Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-30
FORTY YEARS A PASTOR.
Interesting Occasion at the Head
of Christlana Church.

The Venerable Pastor, the Rev >. l., VAL q
landighani, Closes Forty Years of Pas
toral Labor with u Notable Sermon
Results of His Long Labors.
SperialCorrespondenc Of Gazette and Journal
NEWARK, Nov Yesterday all
roads led to the Head of Christiana
Presbyterian Church, mile west OF
here, where the Rev. DIR. James l..
Yallandigham was to close a 40-years'
faithful pastorate and preach his final
sermon.
The church ITSELF generally large
enough to hold even this large rural
congregation, was inadequate for the
crowd which sought to honor the retir-
ing pastor by its presence. Quite early
benches were brought in, as additional
seatings, and at II o'clock tho spacious
grounds of the church and the highway
leading to it was quite blocked with
carriages from all parts of the surround
ing country.
In the assemblage all denominations
were represented, the attendance on the
part of the congregations of the Newark
and the White Clay Greek churches,
over both of which Dr. Vallandigham
once presided, being especially large.
The retiring pastor was assisted in the
services by Dr. William Ii. Purnell and
DIR. j. b. Butler, both OF Newark, and
q considerably augmented choir.
Before beginning his sermon DR..
Vallandigham announced that II would
not be what is popularity understood by
| a farewell address, but simple,s straight
| forward gospel sermon upon funda-
mental doctrine. Anything else he felt
would be too great strain upon his
own feelings and those Of the members
of his flock. His aim had always been
to present gospel truths to his people
| his first sermon 40 years ago was for
this purpose and he desired his last one
| to breathe the same spirit. With a voice
that has lost little in vigor since it first
was heard from thepulpit he announced
his text: | Corinthians, II, 2: "For |
determined not to know anything
among you save Jesus Christ and Him
cruelficd.N The sermon was strong
and thoroughly orthodox exposition of
the divinity, the humanity and the
atonemcnt of Christ Jesus, by which
our salvation will come. At the close
he added short history Of his 40 years
pastorate, the whole of which had been
marked by the most friendly feelings
between pastor and people.
September 18th, 1858, his first sermon
as candidate for the pastorate was
preached and on December 18th follow
ing, his first sermon as pastor was de-
livered. His years Of labor had resulted
in the saving of many souls, his most
successful revival in 1864 resulting in
l40 conversions, truly large number
for that time. The statistics covering
the whole pastorate were most interest
ing as showing that the number of ad-
missions to the church were 999-796 ON
examination or profession of faith and
203 on certificate. The baptisms num-
bered 742-adults, 300, and infants, 442.
OF marriages performed by him there
had been 222 and the number of fun.
erals at which he had OBLIGATED reached
the remarkable total of 627. He had
ministered spiritually to four genera
tions and was to-day preaching the Cos.
pei to those whose grand parents he had
married. and whose great grand parents
he had buried. He had been with hi:
flock in times of enjoyment and gladnes.
but many more times in periods of be
reavement and sadness. With few
touching words of personal farewell
and blessing he brought his long ant
rich pastorate to an end.
! The retiring pastor is native Of New
Lisbon, o., where his father, Clement
Vallandigham, was for 80 years pasto
of church. When 10 years old h
graduated at Jefferson College and fol
> six years afterward was engaged il
teaching while he studied law. Ate
! praclicing at the bar for six years h,
decided to enter the Presbyterian
church. In 1S45 he began preaching
= the gospel, so that altogether 4S year
Of his life have been given up to preach
ing. DR.. Vallandigham will most likely
: live out his days here among the peopl
to whom ne has SO long and faithful!
y ministered and by whom he is so mucl
= loved. During the next few months TIL
Head of Christiana Church will have
q regular supply and in the spring neV
9 pastor will be called.