The Newtown bee., 1894-05-18


 concerning the new pastor of the Congregational church, Rev Robert IG. Carter. It is from "The Daily Report" of April 30, published at Lebanon, Pa. The article follows; Farewell services were held in the Fourth street Presbyte- rian church yesterday on account of the of the pastor, and his depar- ture to accept cali to the Congrega- tional church of Washington, Conn, MT Carter has been pastor of this church for five years, coming to Lebanon in 1889, succeeding Rev k. A. Lowe us pas tor of the church. The church has pros pered and progressed during these years. The increase of membership has been 70 | per cent, and the increase in other branches of church work corresponding | ly healthy. The church has always | been liberal and generous supporter of the various mission laoOrs of it's denoml- | nation. During the past year, as the pas | tor said, it's contributions to such causes l had amounted to over 5000, almost $lO member, which Is a remarkable high aV- craze. MT Carter has been ever since its organization connected with the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, and was re- cording secretary of the board of mana gers for the last three years. He was also an active Christian Endeavor work CT, the society of his church being the first such organization in the county. He was president of the county organi- zatiOn in 1892 and 1893.
 The church at Washington, to which the pastor makes this change, IS one of the old churches of the country, as it has seen almost two centuries of eXis- tence; was one of the old colonial churches of Connecticut before the Rev. olution. It is a strong and prominent church in it's part of the country, and promises a large and important field of activity. Expressions of mutual kindly feeling and good will abounded in the Fourth Street church yesterday. The union of pastor and people had been an unusually pleasant and happy one. MT Carter's father is pastor of Presbyterl- an church on Long Island, and promi- | nent leader of the Liberal movement in the Presbyterian church he was the one who made the first move which resulted | in the revision movement in that church. | His grandfather was head of the pub | fishing house of "Robert Carter Bros.' | in New York City. MT Carter says that it is with regret that he leaves Lebanon. In the church and in this city he has many friends, with whom there has been most cordial and pleasant relation ship.
 Rev Mir Carter based his sermon upon the text found in l Thess. ?: ll'l2. As ye know how we exhorted and comfort cd and charged every one of you as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.' | "EXhorting, encouraging, testifying, this" said the reverend gentleman, 'iS | every Christians work it's end that men l should walk worthily of God The Christian worker may know himself incompetent, he may know | himself unable, but there is with him the thrilling sense of mightier power than his own working along with him. The best any one of us can do is to wake men to hear, not their words but the commands of God which are in their own soul and to counsel and comfort of God which is in their hearts through Gh e Holy Spirit. God speaks; let us count | that the only eloquence which there real ly is in all the world. There is power with him who testifies to God and ot Jesus Christ which is not of his owr words.
 Thus St Paul must have felt about his work at Thessalonica. Very muct had been discouraging there, and disap- pointing; he had gone to do great things and he had seemed to have done very lit tie; and yet he looked back to that work gladly and with confidence. God had been with him. In all the feebleness ot human work he had discerned the power of a divine working.
 With something of that feeling pray God you may look upon my Christian work here. There is much which we al
 wanted done here, that l have not beer able to do; much, too, that has been our unwisely done. You and l and the good God know of the mistakes and failures and the discouragements. We need not stop to speak of them. But in spite ot all that, God has been with us. Serious ly and honestly l believe that this house has been the house of God unto us; His spirit and His presence have not been strangers here.
 Our collections for missions-over $500 the past year-witness that the grace of giving has not been absent iron your midst. In the Sunday evening prayer meetings, those who find it hard to bear public testimony for Christ spoke earnest words; at the organ, the choir and in the Sunday school; in the ladies society and in the session there has beer a spirit of willingness and helpfulness such as no earthly work could receive from any one. These are certain wit nesses and sure encouragement that there has one ministered through this church more eloquent, more wise, more inspir. ing than any earthly teacher. And thi' good which has been, still shall continue to be. May the conservation of youl hearts, which has shown itself iu you
 interest and love of this church continue
 unabated and unchanged while God give
 you life and strength"
 The sermon closed with an earnes prayer for Gods blessings upon tht
 work and the congregation. The depart . ing pastor then announced that tn
 pulpit had been declared vacant by tn
 Carlisle presbytery. The session ha
 power to supply the pulpit until sh,
 next presbytery. Rev c. B. Cross i'
 moderator.
 In the departure of Rev Dr Dunbar
 and Rev Robert k. Carter from thi
 city, Lebanon loses two of it's foremos
 divines. Their labors here did nor, than few sentences or a hurried re
 sume of their lives can express or pres ent. Their influence for the elevation , of their fellow men of the peculiar wall Q have been appreciated as guiues to ou Christian courses and the need of it is the more accentuated now that it ha
 been withdrawn. Rev Dr Dunbar goes to Baltimore, and the good wishes of the people whom he has long and faith fully served accompany him, believing that in an enlarged sphere of usefulness he will prove mightier medium for ths dissemination of Gospel messages.
 Rev Mir Carter assumes charge of z larger congregation among the Liteh. field Hills, Conn.,, taking what is be heved to be step to greater usefulness The Report is not wrong when it vouchsafes to both the intelligent appre- citation by the people of their leadership for good, and trusts they will be heard of again as having fulfilled still more perfectly the apostolic injunction te