restless and their work in any place II
soon over; some churches are restless and
divided and cannot long unite on any man
some denominations have provided for ire
quent changes in the ministry; they claim
great advantages for their system, and \
must be acknowledged that if in one do.
nomination changes must be frequent. tn
more systematized they Gan be made tn
better will Ii be for us all; but surely shor
pastorates must in the nature of the cas-
miss some of the richest entities OF O loni
pastotate, where the same trusted, beloved
servant of God has become as it were al
integral factor in the family life. AT an.
rate the past eight years service has knItte'
our hearts IN ways which eternity alon
can Disclose. A man who stays eight year
in one place fnds that it is no easy matte
to pull up the stakes which bound his ten
to It's place-eight years of minglinR wit
your 10 q and sorf ows; eight years OF unite
interests and homes; eight years of con
etant and frequent social and apiritna
condolences, until it seemed as though i
very many cases our hearts were one.
But in the providence Of God. the tim
has come to say farewell. All. but there
strange mingling OF sadness and kindnel
III u luIcWCts =
music are in the minor chords. Indeed
many people refrain from ever Baytn
good bye;" it is a mistake of sentiment
any one who hesitates to say good by
Paintings are an essential in human affair
and whom tartings must come, what
sweeter or dearer than a hearty good by
which by Interpretation is nothing short
afervent prayer. God be with ye"--"goc
bye" the GOOD Being be- with ye," goe
bye.
Allow some words of "Reminiscences.
the fall of 1883, Rev. II. b. Tobey, of Bo
ton, was sent to Helena by the America
Home Missionary society to help Mi. A. ]
Bunker, a banker here, to establish IN tn
city a Congregational church. Lack
money had prevented our cultivatinR d
new Montana field; q beloved sister demon
nation had nearly possessed the land; y
If we intended in the future to occupy til
noble state and plant our churches here
was seen that Helena was a straRetic poi
and we must at any cost establish a TO
here. Hence Rev. Tobey was sent on al
instructed TO get q footing here. Ma
who looked down upon that little compa
who took upon them the covenaE..z and
sponsibilities Of q new church. thought
the most daring. and almost fooihaf'
movement possible. Only nine perso
were found willing to dare and do! n
one of these had riches; but they press
forward and bv utmost epdeayors succeed
in raising {, 1000 OF the $10,0o our proper
cost Us.
In the spring of 1885 the little band
about thirteen called the present past
and on May Sd l appeared for the frst I'll
in this pulpit; for almost eight yeats ha
stood constantly here, and as best l coul'
have tried to declare unto you the VIII
counsel of God. Conversions have f
lowed; many have come and gone by lett
Ii few remain with us still, while some he
entered into rest. Ny pastorate has be
ole of consolation to many bereaved hear
cannot say why. but a vast host of PEG
outside of our church fold have called ny
me when sorrow came to their HON
This church has thus exercised throu
their PASTORS ministry of consolation
influence far wider than any man can 81
pose; in these hours of affection, | co,
not dry their tears, but hundreds OF famil
have been blest bv Christian ministratit
which were sadly needed. Indeed il
difficult for me to say the things to-niI
that ought to be said without apparen
Boosting. You will pardon sny such til,
in one whom you all have watched
closely for eight years and whose rsct
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