The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-21
HIS FAREWELL SERMON.
DR.. Bays Bids Adieu to His Brethren
some Notable Facts About His
Work and His Congregation.

During the last two years which DR.. Bays
has had charge Of the Methodist church at
oompiished a great work. New life and great.
er energy seem to have taken possession OF
preacher and people, and the temporal and
spiritual work Of the church has had phenom'
Under Dr. .Bays's mlnistration the parsonage
was rebuilt, and now we presume tnat no
preacher in the Conference lives In better or
more elegant home than de does.
The church building, which was compare
lively new, is now undergoing enlargement
and reconstruction. The work Of making the
church more oommodio9., and the expense
ance. will foot up several thousand dollars.
Some men who promised five dollars at the
beginning have given fifty, one hundred or
And so 1t is that tho congregation has done
their great work without making appeals to
outsiderI. But Il is q fact some voluntary
subscriptions have been made.
Some estimate Of the zeal and liberality OF
this congregation may be made from the fact
that, for all purposes, over $1,000 has been
raised during the Conference year. In the
congregation are no rich men, but the oongre-
bers, who prove their faith by their works,
and put down their dollars to promote the
objects which are near their hearts.
During the pastorate Of DR.. Bays lS2 acces.
sions have been made to the roll OF member
ship-showing In that time net gain OF 81.
DR.. Bays has not yet finished bis work al
wish Of oil his congregation that he may be
sent back to them next year. He has the
love and confidence Of bis people, as Is evi.
deneed BY his wonderful and III unpFscedsnfed ns
Bays could have done but little. no matter
what his ability or his Christian zeal. and II
he had not proved himself true he could not
have 30 far gained their love and affection as
TO induce them TO make the sacrifices which
they have made to build up and beatty their
church property:
Dr.. Bays preached his farewell sermon last
Sunday, and without referring to his person.
al remarks to his brethren, wegive brief notes
Of his sermon as follows:
Text, Acts second chapter and part of the
the 18th rse:-"What meaneth this"
The supernatGral In religion ! has Ms nearly al
From these words wish to make deduc-
ton for some remarks on the harmony :be-
wants Of mankind.
The sermon will not be textual or exegeti.
cal, but rather practical and topical.
The perfect harmony between the superna-
tural In religion and the appeals OF reason is
seen
i. In the fact that temporal and eternal in.
tere6ts never clash. The highest interests Of
feet unity in harmony. For Instance. reason
tells us that intemperance and profligacy
lead to sorrow, shame apd poverty, and are
therefore derogatory to the best interests OF
man In this life; and then the word of God
tells rs that-"no drunkard hath eternallife
It follows than that what is best for man in
this life is that what responds TO his interests
for the life which is to come.
2 The harmony appears again In the fact
that the supernatural In religion is not pro-
test against the appeals OF common sense or
one Of It's allies, The gospel does not ask US
to grant ready concession TO that which Is I'M.
reasonable, unphilosophic, and unnatural.
"For religion" ;" said Watson. "is an appeal TO
nature for the development OF Its highest
powers"
8. Then again the unity between religion
and natural claims is apparent when We re-
system, founded upon the mere will OF anoth-
er. but is an appeal or response to the inher-
ent wants Of mankind.
It responds only to wants which the most
sceptical must recognize.
The suferings and death Of Jesus, beloved,
were not designed TO exhibit the divine COM
passion. A mere exhibition Of love whether
means nothing. God never exhibits himself
merely to assure as Of his love. The gospel
ts real substantial, positive force and life,
whose design is to respond to the deep long
ings and necessities of our race. II is what
the world needs; otherwise the death Of Jesus
Christ was an heartless piece Of cruelty-all
for the empty exhibition Of sentiment. The
world needs the gospel, else 1t had never been
4. Finally, this harmony appears when we
come to reflect upon the fact that Jesus Christ
gave his divine sanction to the value and dig
nifty Of human nature.
The gospel is no blind mysticism. It was
not designed to revolutionize human nature,
but to sanctify 1t.
Jeseus himself became human being thus
putting upon human nature the stamp Of the
divine appreciation. And at the same time
putting himself in the closest sympathy with
our sufferings and sorrows. Ever pleading,
ever entreating with interceeding prayers
and divine pledges Of pardon and mercy, and
will continue 20 Intercede until the last poor
sinner standing upon the "tottering wreck OF
the ruined shall shout salvation Ia the blood
OF the lamb"